Three Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Spring Pest Season

When the weather begins to warm, pests begin to multiply, and some of them may find their way into your home. Stopping as many of them from getting in as you can is much less hassle than fighting infestations after they've begun. Here's how you can get ready for the pest season.

Trim Your Trees

Spring is a great time to make sure your trees are properly trimmed and cared for, but having your trees trimmed has the added benefit of making it that much harder for pests to get inside your house. Many pests, primarily those that can't fly, have few access points available to them. If you have any trees on your property that are touching your house, however, this will give them plenty of new ways to get inside.

The problem is twofold. Not only do branches and leaves touching your house offer a "bridge" for pests straight to your roof or outside wall, but this may invite pests you may otherwise not have. There are some pests, like types of beetles and ants, that live in trees and may find their way to your house where they may have otherwise not. Many of these pests pose no threat to humans and can be safely left alone if they stay outside, but they could cause harm to your house itself, so make sure your trees are trimmed to make sure your home and theirs stay separate.

Do Some Patching Up

With as tiny and persistent as pests can get, it's unlikely that you'll be able to keep them all outside with some basic home repairs. However, every little bit helps, and by doing some basic patching up here and there, you'll quickly make a noticeable difference. Here are some things you can do.

  1. Fix screens in doors and windows that may have come loose, and replace screens that have holes. Screens are easy to repair; unless the frame itself is damaged, you can keep the frame and simply replace the screen inside.
  2. Seal up small cracks in your foundation. With small enough cracks, no big repairs are necessary, but some pests can still use these openings to get in.
  3. Block off access to any drain pipes or vents with mesh or screens. These will have to be a bit larger than the screens used in windows to prevent clogs, but they can keep out larger insects and rodents that might otherwise try to make themselves at home in places like plumbing and air ducts.

Some projects may be a little more complex than you feel comfortable with, and for those instances a good contractor is invaluable. Still, every little thing you can tackle yourself well worth the time and effort.

Get Preventative Treatment

Pest experts are helpful for much more than simply taking care of an infestation that already exists. They can also offer preventative treatments that will prevent many bugs from being able to get into your house in the first place.

Schedule a consultation with a pest control expert and explain what you're interested in. What they'll offer specifically will depend on your individual needs. For example, they may determine that you're in greater need of preventative treatment for rodents rather than insects. If you've had past problems with bugs, they may suggest a perimeter treatment, which surrounds your house with a pesticide.

During this consultation, they may also walk through your house, garage, and yard, to see if there are any signs of pests that are there already or to point out specific risks from creatures like termites. While there are some preventative measures you can take on your own, professional input can be incredibly beneficial and help protect you from pests all year long.

For more information, contact a residential pest control service in your area.

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