How to Eliminate Mice From Your Home's Ductwork

If you have mice in your home, you’d better get out the traps. Traps can do a great job of helping in your effort to ward off the mice when placed effectively. Mice like to find a safe place to store their food and nest. Unfortunately, that can often be  in the ductwork of your house. When these little rodents start living in the ducts of your home, it can be annoying, frustrating, and can even make you sick. Here’s how to tackle this issue:

Step 1 - Investigate

Investigate where the mice are entering your house. You may find that they are getting in through an opening around a pipe or wire, or they may be entering through small slits in the walls or foundation. The locations will vary depending on where you live, but they will usually enter around openings near water pipes and wires. Once you identify where they are coming from, seal off the area with metal flashing, caulk, mortar, or other suitable materials to form a tight seal.

Step 2 - Prepare

You will need a few supplies to catch mice. These are:

• A bucket or other container (to put the mouse in)
• Tarp, scrap cardboard, old newspapers or anything else that can be used to cover the trap
• A piece of cheese for bait
• A good quality mouse trap (such as an electric snap trap, live cage trap, or a Victor Tin Cat Trap)
• A wire, string, etc. to hold the trigger of the trap against the bait
• Rubber gloves (optional)

Step 3 - Set Traps

Once you have all your supplies together, its time to set up your traps. Place them in areas where you suspect that mice are hiding out. These may be near walls, in cupboards, in the basement or crawlspace, or any other area where mice like to spend time. To make them more effective, you may want to put some nesting materials such as dryer lint and pieces of paper on the bottom of the traps so they feel more at home. The most important thing is that they are able to reach the trigger to set off the trap.

Step 4 - Check Traps

Once you have your traps in place, be vigilant and check them daily. You will want to dispose of the mice as soon as possible so that they do not decompose or damage anything else in your house. Make sure you wear rubber gloves when handling the mice, or use a shovel to transfer them from the traps to your bucket. You will not want to touch them at all if you can avoid it.

Step 5 - Clean Up

After you have caught the mice, clean up any droppings and nesting materials that may be present in the area. Be sure to wear rubber gloves when doing this as well.

Step 6 - Call the Professionals

Call in an exterminator if you are having issues with mice that cannot be taken care of yourself. A professional can help identify where the mice are coming from and other problems with your home that may be allowing them to enter so easily. They can also provide ways to seal up entry points that are less obtrusive than metal flashing or the like.

They will be able to set traps or place poison in areas that you may not be able to reach, such as crawlspaces and basement corners. 

Step 7 - Prevention

Finally, take steps to prevent the mice from coming back. Be sure to look for openings in your house, seal them off, and check often for new ones. If you see any evidence of mice or droppings in particular locations, place traps there or notify a professional as soon as possible.



Your home can be free of mice without too much trouble. All it takes is a little preparation and diligence to gain back the space inside your home. Prevention is the best defense against invading rodents.