Rats in Sewer Systems: The Growing Threat to Homes and Businesses
The Problem: Rats in Sewer Systems
Rats are a pervasive pest in urban areas, often causing significant damage to infrastructure, health risks, and economic losses. One of the most troubling and increasingly common ways rats infiltrate homes and businesses is through sewer systems. As cities grow, so do the complexities of their plumbing infrastructure, and unfortunately, these rats are finding ways to travel through private laterals—pipes that connect homes and businesses to the larger municipal sewer system. Let’s dive into how this issue develops, the dangers it poses, and how pest professionals can use innovative tools, like the Sewer Assassin, to fight back.
How Rats Enter Homes and Businesses
Rats are resilient creatures, capable of squeezing through incredibly small spaces. When sewer systems back up or when water levels in sewer pipes rise (especially during heavy rain), rats can navigate through the plumbing and find their way into your toilets. This is particularly concerning for business owners and homeowners, as rats can not only cause extensive damage to plumbing systems but also pose a serious health risk due to the diseases they carry.
In addition to direct entry via toilets, rats can also find ways into walls, crawl spaces, and basements through plumbing lines, creating hidden pathways that allow them to infest a property. Their ability to breed rapidly and spread throughout a building means that once they gain entry, controlling them becomes a major challenge.
The Threat: Health and Property Damage
Rats are not just an inconvenience; they’re a significant health and safety risk. They are known to carry a wide range of diseases, including leptospirosis, salmonella, and hantavirus, which they can spread through their urine, feces, and saliva. In a commercial setting, infestations can lead to contamination of food, damage to products, and loss of customer trust. In homes, the risk is similarly serious—the elderly, children, and pets are particularly vulnerable to the diseases rats can carry.
Moreover, rats are known for chewing on wires, pipes, and insulation, leading to structural damage and expensive repairs. The cost of remediation after a rat infestation can add up quickly, especially when you consider the labor, material replacements, and potential for insurance claims.

How the Sewer Assassin Can Help
How It Works:
- Targeted Deployment: The Sewer Assassin is strategically placed in the sewer lines to target rats where they’re most active—within the pipes themselves. Its design ensures that it can reach deep into the sewer system, where rats tend to hide. Its as easy as replacing the existing clean out cap with the device.
- Effective monitoring: This device allows you to prove if rats are present in plumbing by simply affixing a monitor to the device. This allows you to begin the discussion with your customer regarding the possibility of rodents getting in through deteriorating, improperly installed, or faulty plumbing, filling a critical gap that exists in today’s rodent control programs.
- Long-Lasting Protection: If the rodents are present, begin to service it just like an ordinary bait station to maintain control and protect the structure from future infestations. Always remembering to use rodenticides specifically labeled for the sewer.
The Benefits for Pest Professionals and Their Customers
Pest professionals who use the Sewer Assassin gain several advantages. First, it provides a more efficient and targeted solution for their customers. Instead of relying on traditional methods like traps or exterior bait stations, which may not be effective for rats in the sewer system as they will never encounter them in their present environment. —the Sewer Assassin addresses the root of the problem.
For customers, this means faster, more reliable results. The tool minimizes the need for multiple treatments or extensive follow-up, reducing the overall cost and disruption to daily life. Moreover, it’s a solution that helps prevent long-term damage to both the plumbing and the property as a whole.
Conclusion
The issue of rats entering homes and businesses through sewer systems is a growing concern for property owners and pest professionals alike. However, with tools like the Sewer Assassin, pest professionals can now offer a cutting-edge solution that targets rats where they live—right in the sewer system—keeping their clients’ properties safe and free of these dangerous and destructive pests.

Stay proactive. Don’t let the rats win.
For more information, visit sewerassassin.com