How to Prevent Pests in Your Home
Keeping your home clean and clutter-free is a very effective way to keep pests out of your home. Pests are attracted to food, debris, and moisture. They also look for hiding places. When you remove clutter from your home, you will find it easier to keep your home pest-free.
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You may want to store things in sealed containers. You can keep food products in the refrigerator and other items in airtight containers. This will prevent insects from eating your food. You can also use bug-proof containers to keep pests from getting into your home.
Pests are also attracted to standing water. If you have a leaky faucet or drainage system, you are providing a prime source of water for pests. If there are gaps around pipes or vents, you can close them with a permeable screen or a piece of sheet metal. Sealing up gaps of a quarter-inch or larger will prevent insects and mice from getting inside.
Another way to keep pests out of your home is to keep your home’s exterior free of holes and cracks. Rats and mice can squeeze through a one-centimeter crack, so if you have a lot of cracks in your home, you need to seal them. This is especially important if you have an infestation of rodents.
You should also check your home for gaps around pipes and vents. Insects, mice, and other pests can use these gaps as a way to get into your home. These gaps are often hidden from the outside, so you should check them regularly to keep pests from getting inside.
In addition to keeping your home free of gaps and cracks, you should also keep your house clean. Pests are attracted to clutter and food debris, so you should sweep the floors, clean up food debris, and remove trash from your home. It is also a good idea to regularly check your exterior doors and windows for damage, rips, or holes. Repairing damaged doors and windows promptly can help prevent pests from entering your home.
It is also important to check for holes in screens. These can be entry points for beetles, spiders, and other insects. You can use a permeable screen or a piece of coarse steel wool to close these holes.
Overgrown shrubbery and trees may also act as bridges for pests. If you have overgrown trees near your home, you may need to trim them down to avoid the branches from getting too close to the house. Trimming branches will also help to avoid pests from gaining access to your home.
In addition to pests, you can also attract them to your home. You may want to consider having your trash service pick up a large trash can each week. If you don’t have trash service, consider storing your trash in an airtight container.
You can also protect your home from pests by monitoring changes to the foundation, siding, and roofing. You should check for loose siding, missing roof shingles, and other structural issues that may be attracting pests. If you do notice signs of pests, you may need to hire a professional pest control company to help you get rid of the problem.