When you think about possible damage to your heater, you don’t often think about mice. Yet mice are a common problem when they get into heating ducts or make nests inside furnaces. They also nibble wires, which can cause fires. Here are tips on how to prevent mice from infesting your heating system.
Inspect the Furnace Annually
Getting your furnace inspected and cleaned every year by a professional heating repair service helps reveal mice activity. Mice move silently and in darkness, often between walls and in ductwork. Mouse damage and droppings can be spotted long before any actual mice are seen or heard. Part of a furnace inspection is to turn it on. If you suspect that there may be mice in your home, tell the Furnace Repair in Tacoma Wa professionals your suspicions. Mouse nests inside or next to furnaces can burst into flames. The technicians can check for mice and nests before turning the heater on.
Block Off All Access Areas
Mice can squeeze their bodies into very small cracks. If you can fit a credit card into a crack or slot into your vents, then a mouse can slip through. Check that the vent covers are still tightly connected to the walls. Fill in any cracks with wire mesh. Check your window frames, door frames, foundations, and walls for any cracks or gaps that mice or other pests can get through. These need to be fixed right away.
Use Snap Traps
One of the most effective ways of eliminating invading mice is the old-fashioned snap trap. Bait these with peanut butter (not cheese) and place next to walls in front of heating vents or anywhere there is a small pile of mouse droppings. Mice tend to hug the walls when they run around a room. Make a note of where the traps are and check them every day. Other kinds of traps, like glue traps, can be used, but children and pets often get into them. Talk to your heating inspector to see what traps he or she recommends.
Make Sure You Have a Dry Home
Mice only need a few drops of water a day in order to survive. Make your home less attractive by fixing all leaks and mopping up all puddles or spills. Some heaters and air conditioning units drip. Talk to your Furnace Repair in Tacoma Wa to fix this.
