Discovering that pests have invaded your home is unsettling and frustrating. Getting rid of current infestations is only half the battle. Unless you take proactive steps to block access and remove conditions attracting invaders, you’ll likely face recurring issues down the road. Implementing targeted prevention measures will help keep pests out of your home for good.
Install weather stripping
Gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and wiring give pests easy access to your home. Install new weather stripping and door sweeps to seal off these entry points. This creates a barrier blocking insects and animals from squeezing through cracks. Replace worn materials right away at first signs of damage. Ensure strips form tight seals when windows and doors close.
Scan inside and outside your home for small cracks in your foundation, gaps around joints and tile grout lines, weeping holes, and areas where pipes run through walls. Use caulk and expandable foam sealant to plug these passages which offer highways for pests to enter and nest in. Steel wool stuffed into openings works for temporary fixes. Pests seek shelter in piles of materials stacked near your home’s perimeter. These could include things like firewood, yard waste bags, stacks of bricks or stones, sand piles from construction projects, and more. Relocate them far from the exterior walls. rodents hide easily underneath while insects nest in organic matter.
Install meshes over vents
The attic, crawl space, and HVAC vents provide another easy access point if not covered. Protect openings with fine stainless steel mesh screens fastened securely in place. Ensure screening is fine enough to even block tiny invading insects. This prevents pests from crawling through ductwork into living spaces while allowing airflow.
Inspect screen doors, window screens, pet doors, and screen covers over vents or drains for any rips or gaps. Animals and insects squeeze through surprisingly small tears. Solid doors should seal tightly when shut and have weather stripping along the edges. Ensure pet doors have flaps or brushes to deter wild animals. Replace any compromised barriers.
Address lighting issues
Pests avoid brightly lit spaces, as light leaves them vulnerable to predators. Install lighting to illuminate house numbers, porches, patios, gardens, and pathways around your Raleigh NC pest control property’s full perimeter. Use bulbs rated for outdoor use and place them on timers synchronized with nightfall. Motion detector lights also help scare away nighttime prowlers. Dog and cat food left sitting outside is an irresistible snack drawing rodents, ants, roaches, and stray animals. Pick up pet food dishes promptly after your pet finishes meals rather than leaving food out 24/7. Store all pet food securely indoors in airtight, pest-proof containers like bins rather than paper bags. Never feed pets outdoors.
Practice proper waste management
Pests catch scents of food scraps and decaying waste from surprising distances. Make sure garbage cans have tight-fitting lids and get put out only on pickup days, not left permanently at the curb. Clean cans, recycle bins, and compost tumblers regularly with disinfectant. Never pile yard waste like branches or grass clippings near your Pest Control in Raleigh home’s exterior. Store human and pet foods in airtight containers to protect against indoor ants and pantry moths. Install childproof safety locks on trash cans. Seal cracks around baseboards, cabinets, walls, and ceilings where cockroaches and mice enter. Apply weather stripping around attic hatches. Install door sweeps on exterior entries. Replace worn-out window screens. Being vigilant against providing attractions like food, water, and shelter will help keep pests away for good.