Can Rodents Chewing Wires Cause House Fires? What Homeowners Need To Know This Winter

Fires are often one of the most devastating events for a homeowner. While the risk is never zero, there are some smart steps you can take to better protect your home. Caution in the kitchen and smart storage of fuel and flammable materials is always a great place to start, but what about the factors you can’t see?

Today, we’ll go over everything you should know about home fires caused by rodents. We’ll tell you just how significant the risk is, why rodents like to chew on wires, and what you can do to keep them away.

How Big Is the Risk of Fire From Rodents Chewing on Wires?

Home fires are caused by a variety of factors, from forgotten ovens to faulty power cables. Unattended cooking accounts for over half of all housefires alone, but it’s often the less obvious causes that can lead to greater damage.

In the U.S., rodents are estimated to cause up to 25% of house fires of unknown origin. That number includes tens of thousands of homes and millions of dollars in rodent-caused damage each year. This is a substantial amount, and the risk escalates quickly in the winter months as rodents come inside to seek shelter and warmth.

Why Do Rodents Chew on Wires?

Why would a rodent want to gnaw on something made of plastic and metal, especially when it’s full of potentially dangerous electricity? Though it may seem strange, rodents like rats and mice have a good reason to chew on your wires.

Rodents have incisors that never stop growing and need to constantly chew to keep them from growing too long. And in your walls, wires are plentiful and easy to reach for rodents, making them a popular target for nibbling.

Orange Teeth Help Rodents Chew on Cables

You may have never noticed that many rodents have bright orange teeth. Those strong, self-sharpening teeth we mentioned earlier have a high mineral content, especially iron, and it makes them incredibly strong.

This is important because rodents often bite into hard or even acidic surfaces. While other animals may give your wires a small nibble, rodents can chew away without disruption.

Schedule Professional Rodent Control With Brooks Pest Solutions

Rats and mice can infest your home almost silently, slipping in through gaps, cracks, and even through your plumbing. Once inside, they’ll head for your walls where they can remain hidden and warm, chewing away at your wiring all the while. Rodent infestations may be hard to find, but they are not something to ignore.

Schedule your rodent inspection, request a quote online, or get fast service from your local Brooks Pest Solutions team by calling. The best way to keep them away is with routine rodent control treatments and inspections, and you can count on the rodent control from Brooks Pest Solutions to do the job right.