Prevention is the best method when it come to controlling most pests. If you can keep them out of your home or business, and make indoors uninhabitable for them, you greatly reduce the chances that an infestation can happen.
While Spring and Fall are key months for pest proofing and pest control annual services, pest proofing inside and out and maintaining a ‘pest proof’ home or business should be ongoing.
To help you with this, we have pulled together a list of pest proofing tips.
Pest Proofing Inside Your Home or Business:
- Check for and seal holes and cracks around windows, doors, and baseboards with high quality caulking.
- Regularly vacuum to remove food particles, accumulation of lint, dust and hair and possible insect eggs.
- Focus on carpets, rugs, closets, pet bedding, drapes, upholstered furniture, cracks and crevices, baseboards, open vents, mouldings, air vents, around heaters, ceiling corners and window corners.
- Clean up spills immediately, and do not to leave food (human or pet) out overnight.
- Routinely clean and disinfect your home or premises, especially:
- Interiors of cupboards, drawers, and pantries.
- Countertops, sinks, bathtubs and laundry tubs.
- Areas around and behind appliances and machinery.
- Baseboards, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and other lower level rooms.
- Do not store excessive garbage, recycling or food waste indoors - regularly put out, and keep the indoor area where these are stored clean,and sanitized.
- Keep any open packages of food inside glass, metal, or heavy plastic containers.
- When storing clothing and fabrics for seasonal or long-term storage, ensure they are clean, placed in sealed containers with tight-fitting lids, and stored in a dry, cold location.
- Manage indoor temperature and humidity levels through dehumidifiers, air conditioning units, or fans.
- Install ventilation in bathrooms and other high humidity area.
- Regularly inspect and repair faucet and pipe leaks.
- Insulate or wrap pipes with too much moisture.
Pest Proofing Outside Your Home or Business:
- Use a quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk to seal exterior cracks, crevices, gaps and holes around windows, doors, siding, eaves, fascia boards, roof joints, chimneys, and places where utility pipes, plumbing, cables or wires enter the building.
- Install or repair screens in roof and soffit vents.
- Repair holes in damaged window and door screens.
- Replace or install weather stripping.
- Install door sweeps on exterior doors.
- Store garbage cans, green bins and recycling bins away from the exterior of the home or business.
- Ensure containers have tight-fitting lids.
- Clean tall bins and receptacles, and also the area you store them regularly.
- Keep the perimeter clean and free of debris.
- Use yellow colour light bulbs outdoors, and reduce unnecessary lighting outside as lights attract insects.
- Regularly maintain and landscape gardens, trees and shrubbery around the exterior to minimize nesting sites, hiding places and accessibility.
- Dispose of any found, abandoned nests.
- Ensure gutters and downspouts are directed away from the building and that they are in good condition.
- Check for and repair all leaking faucets or air-conditioning units around the perimeter.
- If using an irrigation system, ensure it is maintained and leak-free.
Good luck pest proofing! If you find yourself in need of pest control services do not hesitate to call us.