The Importance of Sealing Your House to Prevent Rodent Entry

The Importance of Sealing Your House to Prevent Rodent Entry

Rodents, including mice and rats, are not just an unpleasant nuisance; they can also pose significant health risks and cause extensive damage to your home. One of the most effective ways to prevent these unwanted guests from entering your home is by sealing it properly. Preventative measures such as sealing cracks, gaps, and holes are crucial in keeping rodents out and maintaining a safe, healthy living environment. 

Rodents are incredibly resourceful and can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter of an inch, making it easy for them to invade your home. For example, if your home has gaps around windows, doors, or vents, or if your foundation has cracks, these can serve as entry points. In fact, attics and basements are common targets, as they provide warmth, shelter, and easy access to food sources like stored items. Once inside, rodents can damage electrical wiring, chew through walls, or even contaminate food.

To effectively seal your home, start by inspecting common entry points. Door sweeps and weather stripping should be checked for gaps. For larger cracks in the foundation or exterior walls, use caulking or mortar.  Expanding foam may be used, but rodents have a tendency to chew through it if it is not reinforced with copper mesh. Chimneys should be capped with a wire mesh or hardware cloth to prevent rodents from climbing down. Additionally, vents and ducts should be covered with hardware cloth to block rodent access while allowing for ventilation.

By taking these steps to seal your home, you are not only preventing potential property damage but also reducing the risk of diseases that rodents can spread, such as Hantavirus or leptospirosis. Sealing your home is an essential, cost-effective strategy in rodent control, ensuring that your living space remains safe, secure, and free of pests.

If you would like more information about how we can help keep your home or business rodent proof, give one of our customer service representatives a call today at 1-800-523-1521.