The biggest problem with rats entering your home or business through the drains, is that the access point is almost impossible to block. By blocking off the drain, you could cause huge plumbing problems in your property. This is why a drain rat flap has been invented as the new go to rat prevention gadget.
How Does a Drain Rat Flap Work?
The drain rat flap is usually made from plastic or metal. It’s a flap that only works in one direction (remember to think about this during installation). A drain rat flap will let any waste and water flow out of your property into the sewers. But the key feature of them is that they stop rats from travelling up to your home or business from the sewers, using the drains.
The drain rat flap works so efficiently because you don’t have to dig anything up to fit one. Water and waste only normally flows at around 10% at the bottom of the pipe during normal weather conditions. So, unless the drain rat flap is where the water flows the most, nothing will change in your drainage system.
Choosing the Right Drain Flap
There are a lot of different drain rat flap models out there to choose from. There’s twin, single, serrated, convex, plastic, stainless steel, push in and even gripping designs. So where do you start with all of these crazy choices? We’ve created a list for you to help guide you on the best rat drain flap for you.
• To start with, forget anything made from plastic. These will last mere hours against the teeth of a determined rat. They may be cheap, but you will end up spending more money buying replacements then having them fitted. The saving isn’t really worth it.
• Galvanised rat valves should also be avoided. Choose a stainless steel as the minimum amount of protection.
• Think about the flow rate of waste and water in your home or business. Putting a drain flap somewhere with a high flow rate will either break or still let rats enter it.
• Check with your local authority. Some drains and pipes belong to the water board, so it’s important to make sure the drainage system is yours before installation.
• Have a professional check the location. Don’t try to do it yourself.
Choosing and fitting the wrong type of flap can result in rats still being able to access your property. Fitting the valve in the right place provides a long lasting and reliable way to prevent rats.
Other Rat Prevention Gadgets
The pest control industry is constantly evolving. With the introduction of new technology, we have even more gadgets to prevent rats. Let’s take a look at another effective rat prevention gadget that is much easier to install than a rat drain flap.
Ultrasonic Plug in Devices
There are quite a few different ultrasonic devices available that repel rats. Having one of these gadgets can help you to keep rats away on a short term basis. However, they’re not a long term solution to any kind of rat infestation.
These gadgets emit a high frequency sound that can’t be heard by us humans. A rat finds this sound incredibly irritating and will try to avoid it at all costs. This discomfort will stop a rat from becoming too used to the sound, therefore stopping them from infesting your home.
Another way that an ultrasonic repellent works is that the loudest spike of the gadget replicates the noise a dominant male rat would make. A rat is a very territorial pest that will fight to gain dominance. The sound of a dominant male in the vicinity will stop other rats from trying to inhabit your property.
How to Use Electronic Rat Repellents
There a lot of mistakes people make with ultrasonic rat repellents which leads them to believe that they are ineffective. To make sure they are as effective as possible, you need to use one of these devices along with other rat prevention and exclusion methods. If you already have an infestation, make sure you set up traps or get the help of a professional pest controller to exterminate them.
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