It's obvious that small pests such as cockroaches and spiders can crawl through weep holes, but vertebrate pests such as lizards, snakes and even mice can also squeeze through a normal weep hole.
Use Stainless Steel Wool: Stuff the weep holes with stainless steel wool. Mice find it difficult to chew through, and it can be a temporary solution.
Brick constructed homes contain weep holes which are the most common method for mice, rats, snakes, scorpions and lizards etc. to enter the home. Weep holes in brick walls are best described as easy access points to gain entry to the inner wall and potentially the living space of the house.
In fact, mice can fit through vents as small as a dime, making it surprisingly easy for them to infiltrate your ventilation system. Mice in vents can cause a number of problems, including foul odors, damage to the vent system, and even the risk of fire if they chew through electrical wires.
Weep holes are often located at the bottom of brick exterior walls. They look like vertical gaps in the mortar joints between bricks. Because brick masonry is porous, water may penetrate the surface and get behind the wall.
Blocking your window weep holes predisposes the window structure to water damage, rust, and corrosion ultimately reducing your window's lifespan.
Although weep holes are essential for water drainage and ventilation, they have a downside for homeowners. These holes are enticing entry points for mice, other rodents, and even on occasion, snakes, to enter the home.
Place mesh screens on all vents and pipes outside to protect mice from entering. Seal up cracks and gaps in the foundation and around entryways, including windows.
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.
Seal any holes you find to stop rodents from entering. Fill small holes with steel wool. Put caulk around the steel wool to keep it in place or use spray foam. Use lath screen or metal, cement, hardware cloth, or metal sheeting to fix larger holes.
While they can provide an entry point for pests, covering weep holes in brick walls is a definite no-no due to the damage this can cause to a building's structure. Instead, high quality screens and covers can be used to keep vermin out whilst maintaining the utility of these very important openings.
Mice have a very strong sense of smell and are often repelled by very strong odors like cinnamon, vinegar, dryer sheets, clove oil, peppermint, tea bags, and cayenne pepper. I decided to try diluting peppermint oil in a spray bottle and misting it around my feed room and tack room.
You can keep rodents and bugs out of your home through duct sealing. Some of the things needed for effective duct sealing include screwdrivers (for opening vent entries), safety gloves, traps, baits, fine wire mesh, torch, soap and plastic bags for disposing off the dead rodents/ bugs.
While air duct cleaning can reduce the attractants for mice, it may not completely eliminate a mouse infestation. Mice use air ducts as shelter and navigation routes, and the debris and contaminants in the ducts can serve as a food source.
Irregular Noise: When mice run through the ductwork, it creates noises that you should be able to hear, especially during nighttime. You may also hear chewing noises, mild squeaking, and scratches. Foul Odour: When mice urinate, it leaves an odour.
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.
Rats and mice are nocturnal with most activity taking place between approximately one half hour after sunset to about one half hour before sunrise. Garbage is an excellent food source for rodents. Store garbage and rubbish in rodent-proof containers.
The strong scent of peppermint is overwhelming to mice. Similarly, essential oils such as eucalyptus oil, bergamot oil, clove oil, and cinnamon oil are potent in keeping mice at bay. One study noted that eucalyptus oil applied once a day was more effective as a rat repellant than once a week.
Weep holes serve an important role in your home's drainage and ventilation, but they can also provide pests such as mice and cockroaches an easy access point into your home.
Completely sealing them is not a wise solution as it can lead to fungal growths that can cause major structural damage and potential health issues. The best solution is to use premium cover products that prevent pests while maintaining the utility of your weep holes.