Get out and Stay out! How to Stop Mice from Getting into the House

According to research, mice can fit through gaps as little as 11-12mm. This is part of the reason why over 21 million homes are invaded by mice and rodents each winter. Cold weather drives mice to seek out shelter, and if you do not know how to stop mice from taking up residence in your home””you could have an infestation on your hands in no time at all.

Under ideal conditions one pregnant female and her offspring can produce over 8,000 mice within a year. And if they get access to food, shelter and hiding places within the safety of your house, their populations can grow even faster. The first step to prevent this is to stop mice from getting into your home. Read on to find out the different ways you can mouse-proof your house””so that you can have an infestation-free winter!

Seal Your Eaves, Foundation, and Windows

If you have gaps under your eaves, unsealed windows, or cracks in your foundations, these can all offer entryways to mice.  To stop mice from getting through these places, inspect your house for holes and gaps in these areas. At the same time, check any utility line or HVAC openings. These openings are often cut too large and can also allow mice in.  Once you have identified any holes, you can stop these using calking, cement, or mesh in some cases.

Install Weather Strips on Your Doors

Even small gaps underneath onside doors can allow mice to get in. To prevent mice from squeezing under your doors, install weather strips on their bases.  As garage doors can also allow entryway to mice, fortify these by installing rubber or vinyl sealing strips to eliminate gaps.

Cover Any Weep Vents

Weep vents can easily admit mice into your foundations and house. These should never be completely sealed as they allow for moisture release, so it is not a good idea to cement them up. However, you can install specially made metal weep vent covers.

Mouse-Proof Your Chimney

If you have a chimney, th

is can be another point of access for mice. To stop mice coming in through the chimney, you can either install a metal plate around the chimney (which can cause them to slip), or you can install a mesh-covered chimney cap.

De-Clutter Your Garage, Your Garden, and Eliminate Food Sources

As mice dislike open areas, another preventative measure you can take is to clean up your yard, garage, and any other areas that might yield cover to mice. To do this, eliminate clutter, prune back bushes, and clear up any piles of wood or other materials.

At the same time, it is also a good idea to eliminate food sources such as exposed garbage bags, open pet food, and unprotected dried goods in your pantry.  As mice are carriers of diseases (such as salmonella), do not, under any circumstances, use food that has been contaminated by mice.

Now You Know How to Stop Mice from Invading Your Home

Now that you know how to stop mice from invading your space, it is time to take action.

You can either choose to undertake the sealing of your house yourself, or you can outsource this to experts. In some cases, this might be the easiest solution, especially if you do not have a lot of DIY knowledge or a lot of time.

If you want to get someone in to seal your home and eradicate any mice already present, we offer planet friendly rodent control that is safe for your family and the environment. Feel free to contact us today to learn more about our services.

If you have any questions or something you would like to share about keeping mice out the house, please comment below, we love hearing from you!

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