Can rats really get into your home by swimming through sewage pipes?

Question

and what size aperture are they capable of passsing through?

Answer 1

I guess it's possible, but they'd probably drown before they got too far unless they knew how to swim and hold their breath properly and all that.

Answer 2

i would say no in your sewage lines there should be some kind of a check valve ( one way valve )  stuff can go out  rat dont get in  but depending on your system they could i guess  but i wouldent worry to much about it  

Answer 3

ive never heard of it actually happening ,but ,under special circumstances as above ,i'm sure ,it could.

Answer 4

maybe idk

Answer 5

If the home has been vacant for more than a few weeks, it's possible.

Under sinks and inside toilets there is a double curve in the drain, you've probably seen this. This is known as the P-Trap, and that traps a certain amount (maybe 2 or 3 cups) of water in there, stopping sewer gases, insects and even small rodents from coming up the drain. If no water has gone down the drain for an extended period of time, the water in the P-Trap will evaporate (dry out) allowing them to pass through.

A mouse or rat can pass through small pipes, as long as there head can go inside.



Hope this was helpful,

Good Luck,  ;-)

Answer 6

Yes, but it is unusual.  Rats often inhabit the main sewer lines of urban areas.  However, it is difficult for them to travel "up" to where the toilets, etc., are.  There is plenty of food for them in the sewers, so usually they don't bother.

The main way that rats enter a home through a toilet is through the home's air exhaust pipe.  This pipe removes air pressure from the toilet line and helps the toilet flush.  It's usually a plastic pipe, poking through the roof.  You can secure wire mesh over the pipe to prevent this.  But, again, it's unusual.

As to the size opening a rat can pass through: down to half an inch square.  Hope this helps.