Why do rats live in drains?
Think of all of the food you scrape off your plate or push down the kitchen sink every day – this all ends up in the sewers – delicious meals for the rats.
Think of all the hot showers and hot taps you run every day – that all ends up in the sewers which results in the sewer temperature being typically 3 to 7 degrees warmer than the surface temperature – a very comfortable environment for the rats.
In short, it’s a sheltered, warm and a very food-rich place for the rats, and pitch black too which suits the rats way of life as nocturnal creatures.
Why do they invade my building fabric?
Because, for the rats, it’s even warmer and drier in your building which typically rarely drop below 5 degrees. Most rats will be nesting females and cavity wall insulation and loft insulation provides ideal nesting sites and often rats can access foods within the living areas too.
Structural timbers, wires and plastic pipes also provide material for the rats to gnaw on which is otherwise hard to find within sewers. Gnawing is an essential activity for rats, and all other rodents, as it keeps their teeth in tip-top condition, but it is also the gnawing on these parts of our building which can lead to fires, floods and electrical problems.
This is why you really need to get rid of the rats.
