Prevent Pests in Your Home This Spring

Spring is less than a month away! When spring comes, many pests like mice, bugs, and other small animals begin to breed in accommodating spaces like basements, attics, and kitchens. Fortifying your home against these pests can help you avoid a pest infestation this spring. These tips will help.

Fix the Roof

Wood rot from roof leaks makes it easy for pests to chew holes through your roof so they can nest in your attic. For wood-destroying pests like carpenter ants, rotten wood in the attic could be the perfect place to begin a new colony.

You can protect your attic and roof from these problems by making repairs as soon as leaks appear. If you’re not sure whether your attic has a leak, have it inspected by a roofing professional.

Maintain the Gutters

Spring is a time of year when we expect rain in Southern California, and rain can clog gutters. Clogged gutters create a moist environment that mosquitoes love. Keep your gutters dry by cleaning out leaves and removing downspout clogs.

Remove Clutter

Clutter provides places for small animals and insects to hide. In addition, some pests use clutter for nesting materials. Clutter also makes it difficult to keep your home clean, which creates a good environment for pests.

To protect your home from pests, declutter your home. For many homeowners, this might involve a combination of organizing what you’d like to keep and throwing away or giving away what you no longer need. You might also put some items into storage to get clutter out of your home.

Fix Leaks

Many residential pests get their water from leaks around the home. Check your home for leaks. Look in your crawlspaces and under sinks. Fix any leaks that you find, or contact a professional plumber to fix the leaks for you. If the leaks have damaged wood in your home, make repairs as needed.

Rethink Garden Locations

Pests love gardens. Vegetable gardens produce food for pests to eat, while mulch in flower beds creates a moist, comfortable environment for insects to live. If you have a vegetable garden on your property, keep it away from your home. Remove mulch from the area around your siding.

Trim Overhanging Trees

Trees that overhang the home create a perfect pathway for rodents to enter the attic. Trim overhanging trees carefully and remove any debris that falls onto the roof. If the branches are big, contact an arborist to ensure the job is done safely.

Seal Cracks

Before pests can live in your home, they have to gain entry. Sealing cracks with caulk and filling holes with steel wool is a good way to prevent pests from ever entering your house. If your roof has ventilation holes, use hardware cloth to cover them.

Deep Clean the Kitchen

The kitchen is often the most attractive room in the home for a variety of pests, including mice and ants. Deep cleaning this spring can help prevent problems. Clean out your cabinets and throw away expired foods. Replace contact paper before putting the remaining food items back. Remove all countertop appliances and scrub your counters to get rid of any sticky areas that you might normally overlook during a normal cleaning.

Sweep and scrub the floors, especially in the areas around the trash bin. Finish your project by cleaning the walls to remove bits of food.

Contact Pest Experts for More Information

Work with a reputable pest control company to protect your home from pests this spring. If you have more questions about how you can prevent a pest infestation in the coming months, contact Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc. We’ll be happy to answer your questions.