Infested Home? Who to Call First — The Pest Control or the Electrician?

If your entire home is infested with pests — like mice, squirrels, termites, or even insects — you may be wondering what comes first: pest control or electrical work? Here’s the answer (and why it matters more than you think).

🐀 Why Pests Are a Serious Electrical Hazard

Rodents and pests don’t just damage walls and insulation — they chew through wires, build nests inside panels, and leave behind flammable debris.

Common pest-related electrical issues include:

• 🐭 Chewed wires (fire hazard)
• 🐜 Insects nesting in outlet boxes
• 🐿️ Squirrels in attic wiring or conduit
• 🐍 Snakes in crawlspace panels (yes, really)
• 🦇 Bat or bird droppings corroding electrical boxes

⚠️ Call Pest Control First — Always

Before you start any electrical repairs, replacements, or inspections, get the infestation under control.

Why?

• Electricians won’t safely work around live pests or active nests.
• Wires may continue to get chewed even after you fix them.
• Pest activity hides electrical damage, which could be missed during a repair.

✔️ A licensed pest control company should:

• Remove all live pests
• Seal entry points
• Clean up hazardous droppings or nests

⚡ Then Call an Electrician for a Full Inspection

Once your home is pest-free, bring in a licensed electrician to:

• Check every affected circuit or room
• Inspect your panel, attic, basement, crawlspace, or any known entry areas
• Replace damaged or chewed wiring
• Look for melted insulation, short circuits, or tripped breakers caused by the infestation

💡 Tip: Ask your electrician to label any suspicious wires or damaged spots for insurance or pest control follow-up.

🧰 Prevention Tips: Keep It from Happening Again

• Seal all wall and roof penetrations near cable or conduit.
• Ask your electrician about conduit covers or pest-resistant wiring.
• Keep panel boxes sealed and garages/sheds dry.
• Use motion lighting or sound deterrents in basements and attics.

🚫 Don’t Try DIY Fixes in Infested Homes

Handling wires or panels without knowing the extent of pest damage is dangerous. Hidden nests or chewed connections can shock you or spark a fire.

In short? Call pest control first — then your electrician. At E&A ELECTRIC LLC, we work with pest control timelines and offer full post-infestation electrical inspections to restore your home’s safety.