How To Keep Rodents Out Of Your Crawl Space: What You Need To Know

If you’re dealing with critters in your crawlspace, it’s bad news. You might be hearing strange noises, see little rodents running in and out, or smell something bad as well.

This is especially true if they die there. The smell can seep through your entire home and make your life miserable for you and your family. So, creating an animal-proof crawl space is obviously probably top of mind if you’re reading this article.

But how to get rid of rats in a crawl space? Well, let’s talk about the nature of crawlspaces and how to keep animals out of it. That way, you don’t have rodents in your HVAC system, water, electrical, wiring, or anything else.

What Is A Crawl Space?

The crawlspace is the place between the underside of your home and the ground. It’s typically only a few feet high. That’s why it’s called a crawl space because that’s practically the only way to enter there.

However, it’s plenty large for small animals like rodents to get in there. From there, they can infest your pipes, HVAC system, air ducts, and more.

How To Get Rid Of Rats In The Crawl Space

Let’s talk about some ways to make your crawlspace animal-proof:

Seal the openings

When it comes to knowing how to get rid of squirrels in crawl spaces, or any other critters, sealing is key. You should seal spaces under the walls. Also, if there’s unsealed corners or cracks, use caulking or even foam insulation.

Wood can be used in a pinch as well. This limits the access for rodents and other animals. This is the first thing you need to do asap.

Use a vapor barrier

Moisture is really appealing to animals like raccoons and other rodents, but a thick rubber barrier — called a vapor barrier — is a strong plastic membrane that keeps animals at bay.

Clear brush and trees

If you’ve been doing a lot of landscaping, you might have hedges and brush surrounding your home. Even if you have planted hedges or similar bushes, you should consider removing them.

These trap moisture, which soften the soil. The softer soil makes it easier for animals to get into your crawlspace. Removing it also gives them fewer places to hide.

Use concrete floor and footing

You can use a small concrete wall or concrete floor around the home. Obviously, animals can’t penetrate this.

Even moles, voles, or mice won’t be able to burrow under the soil to get into your crawlspace.

Use traps

Sometimes you have to use the carrot instead of the stick. Consider setting small animal traps around your crawlspace.

If you start seeing animals caught in the traps, you’ll know it’s working.

Maintenance

Hire consistent HVAC maintenance and other types of home maintenance. Experts can look at your points of entry and let you know if they see any signs of rodent infestations.

The bottom line is that crawl spaces can easily become infested with pests. The last thing you want is your HVAC system smelling like a dead rodent. So use the tips above to create an animal-proof crawl space. That way you can have peace of mind every day.

How To Keep Animals Out Of a Crawl Space – Conclusion

Hire the best HVAC company in Elmhurst today at Unique Indoor Comfort Heating and Cooling. We have the tools to ensure your home’s heating and cooling is working to maximum capacity.

If you need any additional tips on keeping critter fest stations at bay, our technicians are here to help. So reach out today and keep your house clean and comfortable in a few easy steps.

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