Guano Clean-Up

Dealing with a bat infestation may be one of the most difficult problems when owning a home or a business.  How and when a person should deal with the bat guano (or droppings) that come along with having bats in your home or business can also be a difficult decision.

​The first step in the process is getting the bats out of your home or business.  It does not do any good to clean up all the guano when you still have bats in your attic or building because the guano will continue to show up as long as the bats are getting in.  Sometimes there is so much guano at the bat’s exit locations that the technicians will need to remove it before it is safe to set up the exclusion devices.

Once the bats have been excluded from your home or business there are a few things to consider when debating if you need a guano clean up or not:

• Structural Damage
• Smell
• Staining

When Do You Need A Clean-Up?

Structural Damage

Because bat guano and urine are so potent, they can cause a lot of damage to your home. Guano and urine can erode soffit and fascia metal, ruin insulation and drywall, and even weaken or completely rot the wood. If there has been structural damage to your home or business, the best thing to do is clean up the guano and fix the damages caused by the bats. It might not be the cheapest solution, but will definitely be the safest and best way to move forward to protect your home. There is a possibility that your homeowner’s insurance will cover this, so we recommend that you check with your insurance company.

Smell

The smell of bat guano is very musty and resembles ammonia. It can be hard to detect in your home, especially because we get used to smells where we spend a good amount of time. If you aren’t certain, it’s a good idea to bring in a trusted friend or someone who will give you an honest opinion on the smell. Our technicians are also excellent at identifying the scent of bat guano and urine if you would like a professional opinion.

Staining

Staining can be very common with a bad infestation of bats. The urine and guano is potent enough to soak right through the sheetrock on ceilings. Paint can sometimes cover the stains for a while, but in the end, it would be best to just remove the guano and start over with fresh new sheetrock and new insulation.

When Should You Leave Bat Guano Alone?

If you have had bats excluded from your home or business and do not have any of the problems described above, you may be fortunate enough to not need to take any other steps after the house is safely sealed and closed up. It might seem gross to think of leaving the guano in your attic, but over time it will dry out and will not be an issue.  Skipping the cleanup phase if it is unnecessary will cut back on your overall expense for bat removal services. By removing this step you can also prevent stirring up any of the spores that could have Histoplasmosis which is harmful to be breathing in.

Need Help With A Clean-Up?

Our technicians would be happy to help you with a guano clean-up! Call NiceBats at (605) 940-3321 for a free estimate and we will come out and evaluate your situation.