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How To Keep Bats Out Of Your House
Waking in the middle of the night or early morning to a bat flying about the house can be a terrifying experience for both children and adults. If one found it's way into your home it's likely more will follow unless you find and seal all possible entry points. This is usually not as much work as it sounds.
Many bats can get through a gap of 1/4" - 5/8" and larger. If you aren't sure about the gap size caulk it anyways just to be sure.
Bats can gain direct access to the interior of your home at the following locations:
- Unscreened windows and doors left open
- Poorly fitting screens and storm windows
SOLUTION: Check the perimeter of all doors and windows for gaps large enough to allow bat entry. A bead of caulk that fills the gap should be enough. Do not cover the weep holes at the bottom of storm windows or use caulk in a way to attempt to permanently glue storm windows shut. Keep unscreened windows and doors closed between dusk and dawn when bats are most active or purchase screens.
Bats can find their way into the walls and/or attic of your home at the following locations:
- Loose fitting siding - especially at the bottom where it meets the roof flashing.
- Gaps between soffits and fascia
- Attic roof vents
- Uncapped chimneys
SOLUTION - Cap, caulk, tighten or repair possible entry points. Important! Your repairs must allow any bats currently residing in your walls or attic a way to escape. One-way bat doors allow bats to escape. You can find them for sale online at many web stores. See additional information on this page.
Bats can make their way from the attic or walls into the living spaces of your home at the following locations:
- Loose fitting base boards - especially if your home has settled unevenly.
- Poorly fitting attic access doors or bathroom pipe access doors.
- Gaps around bathroom and kitchen pipes and drains where they enter the wall.
- Gaps around heating ducts and cold air returns.
- Light fixtures and ceiling fans if a gap exists between the electrical box and the ceiling.
SOLUTION - When there are larger gaps, caulk under or reset baseboards/quarter round. Tighten, repair, or use some form of weather stripping on poorly fitting access doors. Caulk gaps around pipes and drains or use expandable foam to fill larger openings. If your duct covers have spacing large enough for bat entry replace them. Add weather stripping around the perimeter of duct covers if large gaps exist. It is not recommended to caulk them or it may become difficult to remove them in the future. Pull out stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers (upstairs laundry) to check for access points behind them. Don't forget to check closets and other areas for access points as well.
Basement:
- Chimney perimeter at ceiling (older homes) or wall outlet (newer homes).
- Gaps around sewer pipes, vent pipes, water pipes, gas pipes (where they enter a wall) - especially those that go into or through an attic.
- Gaps between foundation and wall.
SOLUTION - Stuff fiberglass insulation into gaps or use expandable foam to fill gaps. I prefer foam as it's quick, easy, and does a great job filling voids as it expands. I believe the most likely access points in the basement are pipes and chimneys with attic access. If there are gaps around these items, it provides an easy path for bats to follow from the attic to the basement where they can then make there way into the living space of your home.
Conclusion
Bat proofing your home requires a thourough inspection to identify all possible entry points. You may want to hire an animal control service to secure the outside portion of your home especially if it is multi-story with a steep roof. By placing one-way doors on likely exterior entry points you allow bats to escape from your home but not reenter. This is the best solution for both you and the bats.
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