Perhaps no other area in your home is more off your radar than your crawlspace. If that is a fair assessment of the status of affairs at your home, you are far from alone. People across Southern California and from coast-to-coast in the United States really do need to pay greater attention to their crawlspaces in their homes. With this in mind, you may want to consider the benefits of engaging the assistance of a professional crawlspace cleaning service.
Rats, Mice, and Other Rodents
Rats, mice, and other rodents find residential crawlspaces particularly attractive. As part of your effort to pay better attention to your crawlspace, you may have discovered that the space is or was home to some type of varmint. If that is the case, you may be presented with the task of eliminating rats, mice, or some other critter from your crawlspace. Once that is accomplished, you will find yourself faced with the need for rodent droppings cleanup. Similarly, if a previous infestation existed in your crawlspace, you may still be faced with the need for this type of professional assistance.
In point of fact, one of the most important, significant benefits that can be derived from hiring professional crawlspace cleaning services is the safe, comprehensive removal of rodent droppings. The most common types of rodent droppings you’re apt to find in your crawlspace are rat or mouse feces.
If you understandably are like many people, you may be unaware that rat and mouse feces are what medically or biologically are known as disease vectors. Disease vectors are living creatures or substances capable of carrying germs that cause disease in humans. Rat and mouse droppings are prime examples of disease vectors and carry germs capable of causing different diseases in humans. These include everything from salmonella poisoning to the potentially deadly hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
You need to understand that there are germs capable of surviving in rodent feces even after they have dried out. Indeed, when it comes to germs like the hantavirus, rodent droppings become somewhat more dangerous after they dry. Dried rodent feces crumble very easily and when they do, contaminated dust can be created. This dust has the capacity to spread throughout your home, depending on the design of your residence.
Mold, Mildew, and Other Contaminants
Rodent droppings, and other wildlife waste, are not the only types of issues that should be addressed professionally when it comes the crawlspace in your home. Because of the nature and design of crawlspaces, these areas in a home can become a proverbial breeding ground for mold and mildew. Moreover, depending on the overall design of a residence, mold and mildew that initially germinates in the crawlspace of your residence can spread throughout your home.
Addressing the elimination of mold and mildew is another important task that can best be undertaken by experienced crawlspace cleanup services. These pros have the equipment, mold-elimination agents, experience, and other resources to ensure that mold and mildew are fully eliminated from your crawlspace.
Mold spores can easily spread through your home. They can be blown through your home via the HVAC or ventilation system. Spores can become attached to your clothes or the clothing of other people in your home. They can get into pet fur and transferred throughout your home.
Mold growth presents a particular health risk to individuals who already labor under some type of lung-related issue like asthma. In addition, younger children, older adults, and individuals with immune systems compromised in some manner are more susceptible to mold-caused illness.
Preventing Future Infestations, Growths, and Contaminations
Professional crawlspace cleanup services can also assist in preventing future infestations, growth, and contaminations. For example, a professional crawlspace cleanup service utilizes sanitization agents that not only eradicate existing germs but protect against regrowth for at least a few months. In addition, because of the experience of a professional, a specialist can provide you advice on steps to take to prevent future rodent infestation or invasion by other forms of wildlife. In addition, a pro can aid in identifying ways to control a future issue with mold and mildew. Finally, a pro can provide you essential tips on other steps you can take to prevent issues with rodents, mold, and other contaminants in your crawlspace going forward into the future.
Health Warning Regarding Your Crawlspace
If you detect rodent droppings or mold in your crawlspace, you need to keep out of the space without wearing proper personal protective equipment. You also need to be sure that no other members of your family enter into your crawlspace when rodent droppings and mold are detected.
You must also refrain from attempting to cleanup these contaminants on your own unless you have biohazard-rated personal protective equipment that includes a respirator, a smock or uniform, durable gloves, and protective eyewear.