Can Mice Get in Through Air Vents?

Can mice get in through air vents and into your home this way?

How dangerous are mice droppings in heater intakes, HVAC ducts, and air vents, and what is the best way to clean them out?

A lot of these answers really comes down to the type and size of air vent you have. Where it’s located, its condition, if there is space around the vent for mice to sneak in, and so on.

But the answer is often yes. Mice can get into air vents and use them as a passageway into your home.

They will often set up nests, poop in there, and potentially cause more damage. Not to mention terrorize your home if you’ve not already noticed evidence of them being inside.

The thing about mice is that they can squeeze through spaces much smaller than you would ever imagine.

Your vent might have a tiny space that you’ve been ignoring assuming that mice can’t fit through when actually they can.

Check my post covering how small their skeletons are and how it helps them squeeze through tight spaces.

How Do Mice Get in Through Air Vents and HVAC Systems?

More often then not mice either find or make a small hole in the cement or other materials around the air ventilation intake into your home and sneak in this way.

The holes in the ventilation grates themselves are usually too small. But they are likely made from plastic, something mice can chew through or take advantage of if damaged so this is also a possibility.

So, check for signs of damage on your vents. Then for holes of any size around the outside. Fill in even the smallest of holes with cement and seal up the surrounding of the vent so it’s airtight to prevent mice getting in.

Can Mice Chew Through Duct Work

Mice can chew through various materials and types of ductwork, yes. This is often how they will first make entry into your home.

When filling holes around your duct system and sealing it up, as mentioned above I suggest using cement. Don’t try to cut corners and use any cheap filler or other materials, mice will just chew through it.

There are some quick drying types of cement that are easy to use. You just have to mix them with water into a paste and fill holes. This kind of cement will do just fine.

Mouse Poop in Air Vents: How Dangerous Is It?

If mice have been letting themselves into your home through your air vent there is a good chance they have been leaving droppings in the vent pipes.

If you need help identifying mouse poop check this post. However, mouse poop or not, if there is rodent poop in your air ventilation system you need to clean it out as it poses potential health hazards.

Mouse poop can carry some pretty nasty diseases. Such as salmonellosis, hantavirus, and the bubonic plague.

If those diseases don’t sound nasty enough just look into the symptoms and you’ll be running for the cleaning products sharpish.

How to Clean Mouse Poop from Air Vents

There is no point calling out the cleaners for some mouse poop. It’s easy to clean and only takes a few minutes, you just need to roll up your sleeves and get on with it.

You just have to be sure to thoroughly clean the area with bleach as I will explain below.

This removes the scent that attracts other mice and offends you, ensures your vents are allowing clean, fresh air into your home, and removes any chance of diseases being present.

Here are the items you’ll need to clean up that poop:

• Protective Gear (face mask, gloves, etc)
• Bleach
• Water
• Paper Towels
• Hoover
• Scrubbing Brush
• Bucket or Bowl, etc

Then it’s as simple as these steps:

• Hoover up any hard to reach poop deep in ventilation pipes. Empty the hoover bag afterward and from it in the trash outside.
• Mix some bleach and water in your bucket. Make it quite strong, 1 part bleach per 8-10 parts water is about what I use.
• Using your scrubbing brush give the whole area inside the vents and where you saw droppings a good scrub.
• Wipe the area dry and wash with some clean water if the smell of bleach is too strong.

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I hope this post has helped answer, ‘can mice get in through air vents and HVAC systems’ if you’re seeing evidence of mice or the mice themselves in your home.

As well as helping you seal up any possible entry points. Clean out your ventilation system, and put a stop to mice using your home as a place to run around in the night and steal your food.