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PSA: Check your attic insulation for rodent nests before you start any wiring project
I was up in my attic in Omaha last week, planning to run a new light fixture wire. I moved a section of the pink fiberglass batts aside and found a huge nest of shredded insulation and droppings. My contractor friend said it's been a bad year for mice getting in. If I'd just started cutting or drilling, I could have spread that mess everywhere or even hit a live wire they chewed. Had to stop everything, set traps, and clean it all out with a respirator. Cost me two days and about $60 for the proper gear. Anyone have a good method for sealing up those tiny entry points they use?
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caleb_ross1210d ago
Glad you caught that before drilling... that mess gets in your lungs and ruins the insulation. For the holes, I use a mix of steel wool and spray foam. Stuff the steel wool in tight, then foam over it because they won't chew through the metal. Check where pipes and wires come in, and don't forget the ridge vent gaps. It's a pain but you gotta get every single one.
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the_eric10d ago
My uncle tried the steel wool trick once but used the cheap stuff from the dollar store. Turns out squirrels can and will chew through that flimsy material if they're determined enough. He had to redo his entire attic sealing job with the heavy grade stuff after finding a nest made of shredded wool and insulation. Now he checks the packaging for the actual metal content like he's reading a food label.
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