How to Cover Vent Holes to Keep Insects Out

Air vents can be natural entry points for insects to get into the home. To prevent insect intrusion it is possible to attach a wire mesh screen to your air vents. The holes in the wire mesh should be big enough to allow air to freely circulate but small enough to prevent insects from climbing through. The most durable material to make a screen from is aluminum wire mesh. It also has the benefit of being easily cut and shaped to suit specific air vent sizes. If applied correctly, the wire mesh keeps insects from infesting your air vents.

Aluminum wire mesh
Hammer or screwdriver
Shears or tin snips
Utility knife
Sealant or superglue
Tacks, screws or nails

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the air vent cover outside your house by either cutting through the sealant or removing nails or screws holding it in place.
- 2
  Clean out the vent, removing insects and dirt that may have gathered there.
- 3
  Cut a section of the wire mesh with shears or tin snips using the vent cover as a rough template to cut around. Leave extra space around the sides so the mesh is larger than the vent cover.
- 4
  Stretch the cut piece of mesh over the vent cover securing it in place with tacks or nails. Sealant or superglue can then be used around the edges to fasten the mesh securely to the vent cover ensuring there are no spaces through which insects could climb.
- 5
  Trim the sides of the excess mesh with a utility knife to match the shape of the vent cover ensuring a tidy appearance.
- 6
  Replace the vent cover with the attached wire mesh, securing it in place at the vent with nails, screws or in the manner it was previously attached.
- 7
  Repeat the procedure with all outside air vents that may be subject to insect encroachment.

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