Rodents in El Paso: A Year-Round Problem
El Paso's desert climate doesn't stop rodents — it drives them toward your home. As temperatures drop in fall and winter, mice and rats seek warmth, water, and food inside residential structures. In summer, they're attracted by evaporative cooler water lines, dripping irrigation, and food sources.
A mouse can fit through a gap the size of a dime. A rat needs only a quarter-sized opening. Most homeowners never find these entry points because they're in places most people never look.
The Most Common Entry Points We Find
- Evaporative cooler (swamp cooler) openings — the gap around the unit where it meets the wall is often completely unprotected
- Garage door bottom seal — worn or missing rubber seals leave a gap at the corners
- Plumbing penetrations — pipes entering through exterior walls often have gaps large enough for mice to squeeze through
- Weep holes in brick — required for moisture drainage but unscreened weep holes are rodent highways
- Roof-to-wall junctions — where rooflines meet stucco or wood siding, gaps frequently develop
- HVAC line sets — refrigerant and drain lines penetrate walls with wide gaps around them
- Vents without screens — soffit vents, foundation vents, and dryer vents with missing or damaged screens
How to Seal Entry Points
Materials That Work
- Steel wool + caulk — stuff steel wool into gaps, seal over with caulk. Rodents can't chew through steel wool.
- Hardware cloth (1/4 inch) — use over vents and larger openings. Staple or screw in place.
- Copper mesh — similar to steel wool but doesn't rust. Good for weep holes.
- Foam backer rod + caulk — for irregular shaped gaps around pipes.
What Doesn't Work
- Foam insulation alone — rodents chew right through it
- Plastic screening — gets chewed through quickly
- Duct tape — temporary at best
Call El Roachador
Call (915) 209-1255 or request a rodent inspection for your El Paso home.