Sounds like you should buy a pellet gun, solve your attic problem, and take a trip down a culinary memory lane.Actually, the way mom cooked them, they tasted like pork chops.
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Squirrels!
- Thread starter lunatic59
- Start date
To the attic problem ...
I was up there for a good part of the day yesterday assessing the damage. It's an unfinished space with a "blanket" of blown in cellulose insulation over the living space.... about 10" of it, so it's pretty dusty and messy.
There is also my studio over the garage which was finished later that has R-30 fiberglass batts.
I found evidence of the squirrels going through the eaves of the roof, but they apparently don't like the cellulose because it was undisturbed, except for the area that was repaired when the tree fell in 2007 and punched a hole in the roof. It was over the studio where the most activity was. Found a nice fiberglass nest built in one corner and a couple of attempt to chew holes in the OSB sheathing. The roof decking and trusses show no indication of any chewing.
The damage that needs to be addressed immediately were some chewed wires and a big hole in the air duct that supplies heat and air conditioning to the space.
I've turn off the power to that room and patched the duct temporarily until I can replace it (It's insulated flex pipe). I've also blocked all the access points that I found, but I'm keeping the trap set just in case I missed something.
I have to check with codes to see if I can put armor clad in an unfinished residential space, otherwise I'm going with pvc conduit.
And one last bit ... I called my insurance company and the two things that are not covered without specific riders on the policy are floods and infestations ... which is what they consider damage done by these furry little b@st@rds.
I was up there for a good part of the day yesterday assessing the damage. It's an unfinished space with a "blanket" of blown in cellulose insulation over the living space.... about 10" of it, so it's pretty dusty and messy.
There is also my studio over the garage which was finished later that has R-30 fiberglass batts.I found evidence of the squirrels going through the eaves of the roof, but they apparently don't like the cellulose because it was undisturbed, except for the area that was repaired when the tree fell in 2007 and punched a hole in the roof. It was over the studio where the most activity was. Found a nice fiberglass nest built in one corner and a couple of attempt to chew holes in the OSB sheathing. The roof decking and trusses show no indication of any chewing.
The damage that needs to be addressed immediately were some chewed wires and a big hole in the air duct that supplies heat and air conditioning to the space.
I've turn off the power to that room and patched the duct temporarily until I can replace it (It's insulated flex pipe). I've also blocked all the access points that I found, but I'm keeping the trap set just in case I missed something.I have to check with codes to see if I can put armor clad in an unfinished residential space, otherwise I'm going with pvc conduit.
And one last bit ... I called my insurance company and the two things that are not covered without specific riders on the policy are floods and infestations ... which is what they consider damage done by these furry little b@st@rds.
Keep in mind that if you do get an infestation rider it may require an active mitigation plan (e.g. I have my house sprayed for ants & wasps 4 times a year)
What do you use for squirrels? Napalm? 
Seeing as carpenter ants are very active in our area we have an annual inspection and soil treatment around the foundation. It was those chompy little buggers that ate enough of the trunk of a cherry tree in the woods behind out house that caused it to fall on the roof. They seem to get you one way or another.
Seeing as carpenter ants are very active in our area we have an annual inspection and soil treatment around the foundation. It was those chompy little buggers that ate enough of the trunk of a cherry tree in the woods behind out house that caused it to fall on the roof. They seem to get you one way or another.
Burn them. Burn them all with fire.
D
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And insurers are thieving little b@st@rds aren't they?
Sorry to hear that Luna, last thing you need after the expensive HVAC maintenance.
Of course I could just let them continue to chew on the wires and have the house burn to the ground. That is covered.
That'll teach them a lesson.
The lesson is they have an idiot for a customer. 
What do you use for squirrels? Napalm?
Seeing as carpenter ants are very active in our area we have an annual inspection and soil treatment around the foundation. It was those chompy little buggers that ate enough of the trunk of a cherry tree in the woods behind out house that caused it to fall on the roof. They seem to get you one way or another.
When they start destroying the out house.... that's serious business.
Insurance is a form of organized crime IMO. Sorry for your damage and very sorry to hear it's on your dime. I had to run armor clad wiring in my cabin. The cabin sits on peers and the majority of the wiring is underneath and easily accessible to all the chewing varmints in the county. Needless to say, all the wiring had to be replaced when I got the cabin. I'm five years in now and haven't lost a single circuit to the critters. The armor clad three wire is the perfect solution.
Well, I can't really complain about the insurance. We've had two trees come down. One hit the house and one did not. The one that did took out our back porch and poked a hole in the roof. We got a new roof on the back of our house and the porch rebuilt. The other tree was from the neighboring property and while it didn't damage the house, the cleanup was on their nickel.
Then a few years ago we got a whole new roof put on after a hail storm to the tun of $12k. Out of pocket was exactly $0.00 I figure we're into them for over $20 grand and total premiums paid since we've been homeowners 30-some years ago is less than half of that.
We've had cars in our driveway for less than 24 hours that have had fuel lines and wiring harnesses gnawed through by these hairy little buzzsaws, which is why we park in the garage.
I am only concerned about the local codes because they get all bent out of shape when thier beans don't add up. I could easily see trying to get a permit for something else and the inspector saying everything has to be changed. I already talked to my brother-in-law the contractor and he said that it shouldn't be a problem to use the metal clad wire in the attic space, but some codes require it to be clad all the way back to the sub panel, rather than just to a junction box.
I could just run a big orange extension cord out the garage window and up the side of the house. That will look nice, right?
