House Trap and Rat access via sewer

Hi, this relates to a 7 unit building about 90 years old. The house drain got blocked over the weekend. Happily I was able to unblock it using 25′ snake inserted near the house trap. When checking to see that all was OK this morning I saw a rat peering up at me. This rat is on the house side of the house trap. Is this normal or does it indicate an unusual level of access? It means that there is only a toilet trap keeping the rat from popping his head into my basement toilet. I am doubly concerned as in January a pregnant rat gained access to the basement via a funnel drain that was catching condensate from an air handler. (There is a trap primer but it had ceased to function though less than three years old. The funnel drain had no grille, it now has a perforated jim cap and a crosspiece.) My question is really just this: Is it normal for there to be rats on the house side of a house trap? Does this rat just happily nip through the house trap to go and feed on the streets? Thanks.G

Gobbaloon

in Plumbers and Plumbing 12 years and 2 months ago

2

Please log in, in order to post replies!

2 replies

Newest Oldest

slopemope | 12 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4854 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4877 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "161310"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "slopemope"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "slopemope"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "slopemope@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/slopemope/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:24:00"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "slopemope"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(161310)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

sorry, not “on attic” – i meant metal screens around all exposed vents on the roof.  you know what i mean.

slopemope | 12 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4855 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4856 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "161310"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "slopemope"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "slopemope"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "slopemope@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/slopemope/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:24:00"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "slopemope"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(161310)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Rats can travel underwater but they can also come through plumbing vents on roof.     http://www.asktheexterminator.com/rats/Toilet_Rat_printer.shtml   I’d go online to 311 and have them bait the sewer, and place metal screening around all vents on attic and drains on basement floor.  Also, at night you can squird dish soap around inside of toilet bowls, close lids, and make sure infrequently used toilets are flushed.   You can also bait your house trap and both sides of it before going to bed.  At least that’s what i would do in order to sleep with both eyes closed.