You’re a polite host, but mice are one group you’d rather not share your house with. Mice carry infections and can put your family’s health at risk, in addition to causing damage to your home. Fortunately, getting rid of mice is a simple process.
Rodents can wreak havoc on your crawl space by tearing holes in the plastic, foam insulation, and walls, compromising the vapor barrier and protecting it from outside moisture and potential mold growth.
Crawl space encapsulation is one of the best methods for protection from pests and rodents. They are less expensive to construct than basements and are an excellent option for building a home on expansive property. However, their most serious issue is their humid climate, which encourages bugs of all types to congregate, nest, and reproduce.
Why do you have mice?
Mice, like you, want to stay warm. They want easy access to food and water as well as protection from predators and the elements. A crawl space repair can attract a variety of pests and rodents, including termites and cockroaches if it is not properly maintained and sealed.
Mice will enter your home through cracks and fissures in the foundation and crawl space. Mice can get in even if there aren’t any gaps in the walls. They can even squeeze between concrete blocks and siding.
How to spot a mouse problem
Are you unsure if you have mice under your house? Use a flashlight to peek into or enter your crawl space repair if feasible. Keep a lookout for the following:
- Droppings from mice
- A mouse nest is made up of piles of shredded paper or insulation.
- The wire that has been chewed or insulation that has been disrupted
- Bite marks on ducts, wiring, or insulation are common.
Don’t dismiss any of these indicators if you notice them. Within three months, a family of six mice can increase to 60, with an average of six to eight babies every litter. Furthermore, a mouse infestation can be hazardous. House fires have been triggered by rats eating through electrical lines and wires.
Tips to keep out mice from crawl space
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Be a vigilant housekeeper
Mice are not picky eaters and will eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, pet chow, and dry cupboard goods. They have sharp teeth and remarkable recall, which allows them to gather food in the same spots each night. Food supplies that mice can transport away to the nests they create in crawl spaces are a surefire way to attract mice.
Keeping food sources out of reach of mice is one efficient strategy to keep them out of your house. Keeping crumbs and leftover tidbits off your kitchen table and worktops, for example, will deter curious, industrious mice from pursuing them. Sweep and dust your kitchen at least twice a week, and instead of keeping pet food in sacks that mice can easily nibble through, invest in air-tight solid plastic kibble keepers.
Close pantry and cabinet gaps, and instead of leaving cereal in packages, keep it in glass or plastic jars. Keep an eye out for evidence of rodent activity, such as droppings and grease markings on cabinet doors.
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Add a light in the crawl space
Adding a light to your crawl space encapsulation may deter these creatures from constructing nests and hiding food, as they prefer dark places to do so. Mice can be deterred by using hooded lights with correctly grounded plugs to limit fire risk. Remember to insulate or hide the cords so that any remaining mice don’t nibble on them.
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Remove all food sources
Mice just require a modest amount of food on a daily basis. Remove the foods they prefer to eat from your home to get rid of them. Grain, pet food, and other dry items should all be stored in glass or metal containers, which keep food safe because mice can’t nibble through them.
Seal all potential food sources in tamper-proof bins, avoid keeping pet food out for long amounts of time, and clean up all spills and accidents promptly to avoid attracting mice to your property.
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Don’t store organic materials
Do you keep old newspapers or firewood stacked near your house? If this is the case, you may be inviting pests into your home. These things can attract a variety of pests, which will then move into and breed in your crawl space. Keep these items away from the foundation and crawl space of your property.
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Keep the crawl space dry
Mice need food, water, and shelter to survive and raise their young, and a wet crawl space with a dripping pipe or valve can be the ideal environment for them. Mice will not have to walk outside to get water, exposing themselves to adverse weather and predators such as large birds, cats, and dogs, which they avoid at all costs.
If you go into your crawl space to figure out how to get rid of mice in walls or get rid of a water source, it’s better to leave any mice nests you uncover until our professionals arrive. If handled or cornered, male mice can be highly aggressive and produce a nasty bite. Many mouse species also carry hantavirus, a disease that causes fever, paralysis, and muscle pain. Kindly inform professionals about the signs of mouse activity so that they can safely remove them and can help with crawl space encapsulation.
Final Words!
If you have a rodent or mice problem, you certainly have a moisture problem as well. Installing a crawl space vapor barrier, correcting the grade of your landscaping, or appropriately guttering rainfall away from the property are some basic options for dealing with crawl space moisture concerns; nevertheless, a crawl space encapsulation may be required to resolve your issue.
Atlantic Foundation & Crawl Space Repair can meet all of your home repair needs. In foundation repair, crawl space encapsulation, basement wall repair, structural repair, and other areas, we’re regarded for providing trustworthy services, high-quality supplies, and competent service. We help homeowners improve the value of their houses by renovating them. For more details, visit our website!
