Had a similar scare myself when I moved in—kept hearing these weird scratching noises at night and was convinced something supernatural was going on. Turned out to be squirrels nesting in the attic. Did sealing up the gaps really solve the issue completely for you, or did you have to call pest control eventually? I'm hoping to avoid any big expenses right now... ghost raccoons might actually be cheaper, lol.
"Did sealing up the gaps really solve the issue completely for you, or did you have to call pest control eventually?"
Sealing gaps worked fine for me. Here's what I did: First, checked around the attic vents and eaves for any obvious openings. Then used steel wool and expanding foam to seal smaller holes—critters hate chewing through steel wool. Finally, trimmed back tree branches near the roofline to stop easy access. Haven't heard a peep since. Definitely cheaper than ghost raccoons... or pest control.
I did pretty much the same, but sealing alone didn't totally fix it for me. It was quiet for a few weeks, then I started hearing scratching again. Eventually found out they'd chewed through a soft spot I'd missed near the chimney flashing. After patching that up with some metal mesh and caulk, they've finally moved on. So yeah, sealing works, but you gotta be thorough or they'll find another way in...trust me.
"sealing works, but you gotta be thorough or they'll find another way in...trust me."
Yeah, sealing definitely helps, but honestly, I'd argue it's only half the battle. If critters are determined enough, they'll always find another weak spot eventually. I've found that pairing thorough sealing with some deterrents—like ultrasonic repellents or even just motion-activated lights—can make a huge difference. Plus, it boosts your home's energy efficiency, so it's a win-win. Worth considering if you keep having issues.
I tried sealing everything up last summer, thought I was all set...then one night I hear a scratching noise right above my bed. Turns out squirrels had found a tiny gap near the attic vent. Honestly, I think they laughed at my ultrasonic repeller. Eventually just put up some metal mesh and that finally did the trick. Critters are crafty—maybe my house is haunted too, who knows?
Had a similar issue years ago—thought raccoons were having a party in my attic. Turns out it was just one determined squirrel. Metal mesh saved me too, ultrasonic stuff never worked. Pretty sure squirrels just see those as background music...
Metal mesh is definitely the way to go—seen ultrasonic units fail plenty of times. Squirrels adapt fast. One job, we found a squirrel had actually nested right next to the device...guess it liked the vibes.
Metal mesh is solid advice, ultrasonic units are pretty hit-or-miss. Had a neighbor swear by one until he found mice chilling right next to it. Guess rodents have eclectic tastes in music... Anyway, curious if anyone's noticed a difference in energy bills after installing metal mesh? Heard it can affect airflow around vents and windows, but never seen solid numbers on it.
I've used metal mesh around my vents for a couple years now, and honestly haven't noticed any meaningful change in energy bills. I get the concern about airflow, but unless you're using some super fine mesh that seriously restricts the air, it's probably negligible. If anything, sealing up gaps probably helps efficiency more than it hurts airflow. Had ultrasonic units too—total waste of money, mice seemed to enjoy the ambiance...
Ha, ultrasonic units...I swear those things are just fancy nightlights for rodents. Had one in my garage for months and pretty sure the mice threw parties around it.
Anyway, totally agree about the mesh. Unless you're wrapping your vents like they're leftovers, airflow isn't gonna be an issue. I've installed plenty of windows where people were convinced sealing gaps would somehow suffocate their houses. Truth is, most homes leak air like crazy, so sealing up gaps usually helps efficiency way more than it hurts airflow. If your energy bills haven't budged, that's probably why—you're just balancing things out.
As for haunted windows, well...can't say I've ever installed any possessed panes myself, but if your power company's involved, maybe they're just trying to scare you into upgrading again. Wouldn't put it past 'em.