Where do ants, cockroaches, and mice have in common? They are all pests that belong inside, but that love to venture inside your home. If you do see them inside, you need to take action fast — because this is not where they should be! Pests are not just a nuisance. They can spread disease, destroy your insulation and other building materials, and leave nasty smells behind.
Every homeowner should know the basics about pest control. Yes, you can call in a professional as needed, but knowing the basics will still help you keep the pests outside where they belong. You can learn those basics right here on this blog.
Preventing Pests From Invading Your Home
No one wants to wander through their kitchen and see signs of pests such as mice, roaches, or ants. Unfortunately, home pests are a fact of life and they tend to invade human living spaces. You can keep the number of pests in your home to a minimum by taking the following preventative steps.
Seal Cracks
Spend time sealing up all of the cracks you can find that lead into your home. Everywhere that there is a crack, pests can enter your home. Close your windows and doors tightly and ensure that they seal. Then seal any damaged areas or cracks around the doors or windows with caulk. This step will have the added benefit of helping to keep your energy bills low, as you'll be sealing up cracks where your heat and air conditioning are escaping.
Store All Trash Carefully
Trash attracts insets, rodents, and other animals and can cause them to invade your home or garage. To control pests around your home, it's important to seal all trash bags securely and keep them away from your house. Avoid allowing trash to pile up, take the trash out regularly, and wipe up any spills around your indoor trash cans promptly.
Keep the Property Clean
While pests can invade homes no matter how clean they are, keeping your home clean can help. Wipe down all surfaces regularly, keep all of your food in sealed containers, and don't allow trash and debris to pile up in your yard. Avoid leaving food out, and clean up spilled food and drinks immediately. If you have pets, be sure to keep their areas clean as well and keep all pet food in sealed containers.
Avoid Excess Moisture
Often, pests are drawn to areas of a home not because of food or dirt, but because of easy access to water. This makes it especially important to repair any leaks that you have around your home. Fix dripping faucets, leaking taps, and seals around doors that allow moisture to get in. Check the areas where your pipes enter your home, both to make sure that they are sealed well and to make sure that there is no excess moisture to attract pests.
Pest control is an ongoing process. If you are having issues with pests getting into your home, it may be time to reach out to a professional company for assistance. Contact a local pest control service to learn about how they can help you with the specific issues that you are dealing with.