Rodents such as mice, rats, and even squirrels begin looking for a warm place to nest when the weather gets colder—and unfortunately, your home might be just what they’re after. At Dan Can Home Services, we specialize in rodent exclusion, helping homeowners seal up vulnerable entry points to keep these unwanted pests out for good.
Let me tell you about an essential part of rodent control: identifying and blocking foundation entry points. In this video I take you through an actual inspection, showing the steps we take to seal rodent entryways and protect homes like yours.
Why Rodent Exclusion Is Critical
Rodent exclusion isn’t just about getting rid of pests; it’s about preventing them from entering your home in the first place. Many homeowners don’t realize just how small of a gap rodents need to slip inside—mice can fit through a hole as small as ¼ inch, while rats only need a gap about ½ inch wide. Once inside, they can spread disease, chew through electrical wires, and cause serious structural damage.
Common Entry Points Around Your Home’s Foundation
During a recent inspection at a customer’s home, I found several rodent entry points around the foundation. These small gaps may seem harmless but can easily allow pests to enter. Here are some common entry points to watch for around your home:
Gaps around utility lines: Rodents often enter homes through spaces around gas lines, water pipes, and electrical conduits. These openings are a direct route into your crawl space or basement.
Sump pump hoses: I frequently see unsealed gaps where sump pump hoses pass through walls, providing easy access for pests.
Foundation cracks: Even small cracks in your home’s foundation can be an entry point for rodents.
Garage doors and basement windows: Gaps or loose seals around doors and windows at the ground level can also let rodents in.
Sealing Entry Points with Steel Wool and Caulk
The best way to stop rodents like mice, rats and other critters from entering your home is to seal any potential entry points as soon as you notice them. At Dan Can Home Services, we use a combination of high-quality materials to ensure that these gaps stay sealed for good.
Here’s how we do it:
- Inspect the foundation and exterior of the home: We start by thoroughly inspecting your home’s foundation, crawl spaces, and exterior walls to locate all potential rodent entry points.
- Use steel wool to block gaps: For smaller holes and cracks, we use a special material called excluder fabric—essentially a type of steel wool. This material is tough for rodents to chew through, and as they attempt to gnaw at it, the sharp fibers splinter off, deterring them from entering. Mice have sharp mandibles, but this steel wool will make it nearly impossible for them to continue.
- Seal with caulk: Once we’ve stuffed the gap with steel wool, we follow up by sealing the area with caulk. This helps to secure the steel wool in place and provides an extra layer of protection. I like to use a caulk that goes on white, so it’s easy to show homeowners exactly where the seals are, and it dries clear for a clean, finished look.
- Final touch-ups for safety and aesthetics: After sealing, we check for any leftover shards or rough edges that might cause harm, especially in places where children or pets play. We want the job not only to be effective but also to look professional.
Why DIY Methods Don’t Always Work
Many homeowners try to handle rodent issues themselves, using spray foam insulation or DIY rodent traps. While these methods may seem like a quick fix, they often don’t provide a long-term solution. Rodents can easily chew through spray foam, and if you don’t block every entry point, they’ll find another way in.
Steel wool combined with caulk is a much more effective barrier, and professional pest control technicians like myself know exactly where to look and how to address the problem comprehensively.
When to Call a Professional
If you’ve noticed droppings or noises in your walls/ceiling, it’s time to consider professional rodent exclusion services.
Are you noticing flickering lights in your home, or some lights that appear dim or extinguished even though you know the bulb should still be good? It could be a sign of rodents interfering with the electric or power lines inside your home. This tell-tale sign is the dangerous result of what is a necessary activity for rodents. The constant need to chew on things to manage their mandibles is what gives them away! 20% of home fires are caused by rodents each year.
Residential or commercial property owners often notice piles of chewed or damaged paper products, insulation, or other soft materials like clothing, toys, or stuffed animals that rodents will gather as a nesting material. These fluffy piles appear inside of drawers or storage containers and can seem like a random mess made by a family member until you spot the droppings nearby that indicate a rodent problem.
The earlier you address a potential rodent problem, the easier it will be to manage. Don’t wait until you have a full infestation before taking action.
Rodent Control Services You Can Trust
At Dan Can Home Services, we’re committed to helping you keep your home pest-free. We offer a full range of rodent control and exclusion services, using safe, effective methods to seal up your home and prevent rodents from getting in.
Get in touch with us and we’ll come out, inspect your home, and create a plan to keep rodents out for good. Remember—Who Can? Dan Can!
If you need help protecting your home From Rodents or Other Pests this fall, call or text 609-224-8071 or contact us now
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