Why Drainage Engineers Should Be Recommending RatGates

According to the British Pest Control Association, around 80% of rodent infestations originate from the drainage system. For drainage engineers, this creates a huge opportunity.

You are already working in the system that often causes the problem. That means you are well placed to identify the risk, explain it clearly to customers, and recommend a practical preventative solution.

That is where RatGate Rodent Prevention Devices come in.

RatGates are highly effective rodent prevention devices that fit directly into the drainage system. Once installed they allow water and waste to flow through as normal, while creating a physical barrier against rats moving further upstream.

They are not a poison, trap or short-term fix. They are a physical prevention device designed to stop rats from using drains as a route into homes, businesses and commercial premises.

How rats enter properties through drainage systems

Drainage systems can give rats a direct route towards homes, commercial buildings and food-handling environments.

Once they find a weakness in the pipework, they can use it as an access point into the building.

Common entry points include:

• Cracked or broken pipes

• Damaged or displaced joints

• Gaps within the drainage system

• Poorly sealed redundant pipework

• Uncapped disused connections

• Damaged inspection or cleanout points

• Defects caused during building work or renovations

Rats are strong climbers, capable swimmers and can squeeze through extremely small gaps. This means even a minor drainage defect can become a serious access route.

Once inside, they can move into kitchens, basements, wall cavities, floor voids, loft spaces, stockrooms and food preparation areas.

Baiting or trapping may deal with the immediate issue, but if the route through the drainage system remains open, the problem can return. For long-term prevention, the entry point needs to be identified and blocked.

Who should drainage engineers recommend RatGates to?

RatGates are not only for customers with an active rat problem.

They can also be recommended as a preventative measure where there is a higher risk of rodent activity, or where the impact of an infestation would be serious.

This includes:

• Homeowners who have seen rats in or around the property

• Homeowners whose neighbours have had rodent issues

• Restaurants, cafes and pubs

• Hotels and hospitality businesses

• Retail units and shopping areas

• Food businesses and commercial kitchens

• Landlords and letting agents

• Property managers

• Schools, care homes and public buildings

• Commercial sites with repeat pest or drainage issues

For businesses in particular, prevention is extremely important.

A rat issue in a restaurant, hotel, shop or food-handling environment can affect hygiene, reputation, customer confidence and day-to-day operations.

For homeowners, the impact is different but still serious. Rodent activity can be distressing, disruptive and difficult to resolve if the route in has not been dealt with.

By recommending RatGates, you can offer a more complete service and help customers take action before the problem escalates.

An Important Note

One of the key features of RatGate is its patented liftable flap mechanism. RatGate is the only product on the market that allows the flap to be opened from the top of the manhole, which is a major benefit for drainage engineers.

If future rodding, jetting or camera investigations are needed, the flap can be opened without removing the device from the drain. This keeps the line accessible for future maintenance and makes the product far more practical for long-term use.

We stock the full RatGate range

Here at Jetter Conversions we stock the full range of RatGate rodent prevention devices, including 4", 4" Slimline, 6" and 9" options.

Click here to browse the RatGate range online or get in touch if you need help choosing the right device.