How to Block Rat Intrusion Routes?

Hey everyone!
After rats gnawed through my attic vents and nested in my HVAC system, I became a rat route detective. Here’s what actually works (and what’s a scam):

  • ​​Steel wool​​: Rats shredded it like confetti for nesting material.
  • ​Expanding foam​​: They ate the soy-based formula as a midnight snack.
  • ​​24-gauge steel mesh + fire-rated sealant​​: 100% success… until they tunneled under my foundation.

Now I’m battling ​​interconnected sewer pipes​​ they use as rat subways. How do we out-engineer these furry engineers without violating codes?

Steel wool alone = rat bedding. Always pair with ​​copper mesh + Gorilla Grip sealant​. Rats hate the toothache vibration. Code-approved for HVAC gaps (ASTM E136).

Rats used my ​​compost pipes​​ as highways! Installed ​​rotating blade baffles ​​ (like bank deposit slots). 3 rats got pureed, landlord fined me for biohazards.

Sealing sewer laterals? Most cities require ​​backflow valves​​ (1k+) installed by licensed plumbers. DIY=5k fines under IBC §712.3. Rats win again.

Buried ​​crushed glass + concrete moat​ around my foundation. Rats can’t dig through 500lbs of sharp nonsense. Neighbors think I’m building a zombie bunker.

Peppermint-soaked expanding foam​​ failed. Switched to ​​capsaicin-infused silicone​​ (DIY mix: 10% ghost pepper extract). Rats fled, firefighters came for the ‘gas leak.’

Blocking shared sewer routes? You could be liable for ​​$10k+ in neighbor plumbing backups​. File a ​​joint municipal abatement order​ first.

Blade baffles violate ​​Health Code §2402(c)​, rodent fragmentation = bio-terrorism charges! Use ​​spinning brush guards​​ instead. Rats hate bad hair days.

Lidar-mapped​​ my crawl space, found 37 entry points. Sealed them with ​self-healing nano-gel​​ ($300/tube). Rats now pay rent to chew elsewhere.

Rats rode in via ​​irrigation lines​​! Installed ​​electrified mesh sleeves​​ (12V pulsed). Zapped 20 rats, fried the pump controller. Agricultural victory?

@PrepperEngineer Your glass moat violates ​​EPA stormwater regs​, silica runoff fines = $500/day. Swap to ​​lava rock + epoxy​. Rats hate crunchy lava feet. Legally crunchy.