Common Places Around the Home to Check to Prevent Invading Pests This Winter
As the days grow colder and your house gets warmer than the outdoors, pests are trying to become your new roommates without paying their part of the bills. It's not right, but there's nothing that can be done about it except launch a war to kick them to the curb where they belong. You can take preventative measures so that these nasty squatters don't have an easy way to invade your home.
The Outside Wall
Oftentimes, there are holes or gaps in outside walls that allow pests into your home. Bricks are also an issue at times, especially on aged homes. Check around the perimeter of your house to ensure the exterior wall is free of holes or gaps. If you find cracks, you need to fill them. To exclude rodents, lizards and insects, look for cracks around windows, doors and in fascia boards. For small cracks you can use good quality silicone or acrylic latex caulk. Latex-type caulks clean up easily with water and can be painted although they are less flexible than pure silicone. For larger openings, fill with a strong material that matches the structure such as wood, cement, sheet rock or mortar.
Windows
Windows are a favorite among pests looking for a cozy place to stay. If you want to avoid unwanted pests, then it's essential that you inspect your screens regularly for any holes or tears. These openings will make it easy for pests to enter your home. If you don't have screens on your windows, then you may want to get them installed. Make sure that there aren't any holes or gaps around the window casing itself. If your windows do not shut properly or are difficult to open, then this may be a sign that it’s time to replace your windows. Ultimately, the tighter you have them sealed, the fewer pests you will have to deal with in the long run.
Sheds
Sheds are where you'll find spiders and other types of bigger critters. It's a warm place where the walls block the cold winds. Pest-proofing a shed requires a little bit of a different approach than pest-proofing a home, but it serves the same purpose as other methods used in home pest prevention. All Storage Online explains, “cleanliness is an important factor for limiting the reproduction of spiders. It is also important to seal all cracks and crevices leading into sheds to deny pests access to their desired living conditions. Check sheds and outside storage areas for spaces under the doors or cracks in walls where pests could enter. Try to keep the inside and the exterior of the shed dry since spiders like humid conditions.” Always be cautious if you think an area may have spiders or other Prevent Invading Pests.
Dryer Vents
Dryer vents are easy for pests to get into, and pests can be drawn to the heat that's emitted when your dryer is in use. If a rodent or pest gets into your dryer vent, then you will be left to deal will a variety of problems. Unwanted invaders can damage your dryer, cause a bad odor, result in illness, and start a fire. An easy fix is to take a piece of screen and secure it so that it covers the opening on the exterior of the house. This will make it difficult for pests to get in there and cause you headaches.
Keep an eye on these places to prevent pests from entering your domicile or surrounding structures. It's important to call in professional pest control services when in doubt. Your safety is always the utmost priority. If you’re looking for more ways to make it easier to maintain your home’s exterior, then keep Crider’s Landscaping in mind!