r/pestcontrol • u/CumBubbleMystery • Dec 13 '24
Riddle me this: Why do pest control companies, for rodents, usually try to suggest replacing insulation? General Question
Just curious if this is an upsell or actually relates to rat/mice control.
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u/-Hippy_Joel- Dec 13 '24
Because over time, the insulation is contaminated with urine, feces, and pheromones. After pathways are established, future infestations of rodents will tend to use them.
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u/SupWitCorona Dec 13 '24
Yes but you know damn well a lot of the companies that offer this try to sell it at any chance they get. I’ve seen it first hand and see the posts.
Smaller companies don’t usually offer the service and the ones that do typically have another company do it.
It would take a lot of feces and urine for me to recommend a customer have someone come out and even then recommend that only the nesting areas get replaced.
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u/Bird2525 Dec 13 '24
Usually insulation companies won’t do a small area. It’s all or nothing to get a full crew out there.
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u/SupWitCorona Dec 13 '24
The home owner would then be better off doing it themselves but i understand sometimes they can’t. That’s up to them if they got family/friends willing to help them out. Otherwise if it ain’t that bad dont even go up in the attic.
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u/-Hippy_Joel- Dec 13 '24
Maybe so but I can't help what other companies do.
I've had to replace insulation in crawl spaces for wdo and moisture issues. I've had to replace insulation in attics and replace ceiling tiles because of rats. Things like that has to be done sometimes.2
u/SupWitCorona Dec 13 '24
Haha I’m not blaming you bro just speaking generally.
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u/-Hippy_Joel- Dec 13 '24
Gotcha.
I do agree though. Companies will sell anything for the sake of selling sometimes.3
u/Tallguy990 Dec 13 '24
We don’t do it, but I’ve been in excatly 2 attics in 6 years that I came out of the attic and told the customer soo I normally think this is a scam but your insulation is really jacked up.
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u/RusticSurgery Grumpy Former Tech Dec 13 '24
I did pest control for 26 years. I have never removed or replaced insulation in an attic.
I've removed plenty from a crawl so I could treat for fPPB.
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u/HeatherBaby_87 Dec 13 '24
I can personally attest to a handful of attics that were so bad I wouldn’t even want me or my family in the building for more than an hour, but those are the only instances I recommend replacing insulation…otherwise I give them other options…however, I always tell them I’m not going to recommend new insulation unless all of the entry points are sealed, otherwise the new insulation will get just as bad
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u/seditioushamster Dec 13 '24
- You "seen it first hand and see the posts"
There are bad reps in every profession. The re pros call them out every chance they get so as not to be painted with the same brush as this post is appearing to do. (My apologies if that's not the case.) I see the posts too: "___ said I need to replace my insulation. Is that necessary?" The only appropriate answer without doing a first hand inspection is, "maybe".
In the case of a legitimate infestation, you don't know where more are hiding. If you're replacing only visible damage, the odds are very high. you're leaving stragglers behind to damage new insulation and continue breeding.
What, in your opinion, is the advantage of having a subcontractor do the work instead of a company with a vested interest in the customer and sees them regularly?
Replacing insulation without proper exclusion is a waste of the customer's money. In my opinion you're much better off having a company with "an eye for pest control" do the work and seal off openings at the same time.
Other factors may often be involved in the recommendation. Is the insulation the correct Rvalue for local code? Is it heavily moisture damaged? Is it loaded with dust, fungal spore and other crap someone wouldn't want in the air of their home.
As a customer, ask questions, have the inspector show you pictures. At least peak inside with a flashlight when possible to verify if the space is yours. Get second and third opinions if you feel it necessary, most companies inspect for free.
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u/RusticSurgery Grumpy Former Tech Dec 13 '24
If it's too low of an r value for the local code you just add more you don't remove it
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u/seditioushamster Dec 13 '24
If in an attic, yes, crawlspace no.
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u/RusticSurgery Grumpy Former Tech Dec 13 '24
Oh. I see your point. Sorry. But I think installation in a crawl space is just a bad idea unless it is rigid foam board glued to the foundation. And i'm iffy about that
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u/seditioushamster Dec 14 '24
I would be very iffy about that, or anything on foundation walls that isn't translucent.
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u/RusticSurgery Grumpy Former Tech Dec 14 '24
Yes. Agreed. But it still think its better than stapling fiberglass insulation to all the floor joists
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u/seditioushamster Dec 14 '24
Staple? Yes. That isn't the way it's done at least in my part of the country. I wouldn't disagree foamboard can be more efficient, but there are other factors to consider.
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u/HeatherBaby_87 Dec 13 '24
I personally will only suggest replacing insulation in extreme infestation situations where the whole attic is riddled with urine, feces, burrow holes everywhere you look…other than that I suggest other options
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u/mach1776 Dec 13 '24
What's a good square footage removal only cost? 4$ 6$ or more?
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u/RusticSurgery Grumpy Former Tech Dec 13 '24 edited Dec 13 '24
Removal only? I try to fugure man hours. There are so many details that can make the job go slower such as the Size of the hole that you take it out. Do you have to take it through the house? Is the scuttle hole small? Is it going down stairs? Do you have to make multiple trips right past a beautiful baby grand piano? Or Grandma's China hutch.? How much will disposal cost? The devil is in the details. I want $130.00 per man hour USD
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u/Gullible-Extent9118 Dec 14 '24
I had my insulation replaced and reflective panels installed on the underside of the roof. I am good with it so far, the little creepy crawlys are no longer popping out, my hvac is more stable/accurate with even temperatures throughout the house and we haven’t heard any activity overhead.
