The good news is that pest prevention is easier than you think.
Contact A Professional
If you want to simply hand the reins over to someone else, call a local pest control expert and get them to come and check your home. However, while they will remove any pest infestation that already exists, they will usually only advise on the best preventative methods.
The best approach is simply to speak to them about the most likely pests you’ll be dealing with and how they recommend protecting your home.
You can then take the necessary steps, which will include the following:
Sealing Up Gaps
A mouse can get through a gap as small as a ¼ inch, ants, termites, and other pests don’t even need a gap that big!
You need to carefully inspect the outside of your home and seal any gaps. Pay particular attention to around the windows, doors, and the base of your walls.
If there is no entry point the pests won’t be able to get in.
Edge Around Your Home
Termites can bury through the earth at the side of your home and into your foundations in order to get to the wood and start eating it. You’ll know they are active if you have small tunnels in the soil. If you fill them in they will reappear within 24-48 hours.
The most effective way of eliminating this issue is to have a concrete strip around your home, preferably at least 6” wide.
Check For Moisture
Pests need moisture and food to survive. You can eliminate these by looking around your home, inside and out, and eliminating any moisture.
Gutters collect moisture, leaking pipes allow moisture to soak into the wood and walls, and even pet drinking bowls can be an encouragement to pests.
Check your home for any water stains and trace the source of the issue. Eliminating these won’t just help to keep pests out, it can also protect your home.
Clutter
Pests need somewhere to live, that’s why they’re contemplating your house for winter. But, prior winter they may have been living in a woodpile in the garden or some other item that hasn’t been moved for a long time.
If you eliminate clutter inside and outside your home you’ll reduce the places where pests can live, making it harder for them to stay uninvited.
You’ll also find that the value of your home will go up and it’s a nicer place to live.
Start Cleaning
A pest needs food and this is most likely to be found in the form of crumbs and other food waste that you’ve left lying around.
You need to get in the habit of cleaning your house, putting food away in sealed containers, and keeping all waste in a sealed bin. Combine this with regular vacuuming and the pests won’t have any food, they’re likely to move onto a different house.
Don’t forget your local pest control service is here to help you eliminate the entry points and attraction of your home to pests. With their support, you can enjoy a pest-free winter!
This is a collaborative post, the ideas and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
The first thing you want to do is make sure that your heating system has undergone regular maintenance. If it hasn’t, now is the time to start looking for reputable HVAC Contractors in your area; they can take a look at your air conditioning unit, furnace and more. Keep their number handy for emergency services, too, when they’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – even on holidays.
Check The Status Of Your Roof
Whether the rain or the snow hits (or both, for that matter), you’ll want your roof to be in tip-top shape this season. Hire a handyman if there’s no one in the house who can safely climb a ladder to inspect the shingles. This past summer has been a hectic one with hurricanes and strong winds in some parts of the country, so you want to make sure damaged or broken sections of the roof are fixed just in case inclement weather hits your region.
For flat roofs, all it might take is a rake to get rid of pine needles and fallen leaves, so the water they retain doesn’t cause mold to build up. In fact; mold can be a problem in spaces inside the home you rarely see – behind the vanity in the bathroom. If there’s water damage in your home, RestorationElite is a trusted provider of emergency services, mold remediation and water/fire damage repair; they’re located in multiple places around the nation.
Property Cleaning And Leaf Work
Clean your gutters of leaves and debris. While you’re up there (or the professional handyman you hired is) have some water downspouts placed to allow any run-off from the rain to cleanly pour down them and into the street gutters.
For your front and back yards specifically, mulch the leaves to break them up into smaller parts. This saves you a bit of cleanup when compared to raking; furthermore, the mulching motion allows the soil to reabsorb the leaves and nourish your grass this season. If you have a lawn mower, replace the blade with one appropriate for mulching.
Lastly, don’t overlook the importance of winterizing your lawn mower. Any fuel left inside could cause issues if it gets too cold, and possible damage the exhaust. Even if it does not cause damage, it can make the mower more difficult to get running again in the spring.
Have Your Sewer Line And Sump Pump Checked
Experts generally recommend you check your sump pump pit once every three months or so by pouring water into it. If the pump activates, then you’re okay; if not, then you need to have it looked at. Problems, when they arise, tend to occur after an extended dry season.
It’s a good idea to check your sump pump when the forecast is calling for a rainy season. If there’s any extended work to be done, you’ll probably require a registered professional engineer equipped with small trench boxes they use to safely excavate the ground. They may need to dig to find the problem and ward off an impending failure.
All-in-all, it’s best to have your house checked for all the things that require maintenance; if they fail during the winter season, they’re more costly to repair or replace.
This is a sponsored guest post that may or may not reflect the views and ideals of Mommy Ramblings.