Homeowner Goes Batty in Neptune, NJ

Challenge

Recently, I got a call from a client out in Neptune, NJ who had a bit of an issue with bats. As I was conducting my inspection, I found out that bats were able to gain access to the attic via the ridge vent.  A ridge vent is a type of vent installed at the peak of a sloped roof which allows warm, humid air to escape a building's attic and are very popular on shingled residential buildings and are a nice alternative to attic fans.

All a bat needs is 3/8th’s of an inch opening to enter an attic and the ridge vent is a perfect way for them to gain access. Another thing you want to remember, bats are social mammals and prefer to live in large colonies. So, if you see even a single bat inside the home, chances are that it is part of a larger colony inhabiting your house unless it went astray and found itself there by mistake.

Solution

In order to offer the homeowner some defense, I installed a ridge guard. A ridge guard is rust proof galvanized metal screen that goes around your ridge vent on your home to prevent all types of wildlife and even insects from entering into the attic. It is secured with a 2-inch screw with self-sealing washer (but as a preventative step will silicone the screw) to make a nice tight seal to prevent any water leaks. I also installed a one-way device near one of the openings in the ridge vent.  A one-way device is a device that is placed near an access point that allows the bat to exit the home but prevent it from getting back in. Now the home is secured and very soon the homeowner will be bat free!