Does your home have the rodent proofing it needs to keep pests out? There are plenty of potential opportunities for Orange County pests to enter your home. Watch out for these likely entry points, and reach out for professional rodent proofing if you find yourself dealing with unwelcome guests.
What Rodents Should You Worry About in Orange County?
The specific type of rodent proofing you need to protect your home depends on the potential pests you have to worry about. Here in Orange County, a variety of different mice and rats work their way into attics and crawl spaces on a regular basis.
One of the pests you are likely to find is the common house mouse. These mice love to make nests inside walls and can work their way into your home through the smallest gaps. They’re often found in both attics and crawl spaces in Orange County.
The region has two distinct types of rats that cause homeowners trouble: Norway rats and roof rats. The Norway rat burrows, so it’s more likely to be found in your crawlspace. The roof rat, as the name suggests, is much more likely to make its home inside your attic.
Rodent Entry Points in Orange County Homes
Holes Around Your Foundation
One of the first places to look is around the foundation of your home and in the crawl space. These are areas that often go overlooked, so gaps and cracks can develop over time without being noticed. These can allow rodents to enter your home and reach living spaces.
Luckily, this is also an area that’s fairly straightforward to deal with in most cases. Sealing can provide lasting protection to keep rodents out of your home. If you notice any cracks or gaps around your foundation, you should reach out for professional rodent proofing to prevent infestation.
Attic and Crawl Space Vents
Attic and crawl space vents are essential to prevent moisture issues and mold, along with making your home’s heating and cooling more efficient. However, they’re also among the most common entry points for rodents.
When properly installed, vents should include a mesh or screen to prevent rodents and insects from getting inside. However, that isn’t always the case, especially in older homes. The mesh can also become damaged over time, creating a gap that lets rodents in.
There’s also a risk of rodents working their way inside around vents. If your vent hasn’t been carefully installed and sealed, it could leave gaps between the vent enclosure and your home’s exterior siding.
Gaps Underneath Doors
A damaged or poorly installed door can allow easy access for rodents. This is very common with garage doors, which can often have a substantial gap underneath. Because your garage is outside of your living space, you might not notice anything is wrong with your garage door.
Regular doors can also suffer damage that lets rodents in. The weatherstripping at the bottom of your doors is vital to prevent rodent intrusion. However, it can become damaged over time. Rodents can sometimes manage to chew through it themselves. Even if the gap looks too small, chances are that some rodents can make it through.
Around Utility Lines
Your home has a wide range of utility lines that have to get inside somehow. Plumbing, electrical, gas, phone, internet, and more all create holes in your home’s exterior. Ideally, they’ll be properly sealed to prevent any chance of rodents getting in. However, that isn’t always the case.
If they weren’t properly installed or have become damaged, these connections can leave gaps that let rodents inside. Pests can work their way into your walls and travel throughout your home from there. Luckily, rodent proofing these connections is typically straightforward.
Damaged Soffits
Soffits are the underside of your roof overhang. They cover up the exposed area to prevent intrusion. They’re also an important part of attic ventilation in most roof designs. Soffits include small holes that let air rise up through, keeping the roof cool and dry during the summer months.
However, soffits are often made up of small panels that can become dislodged or damaged. Strong winds can knock them out of place in some cases, leaving gaps that can let rodents enter your attic. Keep an eye on your soffits after any storm to prevent this from happening.
Through Your AC Line
Have you had an air conditioner or heat pump installed recently? You might want to take a close look at the connection leading to the exterior unit. In traditional air conditioners, this is a thick black cable that runs through the side of your house. It could leave gaps for rodents to enter if not carefully sealed.
Heat pumps have a conduit that passes directly between an exterior and internal unit. Depending on the style you have installed, you could have multiple internal units, each with its own connections. These can also leave you open to rodent infestation if they aren’t properly sealed.
Floor Drains
Drains have traditionally been a major entry point for rodents. While improvements in design and materials have made that much less of a concern, you could still find rodents entering through drains in older homes.
At some point in your drain line, a gap can form that lets some water leak out. This eventually washes away soil, creating a large void. Any rodents that find their way into the void might be able to enter the drain pipe and climb their way back into your home. Most fixtures are somewhat impassable, but rodents can likely climb up a floor drain.
Professional Rodent Proofing in Orange County
A professional inspection is the best way to find out which entry points could be a risk for your home. From there, professionals can use a variety of methods to repair and seal affected areas.
Looking to keep rodents out of your home for good? Enlist the professional rodent proofing services of Attic Projects and enjoy peace of mind knowing that your home is protected. You can reach out for a free inspection today to determine the extent of your rodent problem and to find the solution you need.
