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This Is A Mouse Highway Into Your House

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

This is a mouse highway into your house.

What is?  A door?  Trees overhanging the house and a roof vent?  A hole beside a window?

It's where the AC lines attach to the house!

Typically these lines are near to the ground, or easily accessed by climbing mice from the unit.

They merely follow the trail into the house.

If they are allowed, that is!

How are they allowed?

When the putty, or whatever sealer, dries up and falls away.  Look at the size of that opening!  It is a magical, always-open door!  They can come and go at will.

A mouse needs only a 1/4" gap or hole to get into a house!  That is not much space!  Once a group of mice find such an opening in a house they move in.

And once inside they will create bedrooms, find sources of food and water, and grow in numbers.

AND THEY WILL GROW IN NUMBERS!

My recommendation:  look around the house for any sources that will allow critters to get in.  This is basic home maintenance.  Even the smallest holes should not be overlooked.  A mouse might find a small hole and work to enlarge it.  And again, once inside, they will move in the entire extended family, and create more.

 

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments(12)

Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Excellent reminder and I have checking the mouse route from my a/c line today, Jay!  What do you recommend to seal around it?

Mar 22, 2017 04:09 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Check away, Ginny!  Sta Put plumber's putty works for most anything and sticks well without shrinking.  You can find it at the hardware store or on line.

Mar 22, 2017 04:38 AM
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

This is a good reminder to check around the house now that the weather is warming up and fill any gaps or "highways" that exist.

Mar 22, 2017 04:54 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

It is a good time, Nathan.  And mice may be more likely to want in when the weather starts getting cold!

Mar 22, 2017 05:13 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Jay. Easy entrance and hard to evict! Pay attention! Enjoy your day!

Mar 22, 2017 05:18 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Similar to the Hotel California, Wayne, they can check themselves out but they will never leave.

Mar 22, 2017 05:21 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Jay. This is scary but certainly true. A good thing to do at any season.

Mar 22, 2017 06:42 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Sheila - any season is true.  And bats only need 1/4" to get in!  Is that scarier?

Mar 22, 2017 08:25 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

And when they have a metal cover over them it's like an out of sight kinda thing. I think bats need 3/8"... or is it 5/16? Either way, seal em up!

Mar 22, 2017 08:44 AM
Stephen Weakley
Nationwide Mortgage Services - Rockville, MD

My battle every year is with bats.  I'm 5 years in to this battle and thank god I am winning.  Each year I seal up another access point and there are less and less of those little buggers.

Mar 22, 2017 10:08 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Jay- this is a good reminder for every home dweller to make periodic checks around their home. 

Mar 25, 2017 12:38 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Fred - small bats maybe less!  I'd put in a small door.  Easier.

Put bat houses elsewhere Stephen, and maybe encourage them there?

Most of my posts are about making regular visits around the house, Kathy!  I think I could wear people out.

Mar 25, 2017 12:44 PM