Finding a mouse in your house is never ideal. If you trap or kill the mouse, you might suspect the problem is over -- but then you see a few more mice! Rather than continuing to trap and kill each mouse you come across, your goal should really be to find out how the mice are entering your home so you can stop future ones from entering. Here's a look at five common ways mice gain entry to homes -- and how to address each one.
Unscreened Windows
Did the mice start appearing once you opened your windows for the summer? They may be coming through a window that's missing a screen, or even through one that has a small hole in the screen. Before you look at a screen and think, "there's no way a mouse could fit through that hole," consider that small mice can squeeze through holes that are only 1/4 inch in diameter.
If there are any holes in your screens whatsoever, have them repaired or replaced. Until you're able to do so, keep the window with the ripped screen shut.
Gaps Under Doors
If your exterior doors do not come all of the way to the floor, the mice may be squeezing in underneath them. Look closely at your exterior doors. Many have rubber gaskets that are mounted to the bottom of the door and are meant to sweep just across the floor. But if these become bend or unattached from the door at any point, mice may squeeze under them.
If your doors do not reach all of the way to the ground, a good temporary fix is to place a door snake along the area where the door meets the floor. In the long term, you may want to have a contractor move the door down a little on its hinges so it sits closer to the floor. Installing a new gasket is also an option.
HVAC Vent Pipes
Especially if you have not been using your furnace lately, the PVC vent pipe that carries its exhaust to the outdoors may begin looking quite appealing to mice. Check this pipe to ensure it has a mesh cover on its end. If it does not, secure a piece of mesh around it with a rubber band or zip tie. You can also find plastic PVC vet covered, which have screen-like grids on their ends, at most hardware stores.
Holes in the Foundation
Take a look around the outside of your home's foundation. Are there any little holes or cracks? If so, the mice may be working their way inside through these cracks. Having a foundation repaired can get expensive, but you can at least plug these small holes and cracks with some caulk or roofing cement until you get around to having them professionally patched.
Also, make sure you clear any brush away from the base of your home. Mice love hiding in brush, so taking it away will make them less likely to gather near your foundation in search of a way inside.
Openings in Crawl Spaces
Most homeowners don't carefully inspect their crawlspaces since they are mainly used for storage, if anything. But if there are any holes in the walls or ceiling of your crawlspace, this could be how the mice are getting in. Look especially for gaps and holes around pipes and cords that enter the home through the crawl space.
The easiest way to seal these holes is with a can of spray foam insulation from the hardware store. Spray some into each hole; it will expand to fill the hole.
If you still cannot figure out how mice are entering your home, check out sites like http://www.dontgivepestsachance.com/ and contact a pest control expert in your area.
Share13 July 2017
Do you spend your spring and summer months battling the pests that enter your home? There are many ways to prevent the intrusion of ants, roaches, flies, mosquitoes, mice and other pests in your home. I own several rental properties that I have to be sure do not get infested with all sorts of pests and have learned a lot about preventing the intrusion to begin with. You can learn from my personal experiences and keep the pests from ever becoming a serious issue in your home. With a few minor changes to the home and working with a skilled pest control agent, your home can be pest-free forever!