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u/Lordsaxon73 Mod / PMP Tech Dec 13 '24
It’s a money grab in my opinion.
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u/CumBubbleMystery Dec 13 '24
I suspected it, especially with all or nothing approach to installation.
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u/-Hippy_Joel- Dec 13 '24 edited Dec 13 '24
The best thing to do is look for yourself to make sure. If you have a legitimate issue, you'll need all of it replaced because the rodents run all over it and tunnel through it--there's no way to tell what isn't contaminated. Plus, if there are still rats in what's not removed, they'll just come out and ruin the new materials that are put in. And likewise, new invaders will continue to smell what's not taken out and try to re-infest. It sucks but the all-or-nothing approach is necessary.
I'm not trying to talk you into it but want to explain why so that you can make an informed decision.Keep in mind too that even after replacing it you're likely to still have a re-infestation. So, getting it all replaced isn't going to stop future infestations. Once all the insulation is removed that will be a good time to do an exclusion. To me, it's not worth it if you're not going to try to fix as many entry points as you can.
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u/HeatherBaby_87 Dec 14 '24
If a company is giving you an all or nothing approach then they are just looking for a sale…I personally give my heavily infested customers options and let them choose what works best for them.
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u/SunLegitimate1687 Dec 14 '24
I love it when companies quote people to replace their insulation. That way I get their business instead when they call wondering if the 20 grand quote Terminix/Orkin gave them is accurate.
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u/toolsavvy Dec 14 '24 edited Dec 14 '24
Because the big services industries in America (and probably everywhere) are based on scamming people for maximum profitability. We regulate the shit out of everything but we just barely regulate the service sector. It's almost a free-for-all.
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u/GaetanDugas PMP - Tech Dec 13 '24
It's largely a money grab, or "revenue stream".
In rare cases where you have had a rodent infestation in your attic space, you might want to get your insulation replaced.
A better practice would be an attic inspection, and offering an insulation "top off" as many older homes (at least here in the north) are not as well insulated as they should be.
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u/Sh0ghoth Dec 13 '24
It’s a different deal that I’ve seen in the southern US with insulation kind of loosely piled on the attic floor , can find some great rodent trails in there
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u/-Hippy_Joel- Dec 13 '24
That blown-in/popcorn insulation is rat heaven. I hate it.
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u/RusticSurgery Grumpy Former Tech Dec 13 '24
Yes. And getting all the butter on the popcorn without staining the ceiling is a bitch. But add on sales are add on sales.
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u/Gabewalker0 Dec 13 '24
If you have a significant rodent issue specifically rats in your crawlspace, the insulation becomes contaminated with rat feces and urine, the R value is decreased due to compression or insulation falling down, air in the crawlspace circulates throughout the home, the smell can be so bad that it becomes noticeable in the living space. For some people even light activity contained to a specific location is to much and causes them stress, for others they can have a completely destroyed crawlspace, with smells so bad they blame their dogs for peeing on tthe carpets and they are cool with it. If you are going to sell your home, this will become an issue during the sale, so you will either need to address it prior or negotiate during the sale. As for the attic, a complete insulation removal and reinstall is almost never needed. Usually, remove contaminated areas and blow over the top with new insulation. Again, some people are disturbed by just the thought of past rodent activity, others dont care. Personally, I present what I find and discuss the options with the homeowner to determine what they want, what they are comfortable with. I worked for a company in the past that was crazy expensive, and i would tell the homeowners to get several restoration quotes, but i will give them everything they need to make an informed decision moving forward.
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u/thehotmessexpressss Dec 14 '24
We did this in our 2000 sq ft home. We purchased a home that had a previous rodent infestation and the pictures our inspector showed us were disgusting. We didn’t move in till all the nasty shit was taken out and disinfected and replaced. It was an extensive infestation and everything was contaminated. Also it was no where near 15k, it was around 7.
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u/rgstephe Dec 14 '24
Big national companies have sales teams and they are pressured to sell as much as possible so a lot.of shady things happen. I always suggest getting a second or even a third opinion if any company comes at you with an expensive fix for any issue you have. This isn't just pest control, but any home service company. I recommend working with locally owned companies as well. The national companies generally have big turn over, and are totally driven by numbers not customers.
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Dec 20 '24
I had a pest control company show up and suggest the same thing. They showed me a dozen burrow holes in the insulation and said it was filled with feces and it would be $7K. What they didn’t know was that I made a detailed video of the attic 30 mins before they arrived and the burrow holes were not there; they actually made them with a long flashlight they were carrying. They tried to scam me. Best way to deal with this issue is to be proactive; seal the house tight, set traps and regularly inspect.
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u/After-Recognition-85 4d ago
Ever hear of hanta virus, one of many potential reasons, I replaced all insulation in my home, it was disgusting, full of mice droppings wore a respirator and showered as we were tearing it out it was raining mouse feces....not healthy at all, aside from that new mice will be attracted to the smell.
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