Prevention Matters! Why Exclusion is the Key to Keeping Rodents at Bay!
Let’s face facts; no one wants rodents scurrying through their homes. Unless you have a pet rat or
hamster, the ticking of tiny nails on the floor and scratching in walls or attic spaces will make your skin
crawl. Plus, you have to deal with droppings! Those little specks of fecal matter dotting your floors and
counters. To put it simply, yuck.
When you end up with a rodent problem, you are usually stuck trapping. That isn’t a fun process. You
have to call a pest control professional, wait for the traps to catch critters, and then have them
removed. All in all, it’s just not pleasant.
Luckily, there is a better way to keep rodents at pay. What’s the magic word? Exclusion!
What is Rodent Exclusion?
Rodent exclusion is the process of making sure that rats, mice, and similar critters can’t make it inside
your home. It involves closing up any potential points of entry, sealing up holes with effective barriers
that rodents can’t chew through or squeeze past.
What Do You Need to Do to Keep Rodents Out?
Sealing your home up to prevent rodents from getting in requires a pretty basic approach. The goal is to
find any entry points and close them off, ensuring the rodents can’t get inside.
Begin by inspecting every point of entry. Look at the seals around your doors and make sure they are in
good shape. The garage door seal is the first place we look. Mice only need a ¼ inch to get in (about the size of a #2 pencil), and rats only need around 1/2 inch or larger to gain access. That means a subpar seal could give them more than enough room. Next, check around your vents and where any pipes come through the walls, such as bathroom or
kitchen fixtures. You want to look at the interior and exterior of your home, as dryer vents, roof vents,
and similar openings can end up with holes around them over time.
Then, take a look at your crawlspace vents. It’s another potential point of entry and, if a rodent can get
under your home, they can find a way inside.
Rodents have amazing chewing power, their teeth can work through sheetrock, siding, and other
materials if they decide they want to make their way inside. If you find any holes, no matter how small, you need to seal them up tight. Don’t use spray foam for the holes as a rodent’s teeth can cut through it like butter. Additionally, avoid steel wool. Not only is steel wool flammable it also rots. Plus, a rodent’s teeth can chew right through it.
Instead, you need to need to find a more robust solution. Exactly what you need to use depends on
where the hole is located. Often, it is best to contact a pest control specialist to see which solutions will
provide you with the best protection based on your needs.
Why Rodent Exclusion is the Best Method?
Rodent exclusion should always be your first choice. Why? First, it keeps rodents out of your home,
ensuring you don’t hear those little feet scurrying about and that you don’t have to deal with the
contamination from pests and droppings.
Second, it is cost-effective. Getting your home squared away may require an initial investment, that’s
true. After all, you do have to pay for repairs to your house, and those can add up. But, after that, you
experience long-term savings. It’s much cheaper to seal up your home than to keep calling in a pest
control specialist to handle an infestation. Plus, rodents that get inside can chew through wiring,
plumbing, HVAC vents, and a ton of other stuff. By paying to seal your home up, you can avoid expenses
related to that kind of damage too.
Finally, it helps you maintain a healthy home. Rodents can carry about 35 different diseases (some of
which are incredibly dangerous) and may trigger allergies too. Keeping rodents out is always better than
dealing with recurring infestations, so make sure to invest in your home and get it sealed up tight.
Make sure to call Ed’s Dead Bug Pest control for all of your pest control needs! iseedeadbugs.com
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