Rats in the Walls: How to Know and What to Do
Rats in the walls usually make scratching, gnawing, or scurrying sounds at night. They get into wall voids from the attic, crawl space, or gaps around pipes. The fix is to trap them where they travel, seal the openings they use, and avoid poison, which can leave dead rats inside the wall.
Scratching inside your walls after dark is unsettling, and it is one of the most common reasons homeowners call us. Here is how to confirm what is going on and what to do about it.
Signs of Rats in the Walls
- Scratching, scurrying, or gnawing sounds at night
- Sounds that move from the ceiling down into the walls
- Droppings near baseboards, under sinks, or in cabinets
- A musky or ammonia smell near one wall
- Pets staring at or pawing at a wall
- Small holes or gnaw marks near baseboards or around pipes
How Rats Get Into Walls
Rats rarely start in the walls. They get in somewhere else and travel:
- From the attic. Roof rats come down through the top plates of walls.
- From the crawl space. Norway rats travel up along plumbing lines.
- Around pipes and wiring. Gaps where pipes enter under sinks and behind appliances.
Why It Matters
Rats chew electrical wiring, which is a fire risk. Their urine and droppings contaminate insulation and drywall. And they breed quickly, so a few rats in a wall can become a much bigger problem within weeks.
What Not to Do
Do not use poison inside the house. A poisoned rat often dies inside the wall, where it cannot be reached. The odor can last for weeks.
Do not cut open walls first. In most cases it is not necessary. Finding and sealing the entry points solves the problem without major demolition.
How to Get Rats Out of the Walls
- Find the entry points. Check the attic, crawl space, and plumbing openings.
- Trap along travel routes. Traps in the attic and crawl space catch rats as they move.
- Seal the openings. Once activity stops, close every gap with chew-proof materials.
- Clean up. Treat the attic and affected areas to remove scent trails.
Get Professional Help
Rats in walls are hard to handle on your own because the entry points are usually in the attic or under the house. Socal Rodent Control offers a free inspection, handles rodent extermination, and seals every entry point with a 2-year warranty. If there is odor, our attic decontamination clears it. Call (310) 935-3622.
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