I had a rat show up in my toilet last night. I'm on city sewer and calle them and they are adding rat poison to the system today. I read that I can have a plumber install a one way valve to my line to prevent it from happening in the future. Is this necessary? Does/can this happen often? And best case scenario what could this cost me ballpark?

Hi Erik

The city must have asked the same question... Are you sure that the rat wasn't getting a drink of water instead of having come up through your toilet drain and toilet? In this case, I'd be putting rat poison around my house/basement (if no children or animals present)... ;)

If the city is serious in entertaining the idea that a rat came up through your toilet drain then they certainly do make "one way valves"... cost would be an unknown as there are too many variables to consider from here, online.

Glad to discuss...

Mark

A rat poison to what system? Poison in the toilet water? Poison where? I would almost bet someone put poison out and the rat went to your toilet for water. That is how the rat poison works, they bleed internally and need to drink.

How can you be certain that the rat came in through the city sewer? As Mark pointed out, this could be a problem inside your home. While they do make a back flow preventer for your sewer lines I think that installing one would be a needless expense. Please let us know of future developments. Good luck, Tom