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Why are lighting fixtures important to Pest control?
Porch and patio lights attract insects which in turn attract spiders to the food source. Then, when the kids leave the door open or the Pizza man is waiting to get paid both insects and spiders sneak into the house and you wonder why you suddenly have bugs. To circumvent this problem buy yellow, or non-insect attractive light bulbs, and try to keep the doors closed with a weather strip on the bottom.
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Why do I need to Caulk and Seal Openings, Cracks, and Crevices?
It does not take a very big hole for an insect to gain entrance into your home, and mice only need a quarter of an inch. Inspect your home. Check especially areas where phone lines, cable lines, gas lines, etc. enter your home. If you can see any daylight caulk it up. Garage doors are notorious for mouse entry. Often the weather strip wears out on the corners, or was put on wrong. Replace them. Attic vents have screens, or should have. If they are worn out, or not there, replace them. They are a favorite entry for birds, squirrels, wasps, and silverfish. Also, while in the attic check for other holes and gaps. They make easy entry and are usually forgotten about.
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Why are my porch screens important to maintain?
All windows and screen doors should have a fine mesh screen and be in good shape. Any holes or pulls must be repaired or a variety of insects may enter and settle.
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What steps can I take to help keep my home pest-free?
Common household pests include insects such as ants, cockroaches, termites, flies, pantry pests and wasps as well as urban wildlife such as rodents, raccoons, bats, and birds. Remember, most pests need food, water and a place to live. Eliminating any one of those elements will help significantly in controlling the pest. With that in mind, there are a number of steps homeowners can take to help keep their homes pest free:
Clean regularly and reduce clutter inside and outside of your home.
Keep foods such as flour, cereal, spaghetti and pet food in re-sealable containers with tight lids.
Keep kitchens, dining rooms and other areas where food is eaten clean and free of crumbs.
Sweep and vacuum often (especially in eating areas) to help eliminate food sources for some pests.
Keep garbage areas clean and store garbage in sealed containers that are picked up regularly.
Seal cracks, crevices, and other gaps especially around doors and windows. Make sure all windows and doors are screened and fit the screens snuggly in their frames.
Many pests need moisture to successfully live and reproduce inside your home, so limit their access to water or moisture sources by sealing any cracks and leaks in pipes and faucets.
Outside your home, keep trees, shrubs and flowerbeds well maintained and avoid having them touch the house.
Store firewood away from the house and at least 5 inches off the ground.
Clean gutters regularly and direct water from downspouts and drains away from your home.
Seal any gaps where utility wires or pipes come into your home.
Make sure that basements and attics are well ventilated.
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I own a lot of stuff I store in my home? Why is clutter a concern?
Basements, Attics, Garages are all subject to clutter. Boxes and various other storage items are all subject to infestations of insects, spiders, and rodents. Roaches especially like the corrugation in boxes to breed. Spiders like to hide in areas that are rarely disturbed. Clutter also makes it difficult to inspect and treat areas should you have a problem. I know from experience that it is difficult to avoid clutter. If at all possible, buy plastic sealed tubs to use for storage and be sure they are tightly sealed and stacked six inches from the baseboards.
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I keep all my foods in cabinets and my fridge, isn't that enough?
Grain fumigation is required by the F.D.A. on all flour, cereals, dog food, and other grain that is packaged and sold for consumption. Usually they do a good job, but upon occasion a few insects are missed and the consumer winds up with Confused Flour beetles, Indian Meal Moths, or other stored grain insects. A good rule to avoid contamination and spread of the insects is to seal all open foods in air tight containers, as well as bird seed and dog food. This will also stop mice from feeding on them should you ever have a mouse problem.
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Should I clean my Gutters more frequently?
Leaf clogged guttering is a pain that we have to deal with nearly every fall unless you've invested a lot of money to have clog free gutters put on. Many times cleaning them is put off until summer, and then forgotten about until excessive rain and waterfalls down the side of the house reminds us to clean them. Not only does this cause wood rot, but it is a breeding area for many insects and other pests. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, silverfish have a water source, then access into the attic, Carpenter ants have water soaked wood, and birds have a water source. Clean all gutters, and make sure the slope is such that they drain into the downspout.
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What kind of tips do you have to help me stop pests between services?
Following are some things a homeowner can do to help reduce the number of insects entering the home:
* Make sure all screens are in good repair
* All thresholds to outside doors should be well-sealed
* Garage should be free of clutter
* Keep garbage in sealed containers
* Wash out items for recycling before placing them into the recycling container
* Store wood piles away from the home
* Use yellow bug lights for outside lighting
* Trim shrubs and tree limbs so they are not in contact with the house