Then a few years ago we got a whole new roof put on after a hail storm to the tun of $12k. Out of pocket was exactly $0.00
I figure we're into them for over $20 grand and total premiums paid since we've been homeowners 30-some years ago is less than half of that.We've had cars in our driveway for less than 24 hours that have had fuel lines and wiring harnesses gnawed through by these hairy little buzzsaws, which is why we park in the garage.
I am only concerned about the local codes because they get all bent out of shape when thier beans don't add up. I could easily see trying to get a permit for something else and the inspector saying everything has to be changed. I already talked to my brother-in-law the contractor and he said that it shouldn't be a problem to use the metal clad wire in the attic space, but some codes require it to be clad all the way back to the sub panel, rather than just to a junction box.
I could just run a big orange extension cord out the garage window and up the side of the house. That will look nice, right?
Naturally, I was not concerned with code or inspectors on my rewiring. It's supposed to be done by a licensed electrician that comes with permit and inspection to attest it was to code.
I replaced the six fuse panel with a real breaker panel and wired it up. I ran all new circuits so I am 100% armor clad from panel to load everywhere. I didn't trust any of the existing wiring.
I wouldn't think there would be a problem just running the clad from a junction to the load. But, you never know.
Years ago I had a little house as a rental. When one tenant vacated he had the power turned off. They came out and pulled the old meter. When I had the power company come back out to set another meter I was informed the meter can was lose and had to be firmly attached to the dwelling. I ran by there and screwed the darn can on the house... sheesh. Called them again to set the meter and I was informed that it had to be done by a licensed electrician and THEY would have to call in for a new meter. I paid one of the electricians I work around ten bucks for him to call it in. Absurd! They may make you run your armor clad to the power station.
I replaced the six fuse panel with a real breaker panel and wired it up. I ran all new circuits so I am 100% armor clad from panel to load everywhere. I didn't trust any of the existing wiring.
I wouldn't think there would be a problem just running the clad from a junction to the load. But, you never know.
Years ago I had a little house as a rental. When one tenant vacated he had the power turned off. They came out and pulled the old meter. When I had the power company come back out to set another meter I was informed the meter can was lose and had to be firmly attached to the dwelling. I ran by there and screwed the darn can on the house... sheesh. Called them again to set the meter and I was informed that it had to be done by a licensed electrician and THEY would have to call in for a new meter. I paid one of the electricians I work around ten bucks for him to call it in. Absurd! They may make you run your armor clad to the power station.
The power company cares nothing about your safety. They were worried you were going to take a tap off the line before the meter.
I can get my bro-in-laws electrician to dot all the i's for me for a couple of bucks. I'd rather do it that way. I've seen too much work by licensed electricians (and plumbers and most recently, HVAC pros) that looks like they wen't to the same trade school as Homer Simpson. Perfect example is our data center here at work.
When the previous tenant left it looked like this ...
After I got in there and got our equipment setup it looked like this:
We sublet our lower level out to an office furniture company and their "professional" IT department came in and patched in all their stuff and left the data center looking like this:
This is why I have little faith in pro's with licenses.
I can get my bro-in-laws electrician to dot all the i's for me for a couple of bucks. I'd rather do it that way. I've seen too much work by licensed electricians (and plumbers and most recently, HVAC pros) that looks like they wen't to the same trade school as Homer Simpson. Perfect example is our data center here at work.
When the previous tenant left it looked like this ...
After I got in there and got our equipment setup it looked like this:
We sublet our lower level out to an office furniture company and their "professional" IT department came in and patched in all their stuff and left the data center looking like this:
This is why I have little faith in pro's with licenses.
Exactly.
These guys all supposedly had all sorts of IT certifications. Me? My degree is in art, if you believe that.
Those cable chases and wire clips are there for a reason, people!
D
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Ace job there on the cabling Luna. So much for the IT pros eh? That is atrociously untidy work.
Squirrels: Epilog
I spent last night replacing the attic wiring with MC cable. Power is back on.
These are some examples of what I found.
I'm lucky I still have a house.
I did a thorough inspection of the rest of the wiring and points of ingress and I think I've got everything covered, but I think I'm going to be doing periodic checks for a while. If I hear any scratching up there now, I'm getting out the 20 gauge..
I spent last night replacing the attic wiring with MC cable. Power is back on.
These are some examples of what I found.
I'm lucky I still have a house.
I did a thorough inspection of the rest of the wiring and points of ingress and I think I've got everything covered, but I think I'm going to be doing periodic checks for a while. If I hear any scratching up there now, I'm getting out the 20 gauge..
Yikes!
Jerk b@st@rds!!
Good thing you found that when you did and got them right outta there. Geeze
Jerk b@st@rds!!
Good thing you found that when you did and got them right outta there. Geeze
D
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Does anyone still think they're lovely cute little furry critters that make excellent pets?
I think Ellie May Clampett is the only person who thought squirrels make great pets. She taught hers to swim in the cement pond.
Perhaps you misunderstood the reason the squirrels were there in the first place? Seem like helpfull little buggers after all.
Llama huh? That might be interesting.
So it's been about two weeks since last i heard any activity in the attic. I went up over the weekend to checkup and saw no activity, although at one of the points of ingress I think there are a few new chew marks on the siding, so someone was trying to get in. They were unsuccessful.
If they do find a way in, good luck chewing my wires.
If they do find a way in, good luck chewing my wires.
Looks like you just might have conquered the squirrel. Next the moose.