Pests can be more than a simple annoyance. When left unaddressed, they may cause significant damage to properties, pose serious health risks, and bring unnecessary stress to homeowners.
There are a number of best practices and prevention strategies to reduce the risk of a pest infestation in your home. In this article, we will discuss simple, safe, and effective ways to manage and prevent pest populations in and around your property.
Common Household Pests
Animals and insects become pests when they take up residence where they do not belong. Identifying the pests you are dealing with and tailoring your control methods is key in preventing infestations and keeping pest numbers down.
Pests that homeowners frequently have to deal with include:
- Birds: In numbers, birds can cause significant home damage from droppings and nesting
- Rodents: Potentially causing multiple hazards, rodents can chew away at your home’s structure and spread disease through their droppings
- Cockroaches: Roaches can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks due to contamination
- Termites: While structural damage to your home is a chief concern, termites can also cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks in some people
- Flies: Flies are known to carry and transmit multiple diseases to humans
- Fleas: Fleas are small insects that carry bacteria, pathogens, and other sickness-causing organisms
- Ants: Ants are pests that can carry disease, easily contaminating food, water, and food-contact surfaces in kitchens
- Bed bugs: A pest infestation of bed bugs can result in rashes, skin infections, and sleep deprivation
- Mosquitoes: More than just an annoyance, mosquitoes pose health risks due to their ability to transmit disease
Clearly, there is good reason to identify and address any potential pest problems as soon as possible. Doing so will help to ensure the structural integrity of your home and protect the health of your family.
Pest Control Methods
There are a number of tried-and-true pest control methods that homeowners and residents frequently use. Oftentimes, using a combination of control methods will bring the best results.
Create pest barriers, block entry points, and set traps
Barriers and other exclusion methods create a boundary that pests either can’t or won’t cross. For instance, a window screen creates a physical boundary that keeps insects out while still allowing air in. Additionally, setting humane traps can be an effective way to stop pests in their tracks.
Such methods best control pests that enter the home in a predictable way, such as rodents, cockroaches, and ants. Once you identify where the pests are coming from, you can put out bait stations, traps, or seal doors to keep the pests at bay.
Eliminate sources of food, water, and shelter
Pests are always on the hunt for food, water, and a place to hide. Denying pests these essentials will deter them from entering and staying in your home.
Some best kitchen practices for pest prevention include:
- Keep food stored in well-sealed containers
- Store food away from walls and at least 6 inches off the floor
- Keep food messes cleaned up and sanitize food preparation areas immediately after use
- Keep your trash in a covered bin and dispose of it regularly
These simple practices can go a long way in helping you prevent and manage pests that enter your kitchen.
Seal your home
When possible, keep doors and windows closed if they do not have a screen. Open doors and windows are an invitation for all kinds of pests to have a heyday in your house.
You can also prevent pests by ensuring that your home is properly sealed as follows:
- Caulk any cracks or crevices around the windows and doors
- Make sure there are no gaps around your eaves or foundation
- Repair any dry-rotted or moisture-damaged wood right away to avoid pest infestation
- Check that all door sweeps are undamaged and have a good seal against the ground
- Ensure that all attic and roof vents are in good working order to prevent birds, rodents, and other pests from entering
A well-sealed house is a key strategy in pest control and prevention.
Keep your roof and foundation clear
It is always good to make sure there is no clutter around the foundation of your home. Rodents, spiders, and other common pests will use clutter around your house as a hiding place. Before you know it, they’ll be trying to get inside.
Additionally, it is wise to keep trees, shrubs, and other vegetation around your home trimmed back. Plants around your foundation or shrubs and tree limbs touching your roofline can act as a bridge for pests to gain access to your home.
Use your vacuum cleaner
A good vacuum is a great all-natural pest control tool. Able to suck up large amounts of bugs, a vacuum can significantly reduce insect infestations such as cockroaches, termites, and bed bugs.
For effective pest control, vacuums should be used on a regular basis to clean up food crumbs, dry pantry spills, and pet hair that pests can feed on. Make sure to focus on corners and hard-to-reach areas like under beds and sofas. When hair and dust accumulate in these areas, pests will feel right at home.
Biological pest control
Biological control leverages nature’s help to manage pests. This kind of pest control utilizes natural predators or beneficial organisms to control pest populations. For example, a homeowner may release ladybugs to eat aphids.
Many people find biological control to be a viable and appealing option for pest prevention and control because it is environmentally safe, energy self-sufficient, cost-effective, and sustainable.
Chemical pest control
Chemical pesticides are powerful and effective against all manners of common pests. That said, it is critical that chemical pest control be used responsibly.
When choosing to use chemical control methods, safety precautions must be taken. It is wise to use personal protective equipment and make sure the chemicals are handled in a way that protects you and the environment from improper pesticide exposure.
When considering pesticide use, many homeowners feel more at ease after consulting an experienced and reputable pest management company about their pest remediation options.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a comprehensive approach that combines many of the above-mentioned techniques to achieve long-term solutions. IPM focuses on prevention, monitoring, and control to manage pest populations effectively.
Preventing pest infestations through proactive IPM strategies is often more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than reactive treatments.
Used in combination, the basic elements of IPM programs include:
- Inspections and monitoring: Regular inspections aid in identifying pest issues early and prevent infestations before they become severe
- Prevention: Sealing entry points, maintaining cleanliness, and eliminating food sources reduce the probability of a pest infestation
- Biological control: Utilizing natural predators or beneficial organisms to control pest problems
- Mechanical and physical control: Using humane traps, barriers, and other non-chemical methods to remove pests
- Targeted chemical control: When necessary, use eco-friendly and targeted pesticides as a last resort
Pest management companies and homeowners alike are choosing to implement integrated pest management strategies as part of their preventative home maintenance and pest prevention methods. The IPM approach controls pests while prioritizing the environment and public health.
Contact Insight Pest Management to Protect Your Home Today
Finding pests in your home can be unpleasant and alarming. While there are a number of pest prevention strategies that can do wonders for pest control, sometimes you simply need to call in the professionals.
With 25 years of experience at the national level of commercial and residential pest control at Insight Pest Management, we understand that no two pest infestation problems are exactly the same, and each requires a different approach.
Our knowledgeable team of pest inspectors will thoroughly evaluate the situation and develop an effective treatment plan that best meets your specific needs. What’s more, we provide customer education in pest prevention in order to minimize the risk of future pest infestations.
You don’t need to face your pest problems alone! Call Insight Pest Management or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free quote. Customer satisfaction is always our top priority.
