How To Keep Common Household Pests Out Of Your House?

Nuisance pests can be a big problem, from the smallest animals such as mice to snakes and insects. They can carry diseases and illnesses, and some cause structural damage. If you own or rent, you want to take steps to prevent these unwanted insects from getting into your house. 

1. Can Closing Cracks And Gaps Prevent Pests?

Nuisance pests love to enter your home and have an incredible desire to get in! And where there is a will, they will find a way. Reduce their choices by sealing all cracks and gaps around the house. Check around the perimeter and mark the location of any pipes or wires entering the foundation. Caulk or spray insulating material around them. There are no openings too small to admit pests, I say! Think about how small a dime-sized hole a common house mouse can squeeze through, and you will realise how diligent you must be when looking for and closing your home. 

2. How Can Screens Keep Pests Out?

Keeping windows and doors open will allow fresh air to circulate through the house, which can help circulate air and decrease germs. It does, however, also extend an invitation to the insects in your yard. Don’t leave them open, but fit screens on them to allow air to circulate and exclude bugs. The larger spiders and beetles will be excluded from most screens, and a smaller-sized screen will even prevent the entrance of small ants and mosquitoes. Repair any tears or rips in the screens – insects will use this as an opportunity. 

3. How Can You Establish A Pest Control Perimeter?

Set up a boundary around your house to deter pests from approaching. This may vary according to the native species in your area. Maintaining short grass will reduce the travel routes for snakes, mice, and other small critters. Eliminating leaves and debris against the foundation will eliminate hiding places for insects and other crawling pests. You may want to have a chemical barrier or bait station system installed to keep termites or other wood-boring insects from damaging the structure. When it comes to your house being your castle, this is the moat. 

4. How Does Proper Food Storage Keep Pests Away?

All kinds of pests will enter your home seeking to feed. However, if they can be controlled and the food sources managed properly, they will not be tempted, and there is a possibility of keeping their numbers down. Find time to clean out pantry and cabinets. Keep foods in sealed and lockable containers rather than bags and cardboard.

Another thing you will want to do is to take care of the disposal of food waste inside and outside the house. Rodents, opossums, and raccoons are all attracted to an open trash can. And once they find a reliable source of food, they will continue to visit for more. 

5. How Can Fixing Water Leaks Prevent Pests?

Besides food and water, cockroaches, silverfish, gnats, and termites will enter the house for water; water leaks are excellent harborage spots. This is particularly the case if the leak can be found in a basement or crawl space or inside a cabinet. If you notice any plumbing leaks, be sure to get them fixed right away. This will not only reduce nuisance pests, but will also help reduce mold growth, utility bills, and conserve an important natural resource. 

6. Why Should You Keep Trees And Shrubs Trimmed?

Landscape shrubs are attractive, but if left unattended, they can be a great means for pests to get inside your home. Trim them so there is air circulation around the foundation. This will also allow better visual inspections to ensure the early detection of problems. Trees can be a problem also. They can offer shade and assist in regulating your home’s heating and cooling bills; however, they can also give small animals easy access to the roof. Don’t do that by keeping them cut away at least 6 feet from any buildings. 

7. How Can Relocating Wood Piles Prevent Pests?

In the dead of winter, it’s not fun to carry wood in the yard, but it’s asking for trouble if you stack it near your home. Rodents, snakes, and wood-boring insects like to make homes in woodpiles, so it is best to locate them as far away from the house as you can. 

8. Are Humane Traps Effective For Pest Control?

Whenever possible, you want to prevent nuisance pests from getting into your house or making themselves at home in the yard. At times, though, it doesn’t work. After you have a pest problem, it could be hard to eradicate them. Humane traps are an answer for animals of nearly any size. Raccoons, opossums, skunks, and foxes can all be trapped and relocated. Wild animals can be vectors for many diseases that may be transmitted to humans and domestic animals. Be sure to use any precautions against coming into direct contact with any animals that have been trapped. Children and pets should not be allowed to go near them, either. 

Pests can cause issues if they come into your house. You can help prevent nuisance pests from entering your home by being proactive and excluding food, water, sealing gaps, and minimizing clear paths to the home. Chemical barriers or humane traps can be used to decrease populations at times. 

Frequently Asked Questions