Critter advice

[delawarerick]

Ok so the gas company moves the gas meter so I can get the boats in the back yard. They forgot to seal around the pipes! The other night I head to the kitchen and grab a drink and hear a racket coming from behind the fridge figure it's the compressor so go to bed and think no more of it. Wake up to scream fall out of bed and wife claims something ran over her foot. So I figure rodent I look around the house and notice were it ran the gas pipe has no more cement seal. Sealed it up and set the traps and caught the critter. Now this is where I need advice call pest company and they find 2 more posible entry points and go up in the attic. They tell me that there is pee and poo that I need to seal all entries and trap any possible others then sanitize remove all the old insulation and sanitize again and put new insulation at the tune of 7k. Does this sound right? Thought wisdom on this matter is appreciated. This is a now useable low attic with trap entrance only. Oh yea they also claimed that a big critter was up there at one point like a racoon or possum. Thanks Rick

[XstreamVking]

Grab a mean tom cat and toss him up there?

[delawarerick]

I got him(rodent) and I think the question is change the insulation they are gonna sanitize and 99.9 bacteria after they seal why change all the insulation I bet everybody has some poo and pee in there attic same with dry wood termites.

[XstreamVking]

Some insulation gets wet and looses it's efficiency. Got to be loose with a lot of air spaces. I would think insurance would come into play with a bill for 7k to repair the attic.

[FMP]

You must have quite the attic and a load of poo like a pig pen for a quote like that. A few dried up turds can be removed by hand and a shop vac to clean up the rest after the small area nest is removed. You could get all your old fiberglass or whatever loose removed and spray blown in for that money, depending on size and R value. No need to go nuts thinking every mouse turd is going to end the insulating value of what you have now. They key is air movement , soffit to ridge vent. I had extra blow in a couple years back to achieve an R60+ from about R25, cost me $800. I would have laughed the guy out the front door.

[olboatman]

I use to remove bat dung from churches and other old buildings in my town before I had brains! We used a shop vac to remove the solids and sprayed any insulation , joists and ceiling material in good condition with 20% bleach and water LIGHTLY. Protect your lungs and you can also lightly lift the insulation to vac and spray if its not blown in. Have fun Gary

[delawarerick]

This is all good information thank you and anything else this house is whipping my butt.

[flabum1017]

Hire a homeless guy to go up there and pull all the old insulation out.... pay him $5 and a case of beer a day.... your'e in the right neighborhood for that LOL. then get a company to come in and blow in new insulation.

[delawarerick]

Actually this neighborhood has turned over and we have our own police department but the houses are old and this use to be a bird park. It seems as this hood gets better the prices on work on house here has gone up. Told us the house was built in 1951 but more like 1931 so keeping it sealed tight is a problem. Any other advice on this insulation been here 2 years never heard nothing up in the attic would venture it was sealed and new spots have opened from settling. thanks Rick

[XstreamVking]

Dunno if it may help somewhere, but my barn had some chewing critters getting into it thru some small holes. Used the foam in the can to close them. They ate it too. Next try I sprinkled some cayenne pepper on the foam as it was going into the holes. They have never been back.....

[rock]

Had raccoons chew thru the redwood on my cabin at the peak of the gable at both ends. She then hatched her litter and started chewing thru the ceiling to get into the cabin. I was fortunate to catch her before the hole was big enough for them to enter. Applied a very heavy layer of hot sauce where they were chewing and they have since left the attic. Now I get to remove the ceiling due to massive amounts of waste and an odor that just wont quit. I could be a lot worse Rick. If I were in your shoes I would not be removing all the insulation. Just what is necessary to remove waste and odor. That bleach suggestion is a good one and just ad what ya removed.

Rock

[XstreamVking]

Peppermint oil is also said to be a good deterrent to animals and insects......

[David - WI]

"Black light" flashlight to find the urine stains more easily: https://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-Pet-Detector-Doggone-Products%C2%AE/dp/B00CW5QQ72

D-con to kill the rodents and also to let you know you have them under control (when the bait stops disappearing).

[olboatman]

Dunno if it may help somewhere, but my barn had some chewing critters getting into it thru some small holes. Used the foam in the can to close them. They ate it too. Next try I sprinkled some cayenne pepper on the foam as it was going into the holes. They have never been back.....
The foam is great for sealing holes, gaps and cracks against rodents and insects. If you use the fire retardant foam by 3M it has chemicals to stop the vermin from chewing it. Its required by code around electrical and plumbing going from floor to floor to stop fire. Gary

[XstreamVking]

Thanks Gary, good info to know.... Never thought about that stuff....

[delawarerick]

Holes covered all insulation removed new insulation and duct work and loaded gun for the next critter.

[delawarerick]

Quick update all work completed R30 pink panther R6 duct work and what a difference. Humorous note went to the dentist he left his garage open for 2 days and they came he was watching tv and a rat jumped on top of the tv and looked at him. He spent mega dollars with the local critter company to catch and clean up.