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An ounce of prevention...
With winter rapidly approaching, rats and mice are beginning to look for warm places to escape the cold. Your home's garage, foundation crawlspace vents and outdoor crawlspace access doors (just a few of the more than two dozen conditions that are part of your Cascade Inspect and Protect Service) all qualify as easy entry points for these pests. Here are some tips on how to keep them from setting up shop in your home for the winter.
Garage doors
 Garage Doors that do not close tightly allow rats and mice to enter freely. Rodents have extremely flexible skeletons so a small rat can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter and a mouse can squeeze through a gap the width of a pencil! Once inside, they are known to nest in stored items, such as outdoor and camping gear, get into pet and other stored food, or gain entry further into the house structure. Sealing the gaps around your garage doors can close this easy access source.
Foundation crawlspace vents
 Unless you have a basement (or 'slab on grade') you have a crawlspace beneath the lowest floor in your home and a sub-floor crawlspace needs to breathe in order to remain dry and pest free. That is why most houses have vents along the concrete foundation, visible from outside the home.
There are two problems you must avoid with these vents:
- Blocked or obstructed vents - It is imperative that air can flow freely through these vents so remove grass, weeds and cobwebs that may build up against, or get lodged in, the vent screening. Also, make sure that no stored wood or other items block the air flow outside the vents. Finally, never try to save money on your heating bill in the winter by blocking these vents when they are most needed to keep your crawlspace dry!
- Broken vent screens - allow access for rats and mice or, if they're entirely missing, larger animals like raccoons and opossums! Be sure to properly maintain vent screens.
Outdoor crawlspace access doors
Many homes have outdoor access panels or doors to the substructure crawlspace. These doors are usually hinged plywood doors or plywood panels that cover a metal "access well." Make sure that these access panels fit snugly and securely to prevent rodents from entering.
Your Cascade technician will look for these as part of the more than two dozen conditions that are included in your Cascade Inspect and Protect service and notify you if they find any problems.
Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
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| © 2008 Cascade Pest Control, a div. of Treftz Corporation. All rights reserved. - 14950 SE Allen Road, Bellevue, WA 98006 |
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