Many of us take stock of the New Year in the midst of holiday festivities. One of the best things you can do to set yourself up for success is to keep your home safe from insect intruders and other pests. Doing so now will ensure an easier, breezier spring and summer. Here are some tips to help you keep your home pest-free.
Seal Off Openings
Rats, squirrels, mice, and bats often set up shop in attics and gloomy spaces between walls in your home. They often leave droppings, tear up insulation and cause structural damage, which you then have to assess and pay for. That’s no fun. Seal off any openings through which pests may enter your home. Most homeowners aren’t quite sure how to do this, but you can find out more by contacting an expert. They’ll help you make a plan that will keep pesky pests outside where they belong.
Get a Termite Check
Getting a termite check is a good idea if you haven’t had one in a while. Termites often migrate indoors (where it’s warm) in the winter. This way, they’re safe from freezing temperatures. Although termites are most likely out of your sight, there is a relatively simple and effective way to spot them: thermal imaging. Termites emit heat patterns. These patterns help experts locate them even when they’re deep inside walls or foundations. If you find a colony, you can make a plan to get rid of them before they cause damage to your home and your investment.
Look Inside
When insects live outdoors, they naturally stop reproducing at a certain point. This is because temperatures drop, causing the pests to naturally go dormant or die off. However, inside insects have abundant supplies of heat, water, and food indoors— so it’s business as usual.Insects that are likely to move inside your home include cockroaches, centipedes, flies and more. To avoid having these insects make a home in your home, check houseplants carefully before bringing them indoors. Put a perimeter of diatomaceous earth around your home.
If you still have problems, call in the experts. Have them assess your situation and make a treatment plan. You’ll be glad you did!
