Nasty pests that are in your garden or around your home can eventually enter your house, ruin some external features of the house as well as some of the foundations if you don’t act quickly on getting rid of them. It’s a serious matter and fortunately, there are several things you can do to get things under control.
Here are some steps you can start taking today to avoid a home invasion of pests.
Seal the gaps:
You will probably find large gaps that need to be sealed, but also pay very close attention to the smaller gaps. Larger gaps can appear in your attic or garage, and smaller gaps can appear in areas where power lines and water pipes enter your home. Small bugs and rodents can easily enter through small gaps so sealing them will help to prevent entry.
Repair screens:
Window and door screens are only helpful if they’re not torn and damaged to provide complete protection. If the railing and frame are in good condition, changing the screens doesn’t take much time.
Crawl spaces:
Take a flashlight and go into your crawlspaces and/or the basement and have a look around. Search for large, obvious nests of shredded material, which indicate rodent activity. Watch for smaller signs too, like lines of ants or dead or crawling cockroaches looking for a home.
Contact professional exterminators:
While there are some things you can do on your own, they might not be enough to get the problem completely under control. Termites are an unseen problem in thousands of homes. If you have spotted termites, it’s strongly recommended to get complete Termite Treatment by professionals. If you live in Australia, where pest issues are a common problem, and you’re hiring a termite control service, it’s best to ensure their treatment plan is compliant with Australian standard regulations. The best way to work to eradicate a pest problem is to work from the outside to the inside, which is what a pest service company will do.
Trim plants:
Bushes, shrubs, and trees that brush against the sides of your house or roof, act as a bridge for ants and other insects to reach your house. Keep this greenery trimmed around 3 to 6 inches away from the exterior of your house.
Remove wood piles and debris:
Small animals and insects often take shelter in moist and dark areas. Firewood can be home to ants and termites so store wood at least 20 feet from your house. And still water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Keep yards, patios, decks, and garages free of litter and weeds. Make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids and clean the cans and area regularly to remove debris and spills, on which pests can feed.
Cleanliness is the key
The cleaner your home, the less attraction it will have for pests. Make your home inhospitable for pesky pests. An unwelcoming environment means the less chance a pest will have to live and breed in it, though even cleanliness can only do so much. From the outdoors, try keeping branches and shrubs well-groomed away from your walls, so bugs don’t make your home their home too. To keep your home pest-free always, it’s best to have a yearly check by professionals who will catch any problem early on.
