(Updated March 2026)
Getting rid of rats in drains can be a difficult task because they are notoriously hardy and resourceful. It is important to take preventative measures before the infestation becomes worse. Rats will find any opening, no matter how small. They will create nests inside walls and behind pipes for safety from natural predators like owls and hawks.
The biggest concern with rat-infested drains is that faeces and urine will build up over time leading to odour problems. This can become a potential health hazard when it comes to mould growth caused by moisture in your home’s plumbing system.
These pests love to eat food scraps that get washed down your drain or flushed down your toilet. The more you feed them, the more they will breed, so it is best to take precautions before they get out of hand.
Rats may not seem too scary at first glance, but rats carry diseases such as salmonella and parasites which can make humans sick if ingested. Rat droppings contain bacteria that cause a disease called leptospirosis which affects humans and animals alike; rats also chew through wires causing power cuts.
As experts in providing rat control throughout Maidstone and Kent, Pest-Tech understands the importance of professional rat control and carrying out CCTV drain surveys to check for ingress points, which is why we’ve put together this guide.
You Are Always 6 Feet Away From A Rat
It is said that you are always 6 feet away from a rat. The reason for this is that rats are often found in drains. They use the drain system as a super highway but are always looking at ways to break out of the system. Rats can survive in a drain system as they can eat natural waste, and there is water for them to drink.
Unfortunately, having rats in your drains is bad for your home, as it offers them an access point and can damage your vital drainage system. Also, rat droppings and other debris can contaminate your drains and home. Rat droppings and urine carry diseases, so it’s imperative that you keep them out of your drains.
Thankfully, Pest-Tech has extensive experience removing rats from drains throughout Maidstone and Kent. This blog will cover our process, including:
- Rat Surveys
- Drain Surveys
- Drain Gates
- Rat Treatment
Rats living in the drains is a common problem for both commercial and residential property owners. These rodents do not discriminate against what they will nibble on, so their presence can be a nuisance. Rats are often drawn to properties by food sources such as rubbish, pet food bowls, fruit trees, and any other edibles that may be sitting out in the open. This blog post will give you some tips on how to get rid of rats from your home or business!
Rat Survey
When we are called out for a rat issue in a house, we will always look in the drain system, if possible. We are looking for signs of rats, such as rat droppings, rat smears on gravel and dirt in the drain. If we find signs of rats in the drain and there are rats in the house, then 90% of the time, the two are linked. We then have to identify how the rats are leaving the drain system and entering the building.
Drain Survey
One way to confirm how rats are leaving the drain system is by having a drain survey. A drain survey will identify faults and breaks in the drain system. If a building has had changes to rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms, then the drains may have been altered. This may mean you have a redundant drain which is a drain that is no longer used. If a redundant drain hasn’t been blocked off correctly, then it is an easy route to get in under the floorboards. Pest-Tech can carry out basic drain surveys and cap off redundant drains. For more technical drain surveys, we can recommend a trusted company.
Drain Gate
Once you have had a drain survey, this will hopefully identify what is happening. If the survey identifies large works that will incur a high cost, then a quick, cheaper solution is a drain gate. A drain gate is a one-way valve to stop rats in the drains getting into areas of the drain system. The drain gate allows waste out and stops rats from getting in. There are a few considerations and recommendations to follow with a fitted drain gate, which will be covered in a future blog.
How To Stop Rats In Drains
Make sure all of the pipe openings are sealed off at least 6″ inside the wall or under floor level. This includes pipes for sinks, tubs, showers, toilets and any other water-carrying pipes that aren’t used frequently. If they’re not sealed properly rodents can find a way inside and start nesting. They also like to chew on things so seal any wires or cables that go through the walls as well.
Use a drain valve. A drain valve is a type of pipe fitting that controls the flow of water. Drain valves are used in residential and commercial plumbing systems to control the flow rate and direction of wastewater, as well as to prevent sewage backups. They can be installed at the end of a drain line or inside a fixture such as a sink or a toilet.
A drain valve (or drain gate) can be used to stop rats from getting into parts of the drain system. It can be used as a quick fix whilst you are waiting for repairs to happen. It can also be used as a permanent feature if you have a weak point or vulnerable area of drainage. This blog is designed to inform you about the drain valve if you are going to have one fitted.
Rat Treatment
Because we know that rats are common in drain systems, when we are dealing with a rat issue inside a property, we always try to view the drains to assess if this is the ingress point. There are high levels of rat activity in the drains, and it is very common to find they have broken out of the system. If we are responsible for dealing with your rat problem and carrying out a rat treatment, we will need to lift your drain covers. We can then look for rat droppings and other signs of rat activity, and recommend the best course of rat control treatment. For most homes, the owner is responsible for paying for the cost of surveys and treatment, but you can learn more by reading our guide: Who Is Responsible For Rats In Drains?
If you would like to find out more about our services and how we can keep rats and other pests out of your property, then Contact Us to discuss your problem.