Knoxville Raccoons In The Crawlspace
Raccoons in the crawlspace can create major problems under a house. Outside openings that raccoons can damage to open, or pre existing openings around the foundation will give easy access to the animal. Raccoons use their hands just like we do, allowing them to rip and pull off metal, vent covers, wood, and siding. Raccoons will utilize a crawlspace or under a house for shelter and to have young. The elevated, dark accessible area of a crawlspace or basement provides secure cover for the raccoon to feel right at home. Areas raccoons can enter your crawlspace, basement, or under your home can be:
- Raccoons going through the Air Conditioner Unit, under the shroud, or in the metal fork lift openings between the unit and slab.
- Raccoons pulling off or ripping through Breezeway Vent or crawlspace vents.
- Raccoons going through Foundation Drains.
- Raccoons tearing through siding under a bay window.
- Raccoons getting under your deck.
- Raccoons opening your crawlspace door.
- Raccoons digging under the foundation wall.
- Raccoons tore off the dryer vent cover and damaged the line.
Monitoring or periodically checking each of these openings can ensure your foundation is secure from raccoons. If they are present, damage is not hard to spot. Call our raccoon removal specialists at Animal Pros.
Knoxville Raccoon Damage In A Crawlspace
Raccoon damage in a crawlspace can easily create big problems. Damage usually occurs to floor insulation, duct lines, electrical wires, and vapor barrier or your crawl space lining. Immediate action is required to to remove the raccoons, and prevent costly damage under your home. Because raccoons use a crawlspace for shelter, there are certain items under your home that raccoons will damage that makes suitable nesting materials.
Raccoon Damage To Duct Lines In A Crawlspace
Duct Lines or Hvac lines are easily damaged under a home or in a crawlspace when raccoons are present. Insulation around those hvac lines are ripped off by raccoons, who use it for suitable nesting materials. Raccoons also associate the cool touch of the outside of the duct line, to water, instinctively causing them to rip open hvac lines. Once raccoons are inside a duct line, presence of animal dander, feces, or urine, as it is disturbed from the animal, can filter air borne particulates throughout the duct system and even into your living space.
Raccoon Damage To Insulation In A Crawlspace
Raccoons can be very destructive in a crawlspace to floor insulation and to insulation around duct lines. Raccoons will not only use floor insulation to rest on, but can also hide above it, using it as a cushion, next to the floor of the home. Insulation ripped of of soft and hard duct lines does make suitable nesting material when a raccoon is having young. The presence of damaged insulation in a crawlspace indicates the presence of animals, and possible raccoons.
Raccoon Damage To Electrical Wires Crawlspace
Raccoon damage to electrical wires in a crawlspace can occur from where the animal is coming through the unit, clawing through the limited access. If your AC stops functioning, this could be a sign of electrical wire damage from raccoons. Other electrical lines ran in a crawlspace or basement can also be damaged as raccoons will pull, chew, and wedge themselves in small areas. If you notice electrical wire damage in your crawlspace, contact a professional immediately.
Raccoon Damage To Vapor Barrier In Crawlspace
If raccoons are present in your Knoxville crawlspace, chances are as the raccoons leave droppings, fecal contaminates and accumulation will be present on your vapor barrier, prompting removal and replacement. Feces from animals can be found above and under your vapor barrier. Once the plastic is contaminated, it needs to be removed, and droppings remediated, and disinfected before new plastic or vapor barrier is reinstalled.
Raccoon Feces In A Crawlspace
Fecal accumulation or the heavy presence of animal droppings from raccoons can quickly pile up in a crawlspace. Bathroom or Raccoon Latrine areas can harbor pathogens, bacteria, and disease. With raccoons a little larger than a small dog, and leaving droppings daily, feces can quickly contaminate the entire crawlspace. Proper remediation is required for droppings in a crawlspace. Feces in a basement or crawlspace does not naturally break down organically as if outside exposed to the elements. Call our repair and restoration specialist at Animal Pros, to repair and restore your crawlspace to new.