When pest animals invade homes, they can cause major disruptions. This can include affecting the electrical systems of your home. In some cases, animals can cause power outages and even electrical fires. Below, we will discuss some of the most common ways that wildlife can cause electrical outages in your home.
Rodents and Wiring
Rats, squirrels, and mice love to chew and gnaw through insulation, wiring, and other items inside the walls of homes. They do this both to burrow deeper into the walls and file their teeth. Rodents constantly need to gnaw on materials to shorten their front teeth, which never stop growing. Rodents can also get into tight spaces that give them access to hard-to-reach wiring.
Birds and Power Lines
Birds can affect power lines and transformers. They may affect them via in-flight collisions, perching on power lines, and making nests on substations. While not as often damaging as rodents, birds have affected power distribution networks across the country.
Snakes and Power Outages
Cold-blooded reptiles tend to seek shelter in warm, well-insulated places. Unfortunately, this can include electrical substations. Snakes have been known to cause major disruptions in this way. On an individual home level, snakes may seek out fuse boxes or areas of high-use electrical cables. Their added weight and pressure on these systems can cause shorts and other electrical issues.