Cracking the Code for Mouse Entry Points in your home

The old Sherlock Holmes stories often come to mind when we are talking with our customers and inspecting their homes for mouse entry points. As Holmes and Watson scoured the scene for clues, we inspect your home’s exterior for mouse entry points. The key to solving a good mouse case is to zoom in on some key areas around the exterior perimeter. We have heard and serviced hundreds of mouse cases, and although there are some exceptions, mice are relatively consistent in their preferences with house entry points.

Our mice service includes a thorough inspection of your home to locate entry points and sealing of small exterior openings in the structure. The key to proper sealing of these small holes is to use the best mouse-proof materials possible, and our Best Pest truck arrives on the scene equipped for the case. Xcluder is one particular product we use in combination with other sealing materials.  To eliminate any mice which have already entered the home, we use a combination of trapping and baiting techniques. Your mouse mystery can be solved! Call for a free quote.  We have reviewed our volumes of mouse detective case notes and complied the top 10 Common Mouse Entry Points in Your Home.

1. Air Conditioning Compressor Line

During Chicago summers, homeowners make sure their air conditioning unit is running in top shape for those hot and humid days. However, as the weather changes and we have turned on the heat, mice will still take an interest in that long-forgotten air conditioner.

Make sure your compressor line is entering your house with a tight seal.

2. Gas Line

Gaps and space around the gas line into the house is a very common route for rodents. Unless you want a mouse highway on your exterior gas line, make sure these gaps are sealed properly.

 

3. Electrical Meter 

This is a very common area mouse entry point, and we often wonder if mice secretly want to be electricians! Leave the electrical work to the professionals and make sure your utility area on the exterior of your house has no gaps or openings.

4. Meeting points of different housing materials

Using a variety of building materials on the exterior of the house add character and curb appeal to any home, but make sure those material meeting points are tight-fitting. We do not want to attract any savvy mice into your stylish home.

5. Inside and outside corners

Home design with inside and outside corners offers an attractive look, and mice really appreciate this feature as well. During our inspection, we inspect for any gaps and potential mouse entry points by inside/outside corners and places where building materials change directions.

6. Bay windows and foundation overhangs

Holmes and Watson sure enjoyed cups of tea looking out their overhanging Baker Street window, and a mouse would too if they could find a way to get in underneath it! Pay close attention to bay windows and foundation overhangs when considering how a mouse could be getting into your house. These are common mouse entry points and easily overlooked!

 

7. Window wells

This is a quintessential entry point for a smart mouse who aced their swim lessons. If a window well has a drain, it must have a 4-inch drain cover! Mice love to go through the drain, into the drain tile, and pop out the sump pit. If you are catching mice around your sump, check your window wells for intact drain covers. We can inspect window wells and install new covers for you.

8. Roofline and Cedar Shakes

Cedar shakes are a charming feature, but they can create multiple pest challenges because of gaps between the shakes and where the roof meets other building materials. Whether you have a cedar shake roof or not, it’s important to inspect around the soffits, roofline and trim board for gaps where mice could enter in the attic like in this picture.

9. Decks and Landscaping

Decks are a fantastic addition to enjoying the outdoors around your home. However, they can also be a great hindrance when solving a mouse case. Landscaping and decks can prevent complete inspection for mouse entry points around the perimeter. If a mouse problem continues, we usually suggest the homeowner remove a couple deck boards to allow better inspection and possible sealing of entry points under the deck.

10. Older Homes and Additions

Mouse problems in homes aged 50 years or older bring in some additional consideration when inspecting for entry points. Older houses were built with different materials and building methods than newer homes, and sometimes there are significant gaps where the stone foundation and mortar has broken down around the perimeter. Typically, these sealings would need to be done by a mason or a qualified contractor, but we will inspect and attempt to locate the exact mouse entry points in these situations.

Also, older homes oftentimes have been re-sided, and when the newer siding is installed over the older siding there are sometimes gaps between the layers that become hidden mouse entry points. Houses that undergo rehabs and additions also warrant potential gaps in the structure. Houses with difficult-to-solve mouse problems often times have something in common – they have had an addition or other structural changes made to the house.

Give us a call today to schedule your home’s mouse treatment and preventative service. We will tackle your mouse case with strategy, expertise, and professionalism.