Tips for Keeping Pests Away From Your Home
As the seasons begin to change, pests are becoming even trickier to keep away from your home. With a few small tips, you can dramatically decrease the number of bugs in and around your home. Our team of experts have some easy pest control solutions to keep all kinds of pesky critters away from your home, leaving your property feeling cleaner, safer, and bug-free.
Clean Up Tree Branches, Shrubbery & Stagnant Water
One of the first things you can do to take action against pests is to trim back any loose branches or shrubbery that touch the exterior of your home. Trimming these will help to eliminate any “bridges” that pests can use to crawl into your house. We also recommend changing your garden foundation from softer materials such as mulch to something less inhabitable, such as rocks or shells. This will help deter pests as softer materials make an ideal shelter for pests.
As many who live in the Lowcountry know, we experience quite a few rain storms and hurricanes during the summer and fall months. Downpours can fill up various containers in your yard, such as birdbaths, beach equipment, fountains, and more. Standing water makes a great environment for mosquitoes to breed in, so ensure that you empty any kind of stagnant water out of your yard to leave little opportunity for pests to reproduce.
Seal Any Cracks or Gaps
As we all know, pests are able to get through the smallest of cracks and crevices. To stop these pesky insects from entering your home, we recommend stopping them in their tracks. Routinely inspect doors, windows, or any possible fixtures in your home that may be warped or broken. We also encourage you to replace any torn mesh screens as soon as you notice the imperfection. Pro tip: Be sure they have at least 200 holes per square inch, leaving minimal space for pests to get inside. Our experienced and professional pest control experts are also available for routine inspections (along with an extensive range of exterminator services) at your request, so you can relax while our experts get to the root of the problem.
Although doors and windows are the usual entry route for most unwanted guests, make sure that you are inspecting your home’s foundation, siding, roof shingles, and even utility lines, such as pipes and wiring, for cracks or gaps. Our team recommends sealing these openings with a material such as copper mesh so that pests cannot chew through it.
Clean Your Trash!
In many cases, your neighborhood will provide a garbage and recycling bin for you. Our team recommends that you rinse these bins routinely to reduce the possibility of any food or liquids left behind that could attract pests. It is also good practice to rinse any recyclable materials before placing them in your bin. Storing your bin outside will minimize the chances of pests getting into your home.
While your garbage is a favorite for creatures like rats, roaches, ants, and even raccoons, your yard is also a haven for pests looking for food and shelter. When you maintain your backyard, patio, and garage, you eliminate ideal living environments for pests. As previously mentioned, make sure to clean up any leaf litter, stagnant water, and yard trimmings to reduce the possibility of any intruders.
Switch Out Your Light Bulbs
To avoid flying insects around the exterior of your home, try using different light bulbs. While we all know bugs are attracted to light, the solution could be as simple as using lights that bugs cannot see well. Your best bet is to use yellow lights since it lies in the middle of the color spectrum and will be far more difficult for insects to see. Look for yellow compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), as they will be the most energy efficient while also emitting the least amount of heat. When applicable, try placing your lights as far away from entry points into your home.
Clean Out Your Drains
Small flies and insects love the leftover food, moisture, and gunk that lives in your drains. To ensure these don’t become a breeding ground for pests, clean out your drains often by flushing out clogs and using a household cleaner.
On that note, the cleaner your home is, generally speaking, the less likely you are to have any issues with pests. When you vacuum, mop, dust, and reorganize, you are disturbing areas where pests may be planning to make their new home. During this routine, you’ll also be far more likely to notice any possible entry points.
Need Something More? Call Us
Life happens, and unfortunately, pests could care less. While you want to focus on enjoying your home, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to feel relaxed when you’re worried about the threat of a pest infestation. If you’re unsure of where to start with pest control or want the best-guaranteed method to keep them out of your home, contact us to learn more about your options.
