Snakes. Don't be surprised to find snakes in your gutters—they can slither along overhanging branches or climb dry downspouts. They inhabit your rain gutter for the same reasons as other critters: warmth, protection, and food.
Install a barrier with a smooth surface such as vinyl fencing or metal sheeting. This is not foolproof as some snakes are just strong enough, but it could discourage a lot of them.
Can snakes come up drain pipes? Yes, they can, though it isn’t common. While snakes are good swimmers and can hold their breath for a long time, they don’t often infiltrate your home via the pipes.
Try using a handheld plumbing snake. A plumbing snake is a long, flexible metal cable with a small, uncoiled spring, or an auger, on one end and a handle on the other. As you use a plumbing snake, it uncoils down the drain, eventually reaching the clog that is blocking the piping and causing the backup.
Many people are surprised to find out that snakes can climb walls. It is not uncommon to see a snake wiggling through a weep hole to get into a garage, or scaling a wall to access an attic. They are particularly tempted to follow rodents, bats, or any other wildlife small enough to eat, straight into your home.
Snakes are great climbers and will climb on to the roof to enter your home through small gaps, the ridge vent, or any other vent openings. They can also enter through construction gaps, vinyl siding corner posts, or gaps around your doors.
Spray ammonia around the perimeter of your property and nearer your house. Sprinkle epsom salt around the foundation and other areas you think they may be hanging out.
To ensure proper coverage and protection, bury your downspout extension at least 12 inches deep. This depth helps protect the pipe from surface activities and ensures efficient water drainage.
If your downspout is clogged, rainwater may stay trapped in the gutter and overflow off the side. Water isn't draining through downspout: A telltale sign that you have a blockage in your downspout is the absence of water running through the spout during and after a rain.
A drain snake consists of a long, flexible steel cable that can be manually fed down into clogged drain lines. At the end of this cable is an auger head – a coiled wire tip shaped like a corkscrew that allows it to bore into and latch onto whatever is causing the blockage.
In fact, it's fairly common for snakes to make their way into homes and commercial structures through small holes and cracks. Snakes can easily make a home in a crawl space, but they're also quite capable of moving into your attic or any room of the house for that matter.
Garter snakes come up through sump pump system, sink drain, shower drain or toilet.
Essential oils like cedarwood, cinnamon, and clove have been found to be effective in deterring snakes. These oils contain compounds that snakes find unpleasant, making them less likely to enter treated areas. Natural plant options such as marigolds and lemongrass can also help repel snakes.
Homeowners should be aware of this climbing ability, as it means copperheads could potentially enter attics or other elevated spaces if there is an accessible route.
Snakes enter a building because they're lured in by dark, damp, cool areas or in search of small animals, like rats and mice, for food. Snakes can be discouraged from entering a home in several ways. Keeping the vegetation around the house cut short can make the home less attractive to small animals and snakes.
If you use the wrong type of drain snake for the drain line, the snake could loop back on itself or scrape the sides of the plumbing pipe, causing damage that could lead to leaks and/or the need to replace the damaged piece of pipe.
Open ventilation pipes are easy enough for snakes to slither through. But having some sort of block—like a mesh or wire covering—will keep the snakes and any other pests (like rats!)
As mentioned above, the water should be diverted at least 4 to 6 feet away from the house. If a home has basement walls, it should be at least 6 feet away. The furthest away from the foundation the better. Putting gravel or rocks at the end of the downspout to avoid erosion is a great idea.
However, there are some common issues caused by buried downspouts that homeowners should be aware of. One of the most common problems with buried downspouts is clogging. Over time, debris such as leaves, dirt, and twigs can accumulate in the pipe, leading to blockages.
You can find gutter elbows at the bottom of your downspout. They are designed to determine which direction the water from the gutters will flow away from the house. They influence this by coming in different types, sizes, and angles.
Research also shows that cinnamon oil, clove oil, and eugenol are effective snake repellents. Snakes will retreat when sprayed directly with these oils and will exit cargo or other confined spaces when these oils are introduced to the area. FIFRA Section 25(b) and listed under 40 CFR 152.25(f)(1).
How long will a snake stay in your house? As long as a snake can find food, water and shelter, it can stay in your house for months.
Can coffee grounds repel snakes? No - there is no evidence that snakes dislike or are repelled by the smell of coffee grounds. This is not an effective snake prevention method - despite the many anecdotal accounts on the internet.