How to Keep Your Home Pest-Free: Essential Maintenance Tips

Pests come in many shapes and sizes. From the tiny chiggers that attack people when they are outdoors to the rats that are the size of cats in some subway systems, these creatures are never pleasant. When they enter the home, a person has to take action quickly. Any pest infestation is unhealthy and can lower the property value and marketability. How can a person keep their home pest-free? What maintenance steps should they take?

Interior Cracks

Unwanted critters will take advantage of any interior crack they find. The crack doesn’t have to be very large either because a mouse or rat can enter any space if they can fit their nose into it. Two other places where these unwanted guests can come into the home are holes in window screens and improperly sealed doorways. Seal all interior cracks, including along baseboards, below window frames, and at major joints. Most pests are nocturnal and will look for small places to hide. They will then come out at night to find food, and a homeowner may not know if you’ve got pests until the problem worsens.

Foundation Issues

Basements and crawl spaces are often home to unpleasant creatures. They are known for being dark and damp, which pests love. They can thrive in these areas without the homeowner knowing of their presence. Spotting small cracks and holes in a basement or crawl space can be challenging. The homeowner only knows they have an issue once a leak develops or pests appear. Have the foundation inspected regularly to prevent pests from entering the house and creating other costly problems.

Examine the Roof

The roof is another place where pests may enter the home. Open entryways in the eaves encourage them to find a warm spot to remain safe when the weather is cold. Raccoons, bats, bees, hornets, and squirrels are just a few animals that may move into an attic. Have the roof inspected yearly to find places where pests may enter and block them.

Landscape Concerns

Pests often hide in a person’s landscape unnoticed. Wood piles, uncovered compost, and any dense areas in this landscape give them the perfect hiding place where they can breed. Homeowners must remove thick brush and rubble before adding pest-resistant plants to keep unwanted visitors away. When looking for additional protection, homeowners may search for an effective pyrethrin-based insecticide concentrate to treat their outdoor areas, reducing the chance of pests entering the home. Branches that reach the home’s roof are another way animals may enter the house. Squirrels and other critters can walk along the branch and jump onto the roof before entering the attic.

Food and Water Sources

Homeowners need to ensure they don’t provide pests with food and water. Pet food bowls allow them to have a meal, and they may make their way into dry food bags. The trash can and recycling bin are other food sources for these critters, and some pests, such as drain flies and gnats, live off organic material in plants and plumbing.

Standing water also attracts pests. They love humid and water-filled spaces such as basements and leaky attics, and standing water in the yard can also attract them. Drainage and foundation issues must be addressed to prevent these animals from invading the home.

Homeowners must know the signs of a pest infestation and take action immediately. They need to be aware of local pests and their prevalence. However, prevention remains the best way to keep unwanted critters at bay. Work with a pest control specialist and regularly schedule treatments to ensure the home is unwelcoming to all species other than humans and family pets.