Don't Let The Mouse In The House! 2 Ways To Mouse-Proof Your Garage Door
Posted on: 13 December 2016
Mice are pesky creatures, and they will do anything to find a way into your home to gain access to warmth and food. Many homeowners overlook the garage door as a possible weak link when it comes to keeping mice out of the house. As a first-time homeowner, it's time to take a closer look at your garage door to make sure you're not inadvertently letting uninvited squeaking guests into your home.
No Gaps Under The Garage Door
Mice don't need a lot of room to get into your home, so if your garage door has a small gap underneath it, then they use this as an easy entry point. Over time, garage doors may not fully close all the way down. This does not mean you need a new garage door, but it does mean the door needs a realignment.
There are two reasons why the door does not close completely. The first relates to the safety sensor that protects people and animals from being crushed by a closing door. If there is an object obstructing the two sensors from seeing each other, the door cannot close completely. This also happens if the sensors are very dirty. Look at the sensor on each side of the door to see if you can work out the source of the interference.
The second reason the door is not closing properly is because it needs a small adjustment. Your door has limit switches which tell it how far to close, so locating and adjusting these can overcome the closure issue. Limit switches are located on the motor surround for the garage door motor. They are adjusted by using a flat blade screwdriver. However, it is always best to leave this adjustment to a garage door repairer so you don't over-adjust the door.
No Gaps In The Garage Door
Once you have adjusted the gap under the garage door, you need to make sure the mice are not entering your garage through the garage door itself. The rubber weather stripping at the base of the garage door is the weak point mice can use to get access to your garage, and ultimately your home.
There are two sure-fire ways to stop the mice from turning your weather strip into an entry point:
- Smear bearing grease along the bottom and inside of the weatherstrip. You can purchase this type of grease from your local hardware store. The taste and smell are off putting to mice, so they'll be less interested in eating the rubber strip.
- Replace the rubber weather strip with one that has the brush style pile garage weatherstrip. The brush is made of individual fibres woven into the strip, so it looks like a tightly compacted broom brush. Choose a brush made of steel fibres to keep the mice out of your house. Mice will not chew on steel as it hurts their teeth.
Make sure you buy a weatherstrip which fully stretches across the width of your garage door opening. Even the smallest of gaps is enough to allow mice into your house.
After you have taken care of the gaps in your garage door, you need to remove the existing mice who are now residing in your garage. Mice traps can be purchased from your hardware store and are preferable to using poison. Poison can accidentally be ingested by pets and small children, so it is not a good choice for your garage.
Make sure to talk to your garage door installer if you have any larger holes in your door you cannot repair yourself. For example, if you have a hole caused by rust, have this professionally repaired. Turn your garage door into a fortress and you can stop mice entering your dwelling through this entry point. Contact a company like Best Doors for more tips.
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