All homes and commercial properties are prone to rodent infestations and repeat infestations. To make sure there so no way a rat or a mouse can enter your home you should do some improvements to it.
The pests enter your home in search of food, shelter, water, and breeding conditions. Once they make their nest and have babies, the infestation is guaranteed. It’s important to know how to protect your home against the pesky vermin.
Keep in mind that most of the home improvements that you should do against rodents will also stop insects from getting inside as well.
How do Rodents Enter Your Home?
Rodents enter your home through open spaces, cracks, holes in your home. In rare occasions, rats and mice can get in by gnawing on insulation or other material your home is made from and make a hole themselves.
Squirrels usually find a way to enter your roof and if you hear noises on the roof it’s either squirrels or rats.
You should know that it matters a lot what your house walls are made from. In houses where the walls are drywall, rats or mice can get behind the walls and die. If that happens, the dead rodent body is very difficult to get out from behind the wall. Since there’s no way you can know or see a dead rodent behind your walls, you will know that something is up once it starts to emit a pungent smell. Then you have to find a way to get rid of the dead rat smell, too.
What do Rodents Eat?
The most common rodents that are considered household pest – mice, rats, squirrels – have almost identical feeding habits and preferences. The main foods they love are:
- grains
- seeds and nuts
- fruits
- cereal
- wood and leaves
Squirrels eat hard nuts and seeds as well, but unlike rats and mice, they can also feed on small insects, snakes.
This means that rodents can easily get to all of their favourite foods once they enter your home. It’s a well-known myth that mice and rats love cheese, but the reality is that you have a better chance of trapping one with sugar or peanut butter.
In fact, finding eaten food in your pantry can one of the signs of a rat infestation.
Home improvements to stop rodents from entering your home
- Examine your roof – fix broken roofing tiles or other holes and cracks on the roof. Examine the chimney as well.
- Examine your basement and foundation – check for cracks, holes, remove standing water and food, if any. De-clutter if you can, to eliminate hiding spots for rodents.
- Examine your garage and de-clutter it if possible, seal cracks and fill holes if any.
- Examine your pipes and the toilet because rats are great swimmers and can enter your home through the toilet. You can use different methods to block rats’ access through the drains.
- Examine the windows and doors. Fill in cracks if any.
- Keep your home, garage, and garden clutter-free.
- Keep garbage bins sealed to cut off the food source for rodents and other pests.
How to keep rodents out of your pantry?
Here are the steps you should follow in order to keep your pantry food safe from rats and mice.
- Caulk small holes and cracks if any.
- Keep the food in glass jars that close tightly.
- Regularly wipe down the shelves to remove food crumbs.
- Keep the pantry uncluttered. Regularly throw away expired or spoiled products.
- Take care of accidental spillage right away.
It needs regular monitoring and maintenance to have a rodent-free pantry. Add 10 minutes to your cleaning routine to take care of the pantry.
Summary
By implementing these techniques and doing these house improvements, you will be keeping your house rodent-free. Sealing the entryways to your home will keep it from being bombarded with colonies of rodents, and provide your family with the comfort of knowing you are living in a safe and sanitary home.
