The 12 Most Overlooked Places Rats Can Sneak Into Your Home

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Rats are the number one cause of chaos when it comes to unwanted house guests. They are sneaky critters that know exactly how to find the most minuscule entrance into your personal space. They don’t knock, they don’t ring the bell, they just wriggle in and settle down. You might think your home is a fortress, but the fact of the matter is that rats are very good at finding overlooked places to exploit.

Not taking these potential entry points into consideration is a bigger problem. It’s not just that rats are annoying: they transmit diseases and can gnaw away at wires, creating fire hazards. The good news? By identifying these overlooked spots you are one step ahead.

Garage Door Gaps

The garage is frequently the ‘everything’ room of the house, but it’s also a welcome mat for rats. They just need a small gap at the bottom of the garage door, a quarter of an inch. Rats will find a way, whether it’s the worn out weather stripping or the space left behind because of a tilted door. Sealing up this area tight with heavy duty material can make all the difference.

Attic Vents

While attic vents may be great for airflow, they are also a red carpet for rodents. The mesh covering these openings is often large enough for rats to slip through, and if damaged or missing, it makes these openings very large. You can add sturdy metal screens to block their entry and still allow your attic to breathe.

Dryer Vents

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I don’t know about you, but if you’ve ever pulled a bird’s nest out of your dryer vent, you know how accessible it is for creatures. Just like other animals, rats are crafty, and can make their way in through these openings. They can be kept out with a vent cover that has small, very tightly knit holes that will not mess up air flow.

Chimneys

Chimneys are like a superhighway for rats, especially if they aren’t capped. They’ll climb right down and get into the house through fireplaces. Rodents invade about 21 million homes in the U.S. each winter, according to a National Pest Management Association (NPMA) study. One simple, effective way to close this route is with a sturdy, rat proof chimney cap.

Unsealed Pipe Entry Points

Walk around the outside of your house, and you may notice gaps around pipes coming into your home. These gaps, often created during construction or maintenance, are big enough for rats to squeeze through. If you use expanding foam or steel wool, you can keep the rats out cheaply.

Basement Windows

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If they are cracked, improperly sealed or close to the ground, basement windows can be entry points. Old wooden frames can be chewed by rats or rats can slip through gaps in ill fitting panes. The problem can be solved by upgrading to modern, sealed windows.

Roof Overhangs

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Many homeowners don’t realize roof overhangs are a blind spot. These areas provide rats access to attics and upper floors where they can walk right up in and through; rats can even climb trees or walls to gain entry to these locations. To keep rats from scaling their way into your home, trim back tree branches near your home and inspect overhangs for gaps.

Decks and Porches

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A rat’s dream hideout is the space beneath a deck or porch. These areas are used by them often to nest before they find a way into the house. Want to prevent them from moving in? You can seal gaps around the edges and install hardware cloth below the structure.

Outdoor AC Units

The pipes that lead into your home are often unsealed and can make your air conditioning unit an unlikely entrance for these annoying critters. These small gaps act in effect as a doorway for the rats. To solve this problem, a simple solution is to install a rubber or metal seal around the pipes.

Crawl Spaces

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Rats love dark, damp, and rarely inspected crawl spaces. If your crawl space has access points that aren’t well sealed, you’re basically inviting them in; make sure to inspect your crawl space perimeter frequently and block possible entryways with heavy duty materials.

Gutters

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Clogged debris in your gutters can also act as a ladder for rats to use to get to your roof. Their use is to get rats onto your roof and into vents or gaps. By keeping gutters clean and installing guards, you’re preventing them from turning into a highway.

Pet Doors

Pet doors are convenient for your furry friends but disastrous if a rat catches on. If they do not have locking mechanisms, pet doors can be very easy to access. A secure pet door that opens only for your pets’ collars will keep unwanted visitors out.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.