Most pests have the same needs as humans, warmth, food, and water. That’s why you’ll see an increase in the number of pests trying to get into your home in the fall. The most common pests are mice, rodents, stink bugs, ladybugs, and spiders. They are all seeking shelter for the winter and your home offers just what they need.
Of course, that’s not ideal for you. Rodents are known to carry a variety of diseases. They will also chew through almost anything, including electrical wire. This can give you power outages, short circuits, electric shocks, and even cause fires.Â
Stink bugs and spiders are generally more of a nuisance than a health risk, but that doesn’t mean you want them in your home. Fortunately, you can take steps today to keep them out.
1. Get It Inspected
The first thing you need to do is speak to your local pest control and get an inspection booked in. They will check your home for pests and, if necessary, you can use them as exterminators to eliminate any invaders.
But, the inspection will also highlight the most common pests in your area and what areas of your home could be adjusted to reduce the chances of pests getting in. The advice can be very helpful.
2. Close Gaps
Most pests get into your home through tiny gaps in your walls. They may look small but pests are generally small. Take a look around the exterior walls of your home and locate any cracks and gaps. As soon as you find one, seal it up with sealant or cement.
Pay particular attention to the area around doors and windows.Â
3. Check Moisture Levels
Pests need water to survive. That means a moist environment is more attractive to them. You can check the moisture levels in your home with a moisture meter. This tells you how much water is in the walls.
It’s also a good idea to check your water meter and make sure you don’t have any leaks. Simply read it twice, roughly two hours apart, without using any water in between. If the reading changes you have a leak and need to find it.
There are many reasons to have high moisture readings, while you’re identifying the cause you’ll find a dehumidifier can help reduce this and make your home less attractive to pests.
4. Remove Clutter
Clutter is the friend of pests, it gives them somewhere to hide and may even be a secret cache of food as you probably don’t clean these areas often.Â
Take a good look around your home to see what items haven’t been used in the last 6-12 months. Then, ask yourself honestly if you need these items or not. Getting rid of them is a good idea to help keep pests away.
5. Keep It Clean
Finally, pests need to eat. Your crumbs are insignificant to you but represent a feast to a pest. You need to get into the habit of wiping sides down after preparing food, storing food in sealed containers, and cleaning your home regularly. This eliminates the food supply and makes it very difficult for most pests to survive in your ho
