Fall is finally underway and the pests are ready to make your home their own. Instead of falling victim to a pest problem and having to inevitably call the experts, why not try these simple pest prevention tips to keep your home protected from an infestation in the first place?
Identify and repair any potential points of entry. From properly sealing windows and doors to an intact dryer vent, making sure that every inch of your home is secure is the first step in preventing a pest infestation. In addition to weatherstripping your windows and doors, inspect the underside of your siding with a mirror for gaps.
Fill up all gaps in your home’s exterior. Run a caulking gun between your exterior trim and siding to plug up any free space that might have resulted from a shift in foundation or exposure to the elements. Expanding foam is another great option to tackle larger gaps, and can be extremely effective when used with copper scrubbing pads. Just stuff the gap with the scrubbing pads and seal it off with foam.
Tidy up your yard and foundation. Bugs love debris filled, leaf ridden backyards because they provide plenty of cold, dark and moist places to thrive. Rake up any debris from your hard, and make sure that soil and mulch is far away from your foundation.
Invest in a basement dehumidifier. Spiders enjoy the cool damp temperatures that only basements can provide, so eliminating one of those factors will help keep them away. A continuously running dehumidifier will keep moisture out of the air, allowing the humidity levels to hover at 40% where spiders cannot thrive.
Clean out your cabinets and keep boxed food secure. Under the sink or in the back corner of the pantry is where you’ll find pests first, so make sure you give your entire food prep and storage areas a thorough cleaning. You’ll also want to consider storing cereal, pet food and other open items in sealable containers out of reach.
Unfortunately, even with the most vigilant pest prevention plan, creepy crawlers and critters may still find their way inside your home. If you find yourself dealing with an infestation this fall, don’t panic! Just dial 888-649-9919 and let the professionals at Pest Control Unlimited do the rest.
