Expert Pest Control of Rat by House Proofing

Millions of home are infested every year by rodents. These represent a health threat to every home. Rodents are amazing creatures that present incredible resilience.Rats and mice can also do a lot of damage to your homes. They can chew through lead sheathings, aluminum sheeting, glass, electric wires.

Here are a few simple steps to staying free of rats and mice.

Stop Entry

Stop rats and mice finding a way into your home or other building. Take half an hour to walk around the house looking for ways in. Take a pencil with you to write down what needs to be done and use it to measure gaps. If a pencil can slip under a door a mouse can get under it. Mice and rats can flatten their rib cages to fit through gaps, if their head can fit through, their body can follow. Gaps under doors can be sealed with draft excluder.

Rats and mice are usually active at night and are not likely to gain entry through open doors and windows during the day. The exception might be when they are under real pressure to find food and shelter. Then they may take the risk of venturing out during the day. So keep doors and windows closed at all times if possible.

Remove all food sources. Check for food that might have been spilled behind the fridge or under other furniture. Make sure the cereals, flour, rice and other food stuffs in your larder are put in sealed containers

Other Entries

Look in places both high and low. Rats and mice are excellent climbers. Roof rats are better climbers than the larger Norway rats and feed readily in trees. They will walk along branches that overhang roofs and drop down onto the roof. From here they rarely have difficulty getting into the roof void via gaps around the eaves. Cut overhanging trees away from the roof and also trim climbing plants such as rambling roses, vines, ivy, honeysuckle etc. to at least 30cm below the overhanging eaves.

Air vents are necessary for the good ventilation of sub floors and should not be sealed. Undamaged vents are usually designed to be mouse proof. Repair damaged vents or cover with fine mesh. Also look for gaps where pipe work and cables enter buildings and gaps where weatherboards do not fit flush. These can usually be filled with silicone sealers, waterproof fillers or foam filler.

Here are some tips on how to prevent rodents from getting into your home:

• inspect the interior and exterior of your house. Look for cracks and seal them. Use weather strips on the bottom of your exterior doors.
• cleaning your house, and especially your kitchen will prevent mice from appearing. Store your food in special containers and avoid leaving dishes in the sink for long periods of time. Also keep your garbage in lidded containers.
• Do not store firewood, brick or other objects near your house. Also get rid of any plants that grow near your house.
• if you find mice in your house, immediately call a pest control company.

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