Guarding Your Home Against Summer Pests: Amco Ranger

Even when you cannot keep pests out of your backyard, you should always try to keep them out of your home. Pests are not only annoying, but they also create unsanitary conditions and carry diseases they can transmit to humans. In some cases, by the time you discover pests in your home, you may already have an infestation. To prevent that from happening, and to guard your home against summer pests, follow the tips below.

Seal All Entry Points

The smallest gap or crack in any part of your home can serve as an invitation to pests. Always ensure that your door is properly sealed and install an aluminum or sturdy steel threshold under the door. Also seal windows and other places pests may find their way in.

Install and Maintain Screens

The urge to throw open the windows and doors once the nicer weather hits is quite natural. Unfortunately, this time of year is also when pests such as mosquitoes, fleas, and other creatures are out in full force. A screen can allow the fresh air in, while keeping critters out. Screens should be 20-mesh or finer and tightly installed to ensure there are no gaps that would allow pests to make their way inside. You should also check existing screens to make sure there are no holes or rips that could provide an entrance for pests.

Outside Maintenance

There is only one way pests can find their way into your home, and that is from outside. Eliminating certain elements outdoors can greatly help prevent pests from coming into your home. Do not keep standing water in your yard, as it is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and provides drinking water for larger pests, such as mice and rats. Keep gutters and drains free of leaves, grass clippings, and debris, as these are great places for pests to hide.

Indoor Maintenance

No matter how hard you try to guard your home against summer pests, there is still a good chance a few will make their way inside. This is particularly true for smaller pests, such as ants and mosquitoes. These pests will only come inside, however, if there is something that is attractive to them. To ensure there is not, always keep proper maintenance and cleanliness inside the home by eliminating clutter, removing water sources, and keeping all counters and surfaces free of food.

Cover Large Openings

Of course, you cannot fill your chimney or vents with caulk, but you should still cover them, all the same. Fine wire mesh placed over chimneys and other areas is a great way to prevent large and small pests from making their way inside. Certain animals, such as squirrels and rats, also do not like to walk on these surfaces. Pre-fabricated chimney caps are also very effective at keeping pests out, especially small pests, such as mosquitoes and ants. Grilles, registers, vents, and crawl spaces should also be covered with fine wire mesh.

Store Garbage Properly

There is only one place for food waste in a home, and that is the kitchen garbage. The garbage can should have a lid and should be emptied regularly. When emptied, the garbage should be taken to a larger garage or outdoor trash can. This garbage can should have a tight-fitting lid that locks, and should be cleaned and sanitized regularly. Composts bins should also have a lid and cloth lining. Composted materials should be removed every three to six months.

Focus on the Foundation

The very foundation of a house makes the home very susceptible to pests. Termites, ants, spiders, and fleas thrive in these areas that are damp, and the foundation is the part of your house closest to the ground. Combined, these conditions make it very easy for pests to get into your home through gaps and cracks. Check for these regularly along the foundation, as well as in your siding joints. Siding that is not secured properly also provides a gateway for pests. After finding any areas where pests could get in, make sure to seal them properly.

Attract Birds

Birds will not protect your home from all pests, but they will certainly help with some. Warblers and swallows, for example, love feasting on mosquitoes. Bird feeders with sunflower seeds and suet are a great way to draw these animals into your yard, where they will also eat other pests.

Call a Missouri Pest Control Company

Although there are many do-it-yourself methods for protecting your home against summer pests, you may still run into a problem with critters at some point. When that is the case, our St. Louis pest control company at Amco Ranger can help. Our knowledgeable technicians can eliminate any pests from your home and prevent them from coming back in the future. Call us today at (636) 223-4804 or contact us online to schedule a free inspection.