Homes are often invaded by pests, particularly when the weather is warm. The most common invaders include ants, spiders, wasps, and termites. These invaders can cause a lot of damage to your home not to mention the fact that they can also be very dangerous for you and your family’s well-being. The following are some tips to help prevent insects and pests from invading your home.
Take care of the lawn
Keep shrubs trimmed low to the ground, remove any branches that touch the walls of the house. Large vegetation poses an entrance for insects to live. Keep your plants well-watered and healthy, but don’t overwater or over-fertilize them.
You can also hire a company offering lawn mowing services to maintain your lawn and keep the grass short. The company can also trim trees and shrubs on your property to prevent pests from using these plants for their nests.
Remove refuse, debris, and clutter
Keep your yard clean and free of leaves, branches, and other debris that may be harboring insects and pests. If there is a lot of clutter in your house, make sure to clear it out and throw away any items that you don’t use anymore. Insects love dark spaces; if they can’t find one on their own, they’ll create one themselves.
Do frequent checks for possible problems
A lack of food, water, or potential nesting spots can contribute to insects and pests leaving your home alone. With this in mind, do routine inspections around the exterior of your house for any cracks or openings that could potentially allow them entrance. Check plants, trees, bushes, and wooden areas around your property for any signs of infestation.
You can also try to fix any openings that you find on your own, or hire a home repair professional to seal up your house. When you’re doing the inspection, look out for possible water leaks as well since pests are more likely to invade if they have access to water.
Seal up any gaps or cracks in your home’s exterior
Small openings are perfect for insects to gain access to your house. Keep an eye out for any cracks in the foundation of your home, around windows and doors, drainpipes, gutters, vents, etc. Insects can fit through very small spaces so seal them up with caulk or metal flashing. You can also apply weather stripping to doors and windows.
Install screens on all windows and doors
Insects will often try to gain access to your house by flying into open windows and doors. Installing screens on all windows and doors can help keep them out. Make sure that the screens are tightly fitted so it is difficult for insects to pass through them. If you have a pool or spa, install removable window screening so that they can be removed when they aren’t needed.
There are a few different types of screens that you can use to protect your home from pests and insects. The most common type is the fiberglass screen. This screen is lightweight and easy to install, and it will keep out most small insects. It is also durable and can last for many years.
Another option is the aluminum screen. This screen is heavier than the fiberglass screen, but it is more durable and will keep out larger insects. It is also less likely to tear or rip.
Repair all leaks in roofs and plumbing
Insects love to live under raised floors or in moist crawlspaces that are frequented by leaky pipes. Installing vapor barriers can trap the moisture from those leaks and prevent insects from nesting there as well as attracting them. Repair any leaking roofs, gutters, or plumbing to prevent moisture from accumulating and provide possible nesting sites for insects.
Use chemical deterrents
There are insecticides that you can use on your property that will keep pests away. These chemicals usually come in the form of sprays and powders and some can be directly sprayed on plants while others can be used to make small areas like cracks in your foundation or around doors and windows inaccessible to insects. You can also use plug-in insect repellants that plug into electrical sockets to keep your home free of insects for a limited time.
Use traps to get rid of pests
Traps can catch insects and pests before they enter your home and eliminate them. You can buy sticky pads or glue boards to place inside your house so that insects or rodents can be caught. Some traps are designed to catch certain types of pests, like ants, termites, etc.
There are several humane traps on the market that can be used to catch pests without harming them. These traps usually work by luring the pests in with some type of bait and then trapping them inside. Some traps even come with a disposal system that allows you to release the pests far away from your home.
Protecting your home from pests and insects can be a challenge, but it is important to do so to keep your family safe and your property damage-free.
