Tips on Pest Control: How to Prevent Pests and Rodents

By: Submissions

Have you had rodents, insects, or any other pest inside your home lately? Here are a few pest controls tips to stop rodents and pests from invading your home.

The fewer rodents or pests you have breeding and feeding outside of your home, the less problems you will experience inside.

Eliminating or preventing the condition inside a home that usually appeal to these types of pests will help to lower the attraction to your residential property and eliminate the probable damages they can do to your home.

1. Mulch and Plants

Any shrubbery or tree branches that are directly in contact with your house must be trimmed back. This will prevent "pest bridges" to your home. Mulch, which includes pine straw or wood chips offers the perfect shelter and hiding place for various types of pests. Rather than using this type of mulch in the areas that meet the foundation of your home, use a ground cover that is less pest-attractive such as pebbles, rocks, or stones.

2.  Windows and Doors

Most pests are small and can easily wiggle or crawl through the smallest of gaps and cracks. To stop uninvited pests from entering your home make sure any broken windows or doors are repaired or replace the ones that no longer fit well. If you have screens, make sure any tears and rips are repaired as soon as possible. The screen mesh size should be a minimum of 200 holes per-square-inch. These screens can be purchased online or in most local home stores.

3. Gaps and Cracks

Conduct a thorough inspection of your home from the outside for any gaps, crevices, or cracks, where pests can easily gain access to your home. If you are not sure what you should be looking for, hire a pest control company to perform such an inspection on your behalf. Also check for loose siding, cracks in your foundation, gaps around pipes, cable and electric wiring. If you find any openings use mortar, sheet metal, steel wool, or copper mesh to seal these potential entrances into your house. Expanding caulk is not the best product to use to keep pests and rodents out, as they can easily chew or gnaw their way through it.

4. Litter and Rubbish

Keep your garage, shed, deck, patio, and your garden free from standing water, weeds, or litter. Your rubbish bins should have lids that fit well, and the bin and the area surrounding should be cleaned regularly, making sure you remove any spills or debris which can easily attract pests.

5. Lighting

To lower insects that fly around your windows and doors, replace your mercury-vapor standard lighting with halogen bulbs or high-pressure sodium vapors lights. The bulbs with an orange, yellow, or pink tint are not as attractive for most flying insects, such as flying ants, flies, and moths. Even though it is common to have lights positioned on your exterior walls close to doors, you may want to position your lighting farther away with pole lights.

6. Drains

Floor and sink drains accumulate debris and gunk and this will attract pests along with offering these unwelcome guests with the perfect breeding site, which is particularly true when it comes to flies. Inspect, clean and maintain all your bathroom, sinks, laundry, basement room, and your floor drains.

7. Inside Gaps

Some gaps or cracks can only be detected from the inside of a home. Common areas to inspect include behind and under your kitchen cupboards, stoves, refrigerators, between wall and floor junctures, as well as around dryer vents, floors, and pipes. If you find any gaps, seal them immediately, especially the ones with a 1/4-inch length or greater.

8. Recycled Goods

It is a much better option to store your recyclables away and outside of your home. If you do not have a dedicated area outdoors for your recycled goods, make sure containers have been washed out, and that your recycling bins have tight-fitting lids. All your rubbish and recycling containers need to be rodent proof. You should also clean them out on a regular basis.

9. Stored Food

If you cannot completely close opened boxes or bags, then you should at least store your food in plastic containers or resealable bags to stop them from becoming an attractive source for pests that love to invade kitchens. Make sure you use the older items of food first and throw away stale or expired food to lower the likelihood of pests and rodents finding their way into your kitchen.

10. Cleanliness

A clean home will help to keep pest invasions at bay and lower the chances of pests breeding and living in your home. If after following all these tips, you are still struggling to keep pests out, we highly recommend calling a professional pest control company.

By Chris Scott

© 2020 Copyright Chris Scott - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

© 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.