Dealing with a pest problem? You’re not alone. While many renters and homeowners hate the sight of pests, they’re unfortunately all too common. Luckily, there are a number of tactics you can employ to reduce the likelihood of seeing bugs, rodents, and so on.
Below, we’ll discuss some of the tips you should keep in mind when trying to keep pests from your home. We’ll also explain everything you need to know before hiring a pest control company.
Tips for Keeping Pests Out of Your Home
Recognize the Signs of Infestation
The earlier you spot pests on your property, the better. The more pests that are on your property, the more likely they are to spread and reproduce. Therefore, you want to be on the lookout for all the major signs of infestation, including holes in your home or droppings that the animal has left.
Of course, different animals have different telltale signs indicating their presence. While it’s good to be vigilant for the broad signs, it’s also useful to speak with a local wildlife or pest control expert, who can give you better insight into the behavior of pests in your area.
Check Your Home
Different pests are likely to find different areas of your home appealing. When looking for hiding areas they might take advantage of, it’s good to check:
- Bedding
- Clothing you don’t wear regularly
- Crawl Spaces
Once you’ve found the areas where pests congregate, you’ll know the areas you need to seal, as well as the areas you need to
Ensure Your Home Is Properly Sealed
Pests will have a much harder time entering your home if it is properly sealed. Therefore, it’s a good idea to make sure that your screens are all working and your weatherstripping hasn’t worn away. If you see pests chewing through pieces of your home, it’s important to get rid of the pests and plug the holes.
This also means it’s important to ensure that you’re not leaving doors or windows open. The fact that your home can be properly sealed won’t matter if pests are able to waltz through the front door!
Put Out Foods or Scents that the Animal Doesn’t Like
Different pests have different substances that they dislike. For instance, spiders are repelled by onions and white vinegar prevents ants from tracking the fellow members of their species.
Put Out Foods that the Animal Likes
This is the opposite of the previous point because there are so many different pests that could cause problems in your home. If you’re dealing with a small animal that’s causing problems, but which you don’t want to harm, putting out food that the animal likes could be the perfect solution.
This helps by allowing them to fill up on food without causing problems throughout the rest of your property. This method is often used for animals that are causing problems in gardens.
Take Care of Your Trash
Often, pests are drawn to homes that don’t dispose of their trash properly. Depending on the local wildlife, you’ll want to make sure you’re rinsing objects before recycling them, following local regulations regarding dumpsters, and ensuring that the garbage collection service regularly picks up from your property.
For the most part, trash attracts smaller pests. However, depending on the area of the country you’re living in, your trash can attract larger animals. For instance, bear invasions are more common on properties that don’t properly take out their trash.
Keep Seasons in Mind
Homeowners always have to deal with pests, regardless of the season. That said, it’s useful to understand how weather can impact their appearance, since this influences how rigorous you have to be in your efforts to keep them out of your home.
Some pests, for instance, are drawn to your home during the summer months. Others want to invade during the winter. The seasonality of pests is often determined by how they react to heat or cold, and therefore whether they want to escape the heat or cold.
Hire a Pest Control Company
At the end of the day, you want to find professionals who can help you get pests out of your home, and keep you there. Often, it’s useful to look for a local pest control company, since they’ll have experience with the most common creatures that are problematic in your area.
That said, this also begs the question: how often should you hire a pest control company? Once you already have problems in your home, you’ll obviously want a pest control company that can get rid of the problem.
That said, regular pest control calls can ensure you never have to see pests in the first place.
How Often Should You Have Your Property Serviced by a Pest Control Company?
How often you need pest control service will vary depending on your area. While some homeowners may be able to get away with having a company come by once every 3-4 months, it’s more common to have pest control companies visit every one or two months.
This allows pest control technicians to take care of problems as quickly as possible. If pests have started breeding on your property, they’ll be much more difficult to get rid of!
How Do You Find the Right Pest Control Company?
There are several steps homeowners can take to find the best pest control company in their area. Often, people like getting recommendations from neighbors or family members.
That said, if you don’t know anyone who’s had positive experiences with a pest control company, there are many other ways to find what you need. A Google search is many people’s first step, though local directories are also an option.
Regardless of the methods you use to find the companies in your area, it’s a good idea to check their reviews. You might also want to speak with a representative over the phone. This helps give you an idea if you’re comfortable with inviting them into your home.
Once you’ve found the right pest control company, they can help ensure that your home is protected against critters and insects.