You Can Help With Pest Control at Home with these Tips
Being proactive about pest control is of primary importance to you as a homeowner. Pest prevention begins with you and adherence to the following steps could greatly reduce your need to call in outside professionals for pest control services:
Inside Your Home
- Seal off all exterior doors. If light shows through around or under a door, it’s an open invitation to insects.
- Inspect your home for leaks and seal gaps. Be sure to check around plumbing pipes under cabinets and don’t let water accumulate anywhere.
- Inspect the grouting in your bathroom(s). Check the integrity of caulk seals around bathtubs, showers, sinks and toilets. Solid seals prevent insects from entering, particularly silverfish and ants.
- Inspect your home’s attic for any water build-up, clutter and unscreened vents. Make sure stored boxes are sealed to prevent insects from nesting and breeding.
- Replace or clean furnace and air-conditioning filters, regularly. Mold and mildew build-up are natural magnets for small insects.
- Be sure all food is stored in securely sealed containers in your refrigerator or cabinets.
- Take up your pet’s food and water each night. It’s another way to say, “Pests not welcome!”
- Inspect grocery bags, packages and boxes before bringing them into the house. Pests love to hide in them.
Outside Your Home
- Inspect all window and door screens for holes. Patch or replace as needed.
- Be sure to seal all vents to keep rodents and insects out of roof and attic spaces.
- Inspect and seal around all outside pipes and conduit. Pests can actually enter your home through unsealed power line conduit and spaces around pipes.
- Be sure all water is diverted away and prevented from building up next your home’s foundation. Be sure gutter drains point away from your home.
- Regularly check gutters and remove leaves and debris. Insects love to breed in these spaces.
- Be sure to check all cracks and crevices – apply caulk as needed.
- Make sure trashcans are kept clean and have lids that seal tightly.
- Keep your garage door closed as much as possible and be sure the weather-stripping at the bottom is in good condition.
- Trim trees and prune plants that come in contact with your house. Clear the roof and eaves to take away the path insects use to come into your home.
- Clear out all debris and clutter near your home’s foundation. Move woodpiles away from the structure. Don’t give rodents and insects a place to breed.
- Keep puddles from forming near the foundation as a result of sprinklers spraying water onto the house.
- If applicable, be sure drip lines from window air conditioners are positioned at least two feet away from the foundation.