DIY Network

Closing Holes for Pests Keep unwanted pests outside. From "DIY Weekend" episode DIYW-204

Here are a few way to keep backyard critters from making a home inside your home.

Regularly inspect the foundation of your home, especially around hose bibs to make sure there are no possible entries for critters.

Mice have a malleable (soft) skull, which means they can pass through a hole no bigger than a dime. Walk around your house and look for small holes in the foundation that could be an entry point into the house. If you find a potential entry, stuff a small wad of steel wool into the opening. Wait a day or two and check the hole. If the steel wool has been dislodged from the hole, you’ve got visitors.

Holes in your foundation smaller than a dime are also a concern. If there is wood, especially moist wood behind the masonry, carpenter ants will march in through any opening they can find. Use regular exterior caulking to seal off the holes and be sure to follow the directions on the package.

Firewood piles can attract termites - keep them away from your house. Also, check your garbage cans for holes.

Check for holes in your garbage cans too and make sure you always keep the lid tightly secured. Nothing will attract rodents and insects quicker than a can full of fragrant garbage.

Keep firewood piles away from your house. A stack of wood can attract termites and serve as a nesting ground for mice and rats.

Pests love attics because they are full of nice warm insulation for nesting and they offer easy access to the rest of the house. If you have gable vents that lead into the attic it is a good idea to install a screen behind them to keep those critters out. Mice can easily climb up your mortar and brick exterior.

Even when you close off those entryways you find, pests can often still find a way in. The first place to check for any unwanted guests is under the kitchen cupboards and appliances.