I am often asked if it is possible to exclude rodents from a home. The answer is sometimes, maybe and yes.
The reason why rodent exclusion is difficult is not only that finding all the holes is problematic, but rodents also find entrances into homes by chewing their way into previously closed areas such as through garage weather stripping.
Rodents also have the uncanny ability to exploit human inefficiencies such as when a garage door is mistakenly left open all night. If these two problems were able to be solved you would find that rodents gain entrance into areas that are easily found and in some cases obvious if you know what to look for. Here are some of the most common entrance points for rodents:
1. Utility entrances ( example: central air pipe drilled through an outside wall)
2. Water damaged areas in doors, rim joists and sills
3. Areas where dormers attached to a home (remember rodents can climb)
4. Under the sill plate if it is raised
5. Bilco basement doors
6. Foundation irregularities
7. Broken or poorly fitted basement window frames and doors
8. Broken vent pipes.
Once the areas are found, they are best plugged with a material such as steel wool or stuff it ™. In addition to these materials, a homeowner can also use weather stripping, caulk, sheets of tin or wood if the area is badly damaged.
In the end rodent control is difficult even for a pro. The best way to approach this type of work is with a multi step program that includes baiting , trapping, exclusion, harborage and food removal and exterior baiting.
If you need help or have questions about rodent control, we can be reached at 1-888-879-6481