Pest Proof Your Home

The recent wet weather has caused the number of phone calls regarding cockroach and ant infestations to soar. When infestations do occur, the most effective method of removal is to invite your local pest control company to assess and then remove your problem.

Of course, the ideal solution to pest control revolves around pest proofing your property to prevent infestation in the first place. There are many effective preventative methods you can implement to keep cockroaches, ants, centipedes, millipedes and other creepy-crawlies out of your home.

First, you should canvas your home in search of any small openings where cockroaches, ants or wasps could get in. Yes, you're looking for very, very tiny holes or cracks in your foundation, windows or siding. There is a commercial product called "Foam Seal" which is easy to apply and expands in small spaces, sealing your holes and openings.

Then, close your doors, turn off the lights inside and look under and around your door enclosure. Can you see daylight? That's an opening that needs to be sealed. Either replace the felt gasket on the bottom of the door, install new weather stripping around the casing of the door or attach a rubber door sweep to the bottom of the door itself, which should effectively seal off most openings pests could enter through.

Next, walk around the outside perimeter of your home. Is there an accumulation of leaves under your shrubs? Are limbs or other garden debris piled around your foundation or exterior walls? Cockroaches and ants will move immediately from branches or vegetation into your home and insects flock to decaying matter so the closer they are to your home, the more likely they are to try to come in.

Another common problem is that people overuse mulch, which creates the same kind of host environment for insects and pests. So try to keep the immediate area around your home clear of over-grown grass, leaves or any type of vegetation that might give insects cover. Trim trees, rake leaves and move shrubs and plants away from your foundations.

Next, make sure any air conditioning or electric lines coming into your home are sealed properly and there are no small openings in the exterior walls where the lines enter. Use either caulk or the "Foam Seal" to get rid of unwanted openings.

You've looked around the bottom of your house; now look up. Attic vents are prime thoroughfares for insects, even birds and bats, to gain entry into your house. Check under the eaves or at the corners of your home for small openings. Check screens covering vents, chimneys and windows for tears or corrosion that would let an insect get inside.

These guidelines should just about eliminate the problem of pests coming in to your home. Of course, if you already have pests inside, you can use baits, traps or acquire the skills of a professional pest control technician.

Article provided by Dynamic Pest Control