Spring is in full swing now, and that means sunny days, trips to the beach, and outdoor cookouts. It also means that rodents and insects will be waking up and doing everything they can to get into your house.
April was National Pest Management Month but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue your pursuit to control pests in your home. Let’s take a look at some of your options:
Keeping Your Home Safe and Dry
After heavy periods of rain in the spring and summer, there are plenty of opportunities for pests to enter your home, and you need to prepare for them.
Installing downspouts is one of the most effective ways to protect your home because it diverts excess water away from your foundation. This keeps the surrounding area dry and prevents pests from burrowing through.
However, it isn’t enough just to divert water away from the home. Homeowners should also do their best to clear any standing water out from their property.
Mosquitoes breed in standing water and need as little as half an inch of it to lay their eggs. Be sure to empty any barrels, bird baths, and other containers to keep them away from your family.
Seal Any Cracks, No Matter the Size
We like to think of our houses as secure fortresses against the wild, but even the smallest chips and cracks can be an open invitation for some uninvited guests.
Rodents are a particular pain in this area because of their great flexibility; mice are able to fit their bodies through spaces the size of a dime, and larger rats are able to go through spaces the size of a quarter.
Once these pests have entered through your weak siding, they can begin nesting and burrowing inside of your walls. By the time you become aware of them, more pests will likely have entered and your only option left is to call an exterminator.
Avoid these furry fears by walking around your home and analyzing any spaces and cracks that may be useful to curious critters and fill them up with cement or foam.
Summer is supposed to be a time for fun, so be sure to follow these steps to secure your home and stop worrying about critters in your walls. Give our pest control experts a call today or visit us online to see our wide variety of pest prevention services.