Insulation is an essential part of your home. On hot days, it keeps the hot air from taking over the inside. In cold climates, it prevents the heat inside from seeping out. Damaged insulation, therefore, means discomfort for the people inside as the temperature may become too hot or too cold.  Have you noticed this happening in your home lately? You may need to get your insulation checked for damage. But what could be damaging your insulation? Well, it could mean you’re unwittingly hosting a family or two of rodents, in which case you’ll need the help of wildlife control services in Ajax.

The Motives Behind Insulation Destruction

Wildlife citizens like mice, chipmunks and squirrels feel the cold just like human beings do. Like us, they desire to spend their winters in warm cosy spaces with lots of food nearby. Unfortunately, this means that many human homes are ideal living spaces for wildlife citizens seeking winter homes. Because it is a space rarely visited by homeowners, wildlife animals often find safe haven in the attic, and that’s where the insulation damage is usually greatest.

Insulation is very malleable. It is nice and soft which makes it a perfect material to build a nest. Mice and squirrels, in particular, are known for the work their teeth do on the inside of buildings, especially insulation. No quality of insulation is safe from these powerful teeth, not even those made of rigid foam or fiberglass. You would think that chewing on your insulation would make wildlife animals sick, but it doesn’t. The fact is, they don’t really eat the insulation. They just chew on it, usually because they need to grind their teeth against something. This is especially true for rats and squirrels.

How Insulation Damage  Affects Your Home

When insulation is damaged, inside the building can become too hot during the summer, causing you to use up more energy to cool the space. In the winter the opposite occurs. The space becomes too cold and you use up more energy to keep the area warm. After taking on your insulation (and sometimes before and during as well), wildlife animals will turn on your electrical wires, which creates other dangers such as the risk of fire. Fixing insulation damage is quite costly and the cost goes up as the damage gets worse. This is one of the reasons wildlife control and prompt removal are so important.

Protecting Your Insulation From Wildlife Intruders

The ideal way to protect your insulation from wildlife is to prevent them from getting inside in the first place. To do this you should ensure that your building has no access points through which wildlife animals can get inside. Popular spots include cracks or holes in walls, gaps between siding and the roof, and uncapped vents or pipes.

Frequent attic checks can go a long way in helping you to detect wildlife intrusion early. Experts advise that you have your attic thoroughly inspected once every two years. If you have had an intrusion in the past or live in an area like Ajax where wildlife intrusions are common, this should be done more frequently. A professional inspection service like the one offered by Skedaddle is best.

If you’re observant you can spot the small signs of rodent intrusion. Small bits of paper strewn about inside indicate that a mouse or two may be living inside. Other signs include droppings, sounds of scampering paws and scratching sounds, all of which will become more obvious at night. As soon as you spot one or more of these signs you should seek the help of experts like Skedaddle.  Skedaddle’s professional wildlife control team will help you to evict your unwanted guests safely and humanely and restore your Ajax home to a wildlife free space.