Said It Here

How to stop mice and bugs from coming through attic ceiling vents

Ceiling openings and high gable vents can allow mice, bats, and wasps to enter living spaces from the attic or outside. Because these openings are often hard to reach or inaccessible due to physical limitations or high heights, homeowners struggle to safely inspect them or treat nests without risking dangerous ladder work.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    installing a metal grate or mesh over the opening
  2. 2
    Leaving the nest alone until winter kills the wasps
  3. 3
    Using a telescoping extension pole with an attachment to spray the nest instead of using a ladder
  4. 4
    Hiring a handyman for small gaps
  5. 5
    Calling a garage door specialist if doors need replacement
  6. 6
    Installing bait stations and traps independently using a pest control company approach
  7. 7
    Checking the soffit and vent screens for gaps
  8. 8
    Asking the builder to inspect ventilation
  9. 9
    Ruling out a dead animal before sealing anything

In their words

Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.

“This is a gable vent about 25 feet high on my house. I have not seen wasps enter the house, and I don’t have access through the attic to this space. Thoughts on getting on a ladder and spraying through the vent to cover the nest, or should I just let it be and expect a Minnesota winter to kill them off?”source ↗

alphadecco · r/Pestcontrol · 3 upvotes

“What type of contractor would I call to seal up my garage to prevent mice and voles?”source ↗

“Ive got gaps running all the way up the sides of my garage doors. Also seems like near back of garage against house foundation also some holes where they probably get into walls and such.”source ↗

“Do I try to get lucky with a random handyman? garage door guy? general contractor? pest control company?”source ↗

ThuhGreatCommenter · r/homeowners · 3 upvotes

“When I enter the storage space created in the eaves I’ve noticed there would be a blue bottle, or three as this morning went.”source ↗

“Long term I’d worry about wasps nest developing, as I had one in a non converted attic previously.”source ↗

h0merun_h0mer · r/HomeImprovement · 2 upvotes

“I'm disabled and can't get up there to see.”source ↗

“I'm concerned if mice or bats are in my attic, they will move into my closet through that opening.”source ↗

Low-Temporary4439 · r/HomeMaintenance · 1 upvotes

Where this came up

r/HomeImprovementr/HomeMaintenancer/Pestcontrolr/homeownersattic ventilationcontractorshome improvementhome maintenancehvacpest control

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