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HOW TO KEEP MICE OUT OF YOUR HOUSE
When it’s cold outside, you come inside to get warm. Mice, like you, search for a place to get out of the cold weather and will come inside of your warm and cozy house to survive and get out of the chilly Fall and Winter seasons. Of course, mice can be found in your home anytime of the year, however, it is more often that you will have mice activity during the colder months.
Once mice gain entry to your house, they will find easy access to all of their other necessities of shelter, food, water and bedding. The warmth of your house also offers the perfect location and protection for mice to mate and quickly increase their populations and numbers inside of your home.
How can you keep mice from getting in your house? The key is to remove potential entry points or places around the exterior of your home and under your house that mice can enter or get through. Check around your home for any openings, holes, gaps or cracks and seal. Also, check your attached garage which is a common entry area for mice. It has been proven that mice can squeeze through a dime size opening so even the smallest of holes of a 1/4” or larger should be removed or closed off.
Most areas can be sealed with general household supplies including caulk, expanding foam, hardware cloth and steel wool or copper mesh. Other items can be purchased rather easily such as concrete, cement crack filler, sheet metal, weather strips, door sweeps, door seals, fill fabric, etc.
Some sealing materials may not be permanent and will deteriorate over time. Continue to check regularly the sealed areas for deterioration and for potential new areas that may need to be sealed. With the reports of increased mice and rat activity in Sussex County and Kent County, Delaware, we would recommend checking your home and property on an annual basis.
Knowing the right areas to look will help you to eliminate the potential of rodent entry into your warm home. Below are common areas to inspect.
-Crawlspace doors. Crawlspace doors should always be kept closed at all times and should fit properly to your house. Seal any gaps around the crawlspace door or replace entirely with a proper fitting Crawlspace door.
-Cellar Doors. Even through uncommon in most homes, Cellar doors should be kept closed and any gaps between doors or around the doors should be sealed.
-Crawlspace Vents. Make sure Crawlspace vents fit properly with no gaps and are screened properly.
-Dryer Vents. Dryer vents should have a screen or vent covering and areas around dryer vent should be sealed properly.
-Pipes/Plumbing/Water lines. Areas around Pipes going into and under home should be checked and sealed. Seal pipes under sinks, around hot water heater, dryers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, and refrigerators.
-Electrical/TV Cable/Air conditioning/Utility wires and lines. Areas around Electrical wires, TV cable wires, air conditioning conduit and gas lines should be sealed.
-Entry doors. Seal under doors with weather stripping or door sweeps. Seal around door frames. Make sure that there is a proper tight seal around doors.
-Garage doors. Keep garage doors closed when possible. Seal under and on the sides of garage doors with weather stripping. Make sure there is a proper fit and tight seal around the entire garage door.
-Steps. Seal any gaps around and under steps.
-Air conditioning box units. Seal securely around any box air conditioning units.
-Vinyl Siding. Check for gaps at corners of vinyl siding on home and close off. Check bottom areas of vinyl siding near the foundation for gaps and secure.
-Windows. Replace torn screens and broken window glass. Seal around window frames properly.
-Skirting. Seal holes and gaps in mobile home skirting.
-Foundation. Seal cracks in foundation.
-Attic Vents, Attic Fans, Ridge Vents, Gable Vents, and Chimney. Seal properly and screen vents. Install a cap on chimneys.
As part of Integrity Pest Solutions pet and people friendly rodent services, we perform thorough, on-site evaluations and identify potential entry points of mice and rats into your home. Exclusion services and homeowner recommendations are included in our a rodent services and as part our warrantied quarterly maintenance services.
Integrity Pest Solutions is your local, family operated pest control company offering a complete line of termite, pest control, organic and inspection services in Sussex county, Delaware and Kent county, Delaware.
Unfortunately, subterranean termites thrive in Delaware where we enjoy warm and humid weather and temperatures. As we enter spring and the weather and ground warms to 70 degrees or higher, large, established subterranean termite colonies will attempt to start new termite colonies. The end of March through May each year in Delaware
How do I keep spiders out of my house and yard, The key to keeping spiders out of your home is quite simple
Everyone has heard that subterranean termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage to homes a year, but did you know that there are some things that you can do to help protect and prevent your home from a potential costly termite infestation. Here are some Termite Prevention recommendations to help keep your home safe and termite free and prevent termites from getting in your home. Delaware homes are considered to be at a relatively high risk for possible termite activity due to high moisture and humidity in the area and the number of wooded areas.
Brown Marmorated Stink bugs are a common pest in Delaware. They are actually an outside pest that make their way into our homes because they cannot tolerate the cold temperatures of winter in Sussex county and Kent county, Delaware. Due to the habits of stink bugs of entering the home just as the weather begins to cool, preventative services to keep stink bugs out of your home should be scheduled and performed ideally in September and October.
House Flies are disgusting and the last place you want them is in your house and around the food that you and your family are eating. House flies are more than just nuisances, they cause food poisoning and diarrhea and are carriers of diseases such as E.coli, dysentery, conjunctivitis and cholera. Sanitation, elimination of breeding and harborage sites and Exclusion are all crucial elements to getting rid of housefly infestations.
The Odorous House Ant is a common nuisance pest found in homes and is the most frequently reported ant in Sussex county and Kent county, Delaware houses. Odorous house ants may also be referred to as sugar ants, due to their preferences to sugary foods, or stink ants and coconut ants, because of the smell emitted when they are crushed.
Ants are a common problem in many Delaware homes as the weather begins to warm and ants begin to come out of their dormant or hibernation phase. In April and May when temperatures reach 75 degrees and higher, many Sussex County and Kent County homes will see ants begin scurrying inside of their kitchens and bathrooms.
Homes in Sussex County and Kent County are at risk to termite infestations due to the amount of moisture, humidity and wooded areas. Termites are also often unseen and undetected due to their secretive nature and their aversion to sun light.
Integrity Pest Solutions remains Open as an Essential service provider and presently utilizes and/or has implemented the below in an continuing effort to keep our neighbors, customers & community safe.
So you have some sort of pest and you want to get it out of your house or off your property. Well, let’s take a look at what you should consider before and when you make that call.