When you first notice pests in or around your property, your natural reaction would be to try to get rid of them quickly. Merely reacting, however, is a band-aid solution; it doesn’t solve the underlying cause of a possible pest problem. This means you’ll still likely see the same insect in that same spot not too long after.
If you see bugs roaming around your house, it could be a sign of serious infestation. So examine your property for spots where pests could enter the house or breed so you can address the issue at the root, whether that’s through Crawl Space Remediation, cleaning your gutters, keeping trees maintained, or whatever the appropriate solution is.
Below are the top causes of pest problems in houses that you should check for:
- Pools of standing water in or around the house
Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so remove pools of stagnant water in and around your house. If you have a pool, a fountain, tall grasses, or dense shrubs, make sure they’re well-kept or adequately drained to prevent stagnant water from collecting. You can also have a mosquito control treatment done regularly to prevent insects from breeding in those mentioned spots.
- Gutters clogged with debris
Gutters clogged with dried leaves and twigs collect moisture, which creates standing water. The waterlogged gutter then becomes the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests.
The moisture that accumulates in the clogged gutters can eventually damage your roof and siding, causing holes, leaks, and rot. These gaps in your home’s exterior allow tiny critters to enter the house.
Clean your gutters once every three months to keep them from clogging. If you live in an area with lots of nearby trees, you’ll need to clear out your gutters more frequently.
- Damaged soffit vent screens
Soffit vent screens function primarily to prevent insects and rodents from entering your roof. If they are damaged or have holes on them, then they won’t be able to do their job of keeping pests out.
Luckily, it’s easy to re-screen soffit vents. You can buy the wire mesh from your local hardware store — just make sure to buy the same kind as the one currently installed. Measure the new mesh against the soffit vent then cut a clean hole. Attach the screen using screws or stainless steel staples.
- Tree branches touching your roof or siding
Pests often climb trees to avoid rodenticide and insecticide treatments. From there, they can use the branches close to your roof to enter through your attic. You need to prune the canopy so that it’s a good three feet away from your roof. You can also consult a certified arborist on proper tree pruning practices.
Trimming your tree not only keeps rodents and bugs from climbing into your attic but also saves your roof from falling branches during thunderstorms.
- Siding touching the soil
Siding that touches the soil is vulnerable to rot because the moisture from the ground seeps through the material. Rotted wood siding invites different kinds of pests that ruin your home’s foundation, including carpenter ants, moisture ants, and termites.
Dig the soil away from your siding as well as the deck posts and outdoor stairs. The clearance between the bottom of the siding and the soil should be big enough to keep your home’s foundation visible.
- Gaps in the crawl space
Gaps in the crawl space allow rodents and insects to enter your home and damage the wiring, insulation, and wood with their constant chewing and bodily wastes. On top of pest infestation, unsealed crawl spaces also let out warm air, forcing your HVAC system to work twice as hard to compensate.
You can seal any gap you find using expandable foam or caulk. If the crevices are wide, however, you may need to hire a contractor to fix them for you. Additionally, don’t forget to have your crawl space insulated properly by choosing to invest in crawl space encapsulation to prevent the space from cooling or heating too much and to keep moisture out.
How to Keep Your Home Pest-Free
Ultimately, the best way to avoid pest infestation is to keep your house clean and organized, which you can do through regular maintenance. Make sure to always check your roof, outdoor walls, HVAC system, attic, windows, kitchen, and ceilings because these are the areas where critters and rodents like to nest.
Having a pest control treatment once every quarter also guarantees that your house isn’t creating ideal conditions for breeding pests. To do this, you will need to reach out to a company such as Proper Pest Control and ask them to take a look at your house and yard. Sometimes, these sorts of things are just best left to the professionals. Ultimately, this is the best way to reduce the risk of an infestation. You may be considering a more natural approach, but what is natural pest control? This is an effective pest control treatment, whilst still being environmentally friendly and gentle on humans and animals.
Some of these solutions are easy and inexpensive, while others may cost you a bit of money and require professional services. Regardless, spending money on pest control solutions is a worthwhile investment that will save you from more expenses in the future.
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