The “Invisible” Invitations: 5 Rodent Entry Points Most Delaware Homeowners Miss cover art

The “Invisible” Invitations: 5 Rodent Entry Points Most Delaware Homeowners Miss

The “Invisible” Invitations: 5 Rodent Entry Points Most Delaware Homeowners Miss

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 Listen, I’ve spent years crawling through crawlspaces and peering into attics across the First State. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that a mouse doesn’t need a front door and a welcome mat to move into your home. In Delaware, we deal with everything from house mice to hefty Norway rats. Most homeowners think they’re safe because their windows are shut and their doors are locked. But rodents aren’t looking for a handle; they’re looking for a gap the size of a dime. At Loyalty Pest Control, we see the same “invisible” entry points overlooked time and time again. If you want to keep the uninvited guests out this season, you need to look where they look. Here are the top five spots you’re probably missing. 1. The “Utility Highway” (Pipe and Line Gaps) Look under your kitchen sink or behind your laundry unit. Where those PVC pipes or copper lines go through the drywall, is there a gap? Most builders leave a “collar” of space around the pipe. To a rodent, that’s a climate-controlled tunnel leading straight from your cozy walls to your pantry. The Fix: Don’t just use expanding foam—rats can chew through that like cotton candy. Use stainless steel wool packed tightly around the pipe, then seal it with caulk. 2. Corner Posts and Siding J-Channels If you have vinyl siding, take a walk outside and look at the very bottom of your corner posts. Often, these are hollow and open at the bottom. Mice can climb up the inside of that corner post like a chimney, gaining access to the soffits and eventually your attic. The Fix: We use specialized “corner guards” or hardware cloth to plug these openings without ruining the look of your siding. 3. The Garage Door “Smile” Does your garage door seal perfectly against the floor, or is there a tiny daylight gap at the corners? Over time, the rubber weatherstripping on the bottom of garage doors gets brittle or chewed. If you can see light under the door, a mouse can see an open invitation. The Fix: Replace the bottom seal and consider adding “pest-proof” weatherstripping that contains a wire mesh core. 4. Roof Intersections and Dormers I can’t tell you how many homeowners are shocked when I find a nest in the attic. “How did they get up there?” they ask. Mice are Olympic-level climbers. Where two rooflines meet—especially where a lower roof tucks under an upper eave—there is often a gap in the fascia board. The Fix: This requires a ladder and a keen eye. These gaps need to be flashed with metal or sealed with heavy-duty hardware cloth. 5. The AC Condenser Line Follow the insulated copper line from your outdoor AC unit into your house. That hole is a notorious culprit. The “thumb gum” or putty used by HVAC installers to seal that hole often dries out and falls away after a few Delaware summers, leaving a perfect mouse-sized highway. The Fix: Check this every spring and fall. Reseal it with a high-quality exterior silicone or a specialized wall sleeve. The Bottom Line Rodents aren’t just a nuisance; they’re a health hazard and a fire risk (they love chewing on wires). When we come out for a Loyalty Pest Control inspection, we don’t just look at where the mice are—we look at how they got there. Success in pest control isn’t just about setting traps; it’s about “excluding” them from the start. Take a walk around your home today with a flashlight and a critical eye. You might be surprised at what you find. Is your home truly sealed up? If you’re worried you might have missed a spot, I can help. Would you like me to put together a DIY inspection checklist you can use to audit your home’s exterior this weekend? The post The “Invisible” Invitations: 5 Rodent Entry Points Most Delaware Homeowners Miss appeared first on Loyalty Termite and Pest Control Wilmington Deleware.
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