Can mice come up the shower drain?

Author: Darrion Powlowski IV  |  Last update: Thursday, July 3, 2025

Mice are excellent swimmers and they can enter your home through drains and sewers. Sometimes just one poorly sealed drainpipe is enough to let a mouse in through the sink, shower or bathtub drain.

Can mice come from a shower drain?

Due to their body shape, mice are capable of fitting through holes much smaller than appear likely. Mice may also enter the home through gaps in windows or ceilings, as well as through sewer lines. If drainage pipes are not properly sealed, mice may enter homes through sink or bathtub drains.

How do you stop mice from coming up the drain?

You could put a catch basin as an outlet at the end of the pipe. Water would bubble out of it when under pressure. Any residual water will discourage entry by rodents.

Why do I keep finding mice in my bathtub?

If you have water sources, mice will probably stick around. Places mice find water include: leaky sinks, sweaty toilets, leaky pipes, moist areas in bathrooms or laundry rooms, or any other area where there is a water leak. If you have areas that are shut away and quiet, mice will love you for it.

How to get rid of mice in drain pipes?

you could try caustic soda or drano in the drain line, lots of it and heat the line with hot water first.

See How Easily a Rat Can Wriggle Up Your Toilet | National Geographic

How do I stop mice from climbing my drain pipes?

How to protect your drains
  1. Sealed drainage. This means there are no openings between the drainage pipework of your property and the sewer. ...
  2. Rodent barriers. There are a number of devices that can be installed in the pipes that do not allow the rats to pass. ...
  3. Covers and gratings. ...
  4. Cages.

Why do mice suddenly disappear?

Mice need a place to nest and nearby food in order to survive and multiply. In a context where you abruptly remove the food, the environment would suddenly not be able to sustain such a large number of mice; therefore, mice would look for more favourable environments and many, if not all, would leave.

What scares away house mice?

Peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, and cloves – Soak some cotton balls in any of these essential oils. Then place the cotton balls around your house in common hiding spots for mice and rats. Apple cider vinegar and water – Mix these ingredients up in a spray bottle and spritz it around the outside of your house.

Why do I hear scratching under my bathtub?

Do you hear an animal scratching under your bathtub? More than likely you have rats! At Twin Home Experts, we have solved many issues with 🐀 rats under your bathtubs, hot tubs & soaking tubs.

Why am I suddenly getting mice in my house?

Here are the most common triggers for a sudden mouse infestation: – Seasonal changes: Mice are more likely to seek shelter in your home during colder months. In winter, they look for warmth, while in the warmer months, open windows and doors provide easy access.

What is the most extreme way to get rid of mice?

Zinc phosphide is an acute toxicant that causes the death of a house mouse within several hours after a lethal dose is ingested. It appears to be the fastest way of getting rid of mice by reducing their population.

Can mice climb into bathtubs?

Small Cracks and Holes

Small holes or cracks in your home's foundation are the perfect openings for mice. Rodents can scratch, crawl, or climb through any unsealed openings in the bathtub or sink drains, as well as utility lines (e.g. sewer, gas, cable, water).

What smells do mice hate?

Some of the smells that mice hate include:
  • Peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is a natural repellent that can be used to keep mice away. ...
  • Cinnamon. Cinnamon is another natural repellent that mice hate. ...
  • Vinegar. The pungent smell of vinegar is also effective at repelling mice. ...
  • Citronella. ...
  • Ammonia. ...
  • Bleach. ...
  • Mothballs.

How do I keep mice out of my drain pipe?

Install a 12-inch-square piece of aluminum flashing or galvanized metal around conduit pipe to prevent rodents from climbing. Caulk gap around pipe if opening is larger than ¼ inch.

How to find out where mice are getting in your house?

Look for gaps around the following locations:
  1. Kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, and stoves (check inside and underneath)
  2. Fireplaces.
  3. Closets near floor corners.
  4. Floor vents and dryer vents.
  5. Attics.
  6. Crawl spaces.
  7. Laundry room floor drains.
  8. Doors.

What time of year do mice come inside?

"They typically enter homes between October and February looking for food, water and shelter from the cold." Orkin crunched numbers and ranked the top 50 most rodent-infested cities. They used the number of new rodent treatments, both commercial and residential, from fall 2022 through summer 2023.

Why is there a strange noise coming from my shower drain?

These sounds come from air bubbles trying to force their way up from within your drain. The main culprit that causes this gurgling noise is the clog that is forming inside your pipes. Air pockets can form and surround the clog. In turn, it causes the trapped air to exit up as the water flows down the drain.

What to do when you hear a mouse scratching?

If you think you have rats or mice, you can try to lure them out and trap them. If you don't feel comfortable setting traps or are unsure what pests are in your walls, the wisest move is to contact a qualified pest control company with wildlife removal experience.

What is the hole in the concrete slab under the bathtub?

One of the features common to most slab-on-grade homes is the bath trap. Bath traps, a type of “slab leave-out”, are located under bathtubs.

What noise makes mice go away?

High-pitched noises may affect rodents, but research has shown the effects are often overcome within a day or so because the rodents adapt to the sounds, regardless of whether the frequency is variable, intermittent, or random.

Does pine sol keep mice away?

Mice generally avoid the smell of Pine Sol. The strong scent is unpleasant for them, and they tend to steer clear of areas treated with Pine Sol. While it is not guaranteed that all mice will avoid Pine Sol, it effectively deter most mice from the treated areas.

How do I get rid of mice in my house asap?

How to get rid of mice in your house
  1. Eliminate entry points.
  2. Use mouse traps.
  3. Choose the best bait for mouse traps.
  4. Proper placement of mouse traps is critical.
  5. Place bait stations carefully in the house.
  6. Good sanitation won't get rid of mice, but poor sanitation will attract them.

Will mice leave if they see a dead mouse?

A dead mouse repels other mice, which is why it's important to get rid of them immediately.

How much is an exterminator for mice?

Our research shows that hiring a mouse exterminator costs an average of $394, with some professional exterminators charging between $90 and $150 per visit. Promptly dealing with a mouse infestation is crucial to maintaining a safe and healthy home.

How do you keep mice away permanently?

To discourage mice, remove all food sources by storing grains, pet food, and other dry goods in metal containers. Make sure mice won't find nesting material by storing all soft, fluffy material like fabric, rugs and blankets in heavy plastic or metal boxes.

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