How do mice get into the house? - briefly
Rodents typically infiltrate residences through openings as small as a quarter‑inch, such as foundation cracks, gaps around pipes, vents, and inadequately sealed doors or windows. They also exploit utility conduits, roof voids, and damaged screens to gain indoor access.
How do mice get into the house? - in detail
Mice exploit any opening that permits passage of a quarter‑inch diameter. Typical routes include:
- Gaps around foundation walls and slab joints
- Cracks in brick, stone, or concrete masonry
- Openings surrounding plumbing, electrical, and cable conduits
- Spaces beneath doors, windows, and sliding panels
- Unsealed vents, dryer exhausts, and attic or roof hatches
- Holes in siding, soffits, or eaves
- Chimney flues lacking proper caps
- Pet doors and small utility shutters
Rodents follow exterior walls, using low‑lying pathways such as crawl spaces, basements, and garage walls to approach interior structures. Pressure differentials inside a heated building draw mice toward cracks, while interior food, water, and shelter provide incentive to breach those openings. Their flexible skeletons allow them to flatten bodies and navigate irregular passages, often entering through holes as small as 0.6 cm.
Entry is facilitated by construction practices that leave unfinished sealants, missing weatherstripping, or deteriorated caulking. Seasonal temperature changes cause expansion and contraction of building materials, creating new fissures. In addition, damaged or improperly installed screens on vents and utility openings present direct access points.
Preventive measures focus on eliminating these pathways: sealing foundation cracks with hydraulic cement, installing steel‑wool or copper mesh around pipe penetrations, applying continuous caulk to door and window frames, fitting vent covers with fine mesh, and maintaining intact weatherstripping. Regular inspection of exterior cladding and roof elements identifies emerging gaps before rodents can exploit them.