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Can Mice Cause Water Damage?
10/28/2020 (Permalink)
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There are many reasons why water damage can happen to a home including appliances, broken pipes, and weather. As with any damage, being prepared or knowing how to avoid it altogether is key. Some situations are more unexpected which can make it difficult to avoid. One of those situations we would like to shed some light on is how mice can cause water damage.
Sniffing out water
Mice have a highly developed sense of smell and can be drawn to the water inside of your pipes. Like any animal, mice get thirsty and will find any source they can to quench their thirst. This sense of smell can actually be used against them. There are certain smells that can help to repel a mouse. Some of these smells include peppermint oil, citronella oil, or castor oil. If you spread some of them in the area mice are infesting, you might find that them leaving for a more enjoyable environment!
Quench their thirst
As we stated, mice will find water wherever they need to, and often pipes can be the victim of their gnawing. Another great strategy is to give them what they are asking for! Many people have found it helpful to place bowls of water where mice may be prone to chewing through pipes. This will encourage mice to get water from a more readily available source and stay away from chewing on pipes to get it.
Rat poison dehydrates
It’s easy to want to reach for the rat poison to get rid of the problem altogether, but that may cause more problems than expected. Mice chew on pipes because they are thirsty. Rat poison causes dehydration which will cause the mice to search for water all the more. In the process of getting rid of the mice, this method may actually cause more damage. Instead, use mice traps to catch and get rid of the mice.
Water damage can become more costly the longer it goes untreated. If you have had water damage to your home or business, don’t wait to contact us. We would love to help!