Rodent Control and Exclusions: Why Mastering the Basics Is Key Before You Tackle Plumbing Intrusions
Why Exclusion Skills Come First in Rodent Control
Rodent control isn’t just about setting up equipment—it’s about knowing where to look and what to seal. For pest management professionals, exclusion skills are the foundation of every successful job.
Plumbing smoke tests, like those performed with the FogTrace smoke machine for pest control professionals, are powerful tools designed to uncover hidden rodent entry points inside a building’s plumbing system. But here’s the catch: these tests only deliver real value once every exterior entry point has been eliminated.
Before a single puff of smoke runs through the plumbing, a PMP needs to be absolutely confident that rodents aren’t sneaking in from the outside. If exterior vulnerabilities remain, smoke testing can produce misleading results—or worse, distract you from the true source of the infestation.
Bottom line: Seal the structure first. Build airtight exclusion skills. Then, and only then, use advanced diagnostics like FogTrace to close the final gap.
The Standard Rodent Control Process: Trapping, Exclusion, and Monitoring
1. Trap Out the Structure
Start by trapping out the active rodent population. This gives you real data on how many rodents are present, where they’re moving, and how severe the infestation is inside the structure.
2. Perform Thorough Exclusions
Once rodent activity has stopped, it’s time to secure the property. Seal every gap, screen vents, cap utility penetrations, and harden weak points. The goal is simple: no rodent should be able to re-enter from the outside. Only after this stage should plumbing be considered as the final avenue of entry.
3. Monitor for Activity
After exclusion work is complete, continue to monitor. If activity continues—or returns, despite airtight sealing, the problem likely runs deeper. At this point, the plumbing system should be tested with advanced tools like the FogTrace smoke machine to detect hidden entry points that traditional inspections can’t uncover.
Plumbing: The Final Frontier in Rodent Defense
Plumbing is often the most overlooked pathway for rodents. Rats are natural swimmers and climbers — navigating up through drains and waste lines is a known tactic. Once all exterior entry points have been sealed, any new activity suggests a breach in the plumbing system.
This is where your process must elevate from general PMP to precision diagnostic expert.
Enter the Sewer Assassin – Your Day-One Plumbing Scout
The Sewer Assassin is designed to prove, monitor, and control plumbing lines for rodent activity from day one. It acts as an early detection tool, letting you know immediately whether rodents are active in the waste system. No guesswork. No waiting weeks for evidence.
This insight alone can prompt immediate action, including calling for a plumbing smoke test using the FogTrace smoke test machine for pest control. a groundbreaking tool that brings smoke testing into the hands of PMPs. It uses commercial fog machines instead of smoke candles, offering a more economical and repeatable method to visualize hidden plumbing breaches.
That’s not all, once the structure is clear of all rodent activity, exclusions are completed, and any necessary smoke tests are complete. You can now turn the Sewer Assassin into a serviceable bait station monitoring and controlling new rodents coming from the sewer, protecting your customers from reinfestations and damage.
Why Every Exclusion-Based Company Needs FogTrace
Let’s talk business. If your company already performs rodent exclusions, you’re sitting on untapped revenue potential. Adding FogTrace to your service lineup allows you to offer:
- Diagnostic testing for hard-to-find rodent entry points
- Confirmation testing after plumbing repairs are completed
- Visual proof for property managers or clients needing validation
In other words, you’re not just plugging holes anymore. You’re offering a complete rodent intrusion diagnostic and protection package.
Mastering Rodent Control: How FogTrace and Sewer Assassin Close the Final Gap
Rodent control isn’t just about setting traps. It’s about mastering the structure — inside and out. If you’re serious about offering high-end exclusion services, then understanding plumbing as a final breach point is essential. But never skip steps. Smoke testing with FogTrace, and using diagnostic tools like the Sewer Assassin, only come after you’ve eliminated the obvious.
Control rodents at the source. Seal every path. Close the final gap with FogTrace.
Rodent exclusion pros, upgrade your inspections and level up your results today.
FAQs: When to Use FogTrace, Perform Exclusions & Add Sewer Assassin
Q: Why should exterior exclusions be completed before doing a plumbing smoke test?
A: Smoke testing only delivers reliable insights after every exterior entry point is sealed; otherwise, results can be misleading and distract from the true source of infestation. The directive is simple: seal the structure first with airtight exclusion, then use advanced diagnostics like FogTrace to close any final gaps.
Q: What is the recommended standard process for rodent control?
A: Follow three phases: trap out the active population, perform thorough exclusions by sealing gaps and hardening weak points, and then monitor for renewed activity. If activity persists or returns despite airtight sealing, test the plumbing system with a smoke machine like FogTrace to uncover hidden entry points that inspections can miss.
Q: When should the plumbing system be tested, and what tools are used?
A: Plumbing becomes the focus once the exterior is secured and activity still appears, since rodents can navigate drains and waste lines and may be breaching through plumbing. Use FogTrace to visualize hidden plumbing breaches after exclusions are complete, and employ the Sewer Assassin to prove, monitor, and control rodent activity in waste lines from day one.
Once the structure is clear, exclusions are finished, and any smoke tests are done, the Sewer Assassin can be converted into a serviceable bait station to monitor and control sewer-borne reinfestations.
Q: How does adding FogTrace benefit an exclusion-focused pest control company?
A: It enables diagnostic testing for hard-to-find entry points, confirmation testing after plumbing repairs, and visual proof for client validation. Together with strong exclusion practices, it elevates offerings into a complete intrusion diagnostic and protection package, while FogTrace’s commercial fog approach replaces smoke candles for cleaner, repeatable tests.
