Today, we’re going to tackle a common problem of mice inside your home. I often get asked, “Where are mice getting in my house?” Mice are active at night, so that’s likely when they get in. The typical reason they can get in is if there is a hole that leads inside your home. The reason they may be hanging out around your home in the first place could be due to your garbage bin or that of your neighbor. So, the critters might think that if the yard has food, the interior must have much more. Now, let’s see how you can find out where mice are getting in your house and what to do to deal with them.
How to Find Out Where Mice Are Getting in Your House
In this whole process, you are going to have to think like a mouse. So, follow these steps carefully and be creative.
1. Block mouse entry points outside
Seal any openings on the outside of your house first before anything. You might find a surprising number of holes, which can serve as convenient access for mice. Check these common areas:
- Attic vents (particularly if there’s a chimney or wood stove inside)
- The foundation
- Basement windows
- Area around the garage door (mice can squeeze through small cracks here)
- Wall and floor cavities
2. Look for smaller holes
When looking for concealed entry points, you want to think about how mice can enter your home. Mice, like humans, need an entryway. Their small size and agility allow them to slip through tiny gaps in walls and floors. They can also enter pipes and cables that connect your home to the outside.
If you know where mice get into your home, 50% of the battle is already won.
- Inspect areas around pipes, vents, and cables leading into your home. Mice often chew on these spots, making them vulnerable points of entry.
- Examine the foundation for signs of deteriorating mortar or cracks in the cement.
3. Seal mouse entry points with steel wool and caulk
Once you identify all potential mouse entry points, it’s essential to block them. You must use steel wool and caulk to block all mouse entry points. Place long pieces of steel wool into every hole you find inside your home, including behind electrical outlets and switches, in cracks between floorboards, around window sills, etc. After inserting the steel wool, seal these areas with caulk, which might require multiple tubes.
Mice can fit through very small openings, even as tiny as a dime, because they can flatten their bodies when squeezing through these gaps. It’s not just about sealing the holes; you also need to block the surrounding areas.
Mice can enter homes in many ways, such as through open windows or doors, behind or under furniture and appliances, down chimneys, and around attic vents. Once inside, they seek safe places like walls or attics and may chew through drywall or insulation to create nests.
4. Smoke out the mice
You can use smoke in the vents to find out where mice are getting in your house. Focus on a particular pipe. First, make sure that you sealed all the vents on the roof and located the specific vent above with the issue. Now, inject UV smoke into this vent. Next, go to the wall where you have removed some stucco to pinpoint the rodent’s entry point. Inside the wall, you might find a mouse had chewed through the drywall, a clear sign of a rodent. We’re also looking at a pipe in the wall. Now, you’re going to wait to see if smoke appears. If you see smoke in the attic, that will help you trace the source of the breach. Just keep looking to find a pipe with smoke coming out. This shows where mice are getting in your house.
Just Make Sure the Holes Are 100% Sealed
If you have a lot of mice in the house, you need to close gaps to stop them. If you don’t, they’ll keep getting into the cold cellar behind here. But first, you should check the gap for signs of mice, because we don’t want to trap any inside by sealing it. When you look closely at this gap, you might not see much proof of mice, but down at the bottom, there’s this dark, greasy mark. This is sebum, an oil from the skin of mammals. Mice leave this behind as they move through, showing they’ve been here.
Sebum smells and helps mice follow the same path. They’re creatures of habit and use the same spot even though they can go anywhere along this gap. If you just get rid of the mice but don’t close this gap, other mice will smell the sebum, find this spot, and you’ll have a mouse problem again quickly. The best way to stop this for good is to block their way in, and that’s my advice.
When to Call Pest Exterminator?
When you notice signs of mice in your home, act quickly. Here are some indicators that mice might be present:
- Droppings. These small, black pellets can appear anywhere from the floor to countertops and often have a sweet smell, reminiscent of honey or almonds. Finding droppings suggests the likelihood of more than one mouse.
- Chewed Wires. Mice are drawn to electrical wiring as an energy source, unique from other foods or materials. If you discover wires chewed through, leading into your walls or ceiling, consider it a warning sign of nearby mice. Ignoring this can be dangerous; the jagged edges from gnawing can cause short circuits and fires over time. Addressing this problem promptly can save both money and trouble later.
- Gnawed Holes. A clear indication of rodents are holes around doors and windows. If these holes are too neat for pet claws or household tools, which typically leave irregular edges, it’s likely that a rodent caused them by chewing through the wood.
- Evidence Outside Of The Home. Finding evidence of mice either inside or outside your home, but not both, might not be conclusive. It’s common for people to inspect the exteriors of their homes infrequently.
Final Thought
So, there it is, guys. I have explained how to find out where mice are getting in your house, with helpful tips you can follow.
Conclusively, identifying mouse entry points requires effort, but helps for long-term rodent control. Once you understand where and how mice are entering your home, you can begin sealing these points to keep them out. For a comprehensive solution to ensure no further rodent intrusions, consider following these tips to locate mouse entry points.
Read also:Â How Many Mice Live in a Nest?
