Rat gate installation
Professional rat gate installation for homes, landlords and businesses, with clear advice and a quotation before any work starts.
A surprising number of rat problems start in the drains. Rats live in the sewer network and can travel up through damaged pipes, old connections or unsealed joints to reach wall cavities, floors and gardens.
A rat gate, also called a rat blocker or non-return valve, is fitted inside the drain at the inspection chamber (manhole). It has a flap that lets waste water flow out but stops rats swimming back up the pipe towards your property.
Signs to look out for
- Rat activity keeps returning after treatment
- Rats seen in or around the manhole or gullies
- Scratching inside walls near soil pipes or bathrooms
- Rats appearing in a kitchen or bathroom with no obvious outside entry point
How we deal with it
Drain inspection
We lift the inspection chamber cover and check the drain run, flow and condition. Where the cause is not clear we may recommend a drain camera (CCTV) survey.
Suitability check
We confirm a rat gate is suitable for the pipe size and layout, and that it will not cause blockages.
Installation
We fit a stainless steel rat gate in the outgoing pipe of the chamber, so rats from the sewer cannot pass through.
Advice and aftercare
We explain how the gate works, how it can be inspected and what to do if the drain backs up.
Where drains are shared with neighbours or sit outside your property boundary, they may be the responsibility of the local water company rather than the homeowner. We will tell you if we think this applies to you.
Questions about rat gate installation
Will a rat gate block my drain?
A correctly sized and fitted rat gate allows normal flow. We check suitability before fitting and explain how to keep it clear.
Do I still need rat treatment if I fit a rat gate?
Usually yes. The gate stops new rats coming up from the sewer, but any rats already inside the property still need to be dealt with.
How do I know if rats are coming from the drains?
Repeated activity with no outside entry point, activity near soil pipes and sightings around manholes are common signs. A drain inspection confirms it.
Qualified and vetted
Talk to a local pest control technician
Tell us what you are seeing and we will give you clear advice and a quotation. No prices are fixed until we understand the problem.