Here’s how most first encounters with Bats go… “Hey, Honey, I think we have bats in the attic?” Her husband opened the attic door and entered. He was greeted with two beady little eyes staring back at him as he ran back out the door. You may be wondering if this scenario can happen to you. The answer is yes, it can.
Did you know 40 types of bats make their homes in America? Bats seek shelter from predators or hibernate from September to April. They can fit into spaces as small as a half to a quarter inch and make their way into chimneys, walls, and attics. Once they are in your attic, they can cause severe and expensive damage to your home.
Home Destruction by Bats
These tiny-winged creatures may not cause much harm to humans. They rarely bite us. But that doesn’t mean they won’t cause damage to our homes.
While they won’t take a bite out of the building, they can still cause costly harm to the structure.
Bat guano and urine build up over time which can ruin insulation, leak through sheetrock, and drip through ceilings. This bat excrement contains high uric acid levels, which erodes metal compounds like copper and bronze, stone, concrete, and even wood. Guano contains minerals like phosphate, ammonium, and potassium, which can cause moisture between cracks and weaken the structure of your home.
Getting Them Out of Your Attic
Attics are ideal for bats who prefer dry, warm, sheltered places. Since they love dark locations, they’ll be comfortable to start roosting there.
Bats are also not easy to get rid of. They cannot be quickly captured and carried outside. Exterminating them is not a good option since it is illegal in most states.
So how do we get rid of them?
There are some remedies you can try. You might want to try installing bright lights which repel them. Bats also don’t like anything that reflects light, such as aluminum foil, mirrors, or even old CDs, so you may want to hang strips of these items. Lastly, you can try spraying cinnamon, white phenol, or eucalyptus to keep them away.
But the best action you can take is to call a professional pest control specialist.
Stopping Bats from Coming Back
Getting rid of the bats is only half the equation. The other half of knowing how to keep them away for good.
The first place to start is by getting a full inspection of the exterior of your home. Look for holes, cracks, and spaces between architectural elements, especially in tight corners. Don’t forget loose boards, torn screws, and missing tines on ventilation screens. Some entrance holes may not be easy to see. Bats can squeeze through openings that are fractions of an inch.
Once you find out where the holes and gaps are, it’s time to seal them up to prevent further entry. Repair or replace broken or torn vents and screens. Fill holes with caulk or similar material. Openings with metal screens should be covered, and make sure you secure vents and chimney caps.
Performing these simple fixes will close potential entrances and prevent bats from entering your home. If you suspect a bat problem in your home… call us at Allied Restoration. We’ll come out to perform an inspection and get those bats out of there!
Allied Restoration is an IICRC (Institute Of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification), Certified Firm. Our Senior Project Manager, Wilma Fogler, was the first person in the State of Maryland to achieve the IICRC Master Water Restorer Certification. Allied is Licensed, Bonded, Insured, and a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. 