How To Prevent Squirrels From Chewing Power Lines

October 24, 2016 | In Hazards

There’s no doubt about it: squirrels are instinctively predisposed to chew. How do you prevent them from chewing your electrical lines outside your home and gaining access to your attic or basement through wiring-only openings? Pest nibbling can cause interruptions in your service and dangerous “hot” wiring hanging outside your home.

Squirrels, the gray squirrel in particular, are tenacious. They can chew through wood, plastic, and even aluminum. Not many woodland creatures have the tenacity of this fella. However, there are ways to dissuade this critter from cutting his teeth on your wiring.

 Anti-Chew Solutions

One option is to use heavy gage sheet metal. Squirrels are no match for it, and it’s used in a few applications to help you prevent damage. Heavy gage sheet metal can be used as a conduit for power lines and outdoor-to-indoor wiring. You will always want to make sure your power lines are insulated with a rubber housing, but those pesky critters can’t chew their way through a heavy gage sheet metal.

When those power lines get to your house, there needs to be an opening that allows them to enter your home. However, we don’t want that to be an open invitation to the squirrels. In addition, in your attic, vent holes that provide a place for the warm air in the attic to vent out and cooler air to come in are prime entry spots for squirrels. By blocking the space around the wiring with steel screen material, you’ll keep those pesky rodents from gaining entrance. Or, if your wiring heads underground and into your house via the basement, the steel screen material can be used at this entry, as well. Sheet metal is a great deterrent for squirrels and can be bent and shaped to fill holes and cover potential spots a squirrel might use to gain access to your house.

We recommend this as an alternative to poisons and chemicals, especially when you have pets or small children. There are significant risks when considering poisons or chemicals, and we prefer to go with heavy gage sheet metal as an alternative.

If you think you have a squirrel problem or have seen the signs of chewing along power lines and into your house, give us a call. We are experienced in identifying this problem and are happy to advise you on solutions.

Contact us today for help with your power lines. Protecting your power lines and your family is our goal.