How Do Mice Keep Getting Into My Mooresville Home?

It can seem mysterious when you start finding mice in your home. The ways mice get in are often concealed and difficult to detect. Today, we're going to let you in on a few secrets that mice don't want you to know. If you're okay with doing a little hard work, you can use these secrets to help you keep mice out of your Mooresville home.

A Sill Plate Or Sole Plate

It is difficult to attach wood to a concrete foundation. What carpenters do is anchor horizontal wood members to the foundation and attach all of the studs to them. These horizontal wood members that sit on your foundation slab or foundation walls are called sill plates or sole plates. If a mouse finds a sill plate that has been damaged by moisture, it might chew on it and find its way into the voids between your studs. You can prevent this in a few ways.

• Make sure your gutters are clear of any obstructions or breaks. The rainwater that is collected by the surface of your roof should be channeled down and away from your home by your gutters. If not, it can lead to wood rot.
• If you have leaves underneath structures, such as a deck, they can provide the conditions for mice to damage your sill plates. Leaves offer concealment from predators and they also contribute to damp conditions that cause wood rot. Blow leaves out from underneath structures to prevent this.
• Crawl underneath your deck or other structures (if you're able) and use a flashlight to examine any visible wood that is above your foundation. If you find a hole, fill it in.
• Inspect any visible wood in your basement (if possible). This is easier in unfinished basements or cellars.

If you have a crawl space under your home, you may be able to inspect sill plates in there. It is also a good idea to invest in crawl space encapsulation if you haven't already done so.

Roofline And Roof Penetrations

Mice are great climbers. They can scale a tree, run down a branch, and leap onto your roof. They can also work their way up downspouts to get onto your roof. Once they get up there, a mouse can take advantage of several potential points of entry. Use these suggestions to prevent entry:

• Trim tree branches away from your roofline.
• Put wire mesh in your downspouts.
• Attach something prickly to the juncture where wires are connected to your home.
• Repair the seals around roof penetrations, such as exhaust pipes, vents, and skylights.
• Inspect your roofline and repair any holes that have been created by mice. Keep in mind that an adult mouse can get into your home through a hole the size of a dime.

Hitchhikers

Do you know that you can bring mice into your home? Yup. If you have a barn, shed, or some other exterior storage space, it is possible to carry mice into your home. Here are two ways to prevent this from happening.

• Inspect cardboard boxes for the tiniest of holes. If you see holes, inspect the contents of the boxes before bringing them inside. Look for mouse droppings or spots that are soaked by urine.
• Store all your stuff in sealed plastic totes.

Mouse Entry Points That Are Easier To Spot

It is possible to look right at a spot a mouse is using to enter your home and not even realize there is an entry point. Here are a few examples:

• Mice get underneath garage doors. If there is a tiny opening in the sweep, a mouse can use it.
• Mice slip underneath exterior doors and get past weatherstripping. If you stand outside of your home on a dark night and look for tiny points of light leaking out, this will help you find the openings mice can use. Seal those gaps to keep mice out.
• Mice can scale the sides of many homes as easily as they might run across the ground. If you have an unprotected vent that is several feet off the ground, a mouse might be able to access it. Mice can also jump over a foot straight up in the air. Don't underestimate the ability of these tiny rodents to get into your home. Protect all vents, weep holes, and louvers.
• Mice chew through door and window frames. If you see a small hole developing, you might think it is just wood rot—and in many ways, it is likely that it is. But wood rot can quickly lead to a mouse entry whether mice are creating that hole or not.

Need Help With The Mystery?

If you have mice getting into your Mooresville home, we can help you solve the mystery. Reach out to Lake Norman Home Services for rodent and pest solutions. We use industry-leading methods and advanced products to take care of difficult pest problems.