To prevent rodents from entering your home, seal every gap a mouse or rat can use with materials they can’t chew, remove the food and shelter that draw them, and inspect the outside of the house regularly for new openings. Exclusion, meaning physically sealing rodents out, is the step that lasts; traps and repellents only deal with rodents already present. Saela Pest Control, a residential and commercial pest control company based in Orem, Utah, offers rodent exclusion for homes and businesses. This guide walks through where rodents get in, how to seal those spots, and the outdoor, food and monitoring habits that keep them from coming back.
Why Rodents Get Into Homes
Mice and rats come indoors for food, water and a protected place to nest, and they can get through surprisingly small openings. Once inside, they contaminate food and surfaces with droppings, urine and saliva, gnaw on stored goods and building materials, and nest in walls, attics and crawl spaces. For a closer look at that process, see how mice and rats get inside walls. Knowing which rodent you have also matters, because mice and rats differ in size, habits and the gaps they use.
Identifying Potential Entry Points
Most rodent entry points sit low on the foundation, around utility openings or along the roof line, and they are often hidden behind shrubs, stored items or the edges of siding. Walk the outside of the house with a flashlight, then check the garage, basement and attic from the inside:
- Cracks in the foundation and gaps where the foundation meets the siding or ground
- Gaps around windows and doors, including worn door sweeps and garage door seals
- Openings around pipes, wires, cables and other utility lines
- Attic and crawl-space vents, roof eaves and chimneys
- Damaged, loose or missing siding and soffit panels
Size matters more than most people expect: mice can fit through a hole the width of a pencil, about a quarter inch, and young rats can squeeze under a door with only a half-inch gap. Treat any opening that size or larger as a possible entry point.
Sealing Entry Points
Seal entry points with materials rodents can’t gnaw through, because rats chew plastic, foam, wood and caulk on their own. UC IPM’s house mouse guide recommends closing all gaps larger than a quarter inch and lists plastic screening, rubber, vinyl, insulating foam and wood as ineffective barriers. Practical options include:
- Steel wool or copper mesh packed into small holes, then sealed in place with caulk
- Spray foam or sealant only as a finish over a metal plug, never as the barrier itself
- Door sweeps and weather stripping on exterior doors, including the garage
- Sheet metal, hardware cloth or cement for larger gaps and foundation cracks
- Secure screens or covers on vents, chimneys and roof openings
Some gaps are hard to reach or hidden behind finishes. Saela’s rodent exclusion service inspects for access points, repairs openings and places traps for rodents still inside, and it is worth confirming in writing which repairs a quote includes.
Landscaping and Exterior Maintenance
The yard around your house can either give rodents cover or leave them exposed, so keep the area next to the foundation open and tidy. UC IPM’s rat guide recommends removing overhanging tree limbs within 6 feet of the roof and pruning dense plants 2 feet or more away from buildings. Focus on these tasks:
- Mow regularly and trim shrubs and ground cover back from the foundation
- Clear debris piles, stored lumber and clutter where rodents can hide
- Store firewood off the ground and away from the house walls
- Cut back tree branches that touch or overhang the roof
- Use a closed compost bin and avoid composting meat or dairy
Food Storage and Waste Management
Rodents stay where food is easy to reach, so sanitation supports every other step, indoors and out. According to UC IPM, good sanitation alone seldom controls house mice, but poor sanitation attracts them and lets them thrive. Use these habits:
- Store pet food, birdseed and pantry staples in sealed metal, glass or heavy plastic containers
- Clean up spills and crumbs promptly, including under appliances
- Use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids, indoors and out
- Take out trash on a regular schedule
- Feed pets only what they eat at one feeding, and don’t leave food out for wildlife
Do Natural Deterrents Keep Rodents Out?
Natural deterrents don’t keep rodents out for long, and they should never replace sealing. UC IPM reports that no repellents have been found to solve a rat problem for more than a very short time, and that there is little evidence sound or vibration devices drive rodents from buildings. Common options people try include:
- Mint or lavender planted around the house, which does not stop rodents from entering
- Peppermint or other essential oils on cotton balls, which fade quickly and have no proven lasting effect
- Vinegar or other strong smells near activity, which also lack evidence of any lasting effect
If you use any of these, treat them as extras. The work that lasts is exclusion, sanitation and monitoring.
Professional Pest Control Services
A professional rodent program is useful when you can’t find the entry points, when activity continues after sealing, or when rodents are already nesting in the attic or walls. Every Saela plan includes a 50+ point property inspection covering entry points, structural gaps and attics. In a February 2024 Google review, kay mccallop reported that Saela identified rodent-prevention issues and repaired them that day. A professional rodent service can include:
- An inspection of entry points, nesting sites and conditions that attract rodents
- Repairs to openings found during the inspection, as part of rodent exclusion
- Traps placed for rodents still inside the home
- Attic and crawl-space clean-outs after rodent activity, quoted for the specific property
Monitoring and Maintenance
Rodent prevention is ongoing, because weather, settling and gnawing open new gaps over time. Check the outside of your home every few months and after storms, and handle signs of activity safely: the CDC advises against sweeping or vacuuming droppings, since tiny particles can get into the air. Keep this routine:
- Walk the foundation, roof line and utility openings every season
- Check that plugs, sweeps and vent covers are still intact
- Watch for droppings, fresh gnaw marks, tracks and a musky odor
- Repair new openings and set traps as soon as you notice activity
Conclusion
Keeping rodents out comes down to three habits: seal entry points with gnaw-proof materials, remove easy food and shelter, and check regularly for new openings. These steps are simpler than dealing with an established infestation and the cleanup that follows. If you prefer professional help, Saela’s rodent control services cover inspection, exclusion and trapping, and its Kansas City, Missouri location is rated 4.7 out of 5 from 2,795 Google reviews as of October 2026.
Plans and scope depend on your property, so review Saela’s plans and pricing, then book a call to schedule a rodent inspection.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
