Roshield Stainless Rat Flap Drain Guard

Roshield Drain Guards

Prevent rodent access via the drainage system

Professional build quality rodent drain flap to prevent rodent access to a properties main drainage system.

It is estimated that drainage defects cause 90% of internal rat problems, and the Roshield Drain Guard is possibly the best proofing method to treat both active infestations as well as prevent a recurrence.

The rat enters premises through the drainage defect such as a broken pipe and generally burrow through the ground until the internal entry is gained into the building foundations, wall cavity and loft.

The Roshield Drain Guard prevents rats from entering buildings via the sewer system while allowing the free flow of waste in the other direction.

It is important to note that additional care should be taken not to flush wet wipes and other solids not suitable for drainage.

Installation.

Install the flap nearest to the boundary of the property or if you are aware of a drain collapse, install it between the collapse and the property.

Make sure that the flap is pointing downstream and if necessary swap the bolt over to the correct position.

Fit the guard into the pipe, making sure that the flap still has movement.

Proofing against rodents

Before undertaking any rodent proofing works, we recommend that you survey the property; this will help highlight any possible entrance points, including ones you are unaware of. Pay particular attention to wall junctions, pipework and vents as a general rule; house mice will get through a hole the size of a small pencil and brown rats a 10p coin.

Typical entrance points include:

• Missing or damaged air bricks or vents
• Around pipework on external walls
• Weep holes and gaps in the mortar
• Damaged soffits and fascia

We recommend that you control any established infestation before undertaking proofing works; otherwise, it may hinder any present control treatment as well as potently forcing rodents from finding or creating new access points. However, we do appreciate that in some circumstances, proofing rodents is the only approach if other control measures have had little success, especially when controlling mice within city centres.

Not all access points are visible, and in many circumstances, proofing cannot be undertaken. An example is that you are located in a flat or a mid-terraced building with no control of the surrounding voids and cavities. However, proofing should still be undertaken on a room-by-room basis to prevent internal ingress.

An area that is often overlooked is rats gaining access to the property via the drainage system. A fault within the pipe can be common and often goes undetected, leading to rats gaining access to internal cavities and gardens via tunnels under the ground. If you believe that this might be possible, we recommend placing a drain guard that creates a one-way system, thus preventing rats from accessing.

When possible, it is best to use a combination of materials; an example is our rodent-proofing paste is best used in combination with a mesh to best protect against the highest pressures inflicted by large established infestations.

Post-proofing

Once prevention has been undertaken, it is important to clean the areas to remove any bacteria and viruses associated with rodents. Rats, in particular, are a transmitter of several diseases, including Weil’s, which can be harmful to both humans and pets.

Again at Roshield, we have a wide range of options that can complement the treatment process, including a 90% alcohol aerosol for the treatment of a room or our sanitiser and cleaner concentrate spray, which is great for treating large areas that may have been frequented by rodents, such as kitchen cupboards and other voids.