Pests of all sorts—ants, bees, rodents, and more—can sneak their way into your home when you least expect it. When pests enter a home it’s for three main reasons: food, water, or shelter. If you find that you’re dealing with a pest infestation, calling a professional, like Home Pro Pest Control, to mitigate the problem should be your first step. Once the initial problem is dealt with, it’s time to consider why the infestation occurred. Below is a listing of the top reasons why pests are drawn to a house.
- Clutter. Whether it be piles of paper, boxes, or other junk, bugs and rodents love clutter because it offers them a safe place to hide and reproduce. If your house has more clutter than you’d like to admit, take the time to store or toss these items. This will discourage pests from taking up residence in your home.
- High Humidity. While most people know that bugs and critters are attracted to water, they often don’t think about the humidity levels in their house. A home that has excessive humidity will be more attractive to pests, as this extra moisture provides water they need to survive. A dehumidifier can help to reduce the humidity in your home.
- Food Crumbs. It’s important to be diligent when cleaning up and storing food. Pests are notorious for finding the smallest piece of food and then telling all of their friends about it. Wipe up crumbs, put away the dishes after every meal, and store your food appropriately.
- Pets. Bugs and critters aren’t just after human food and water, they’ll take it from pets too. Keep your pet’s eating area clean and remove food after mealtimes. Pests can also make their way into your home by latching on to your pet’s fur while outdoors and hitching a ride inside. Check your pet regularly and treat it with flea and tick pills, collars, or shampoos if necessary.
- Unnoticed Openings. Doors that don’t close all the way, gaps around windows, damaged chimney caps and missing soffit vent screens provide just enough of an opening to allow pests to infest your house. At least twice a year do a full walk through of the inside and outside of your home to identify gaps and holes where pests can enter.
- Easy Access. Outdoor maintenance also plays a big role in whether pests are able to infiltrate your home. Tree branches and shrubs that lay close to or on the house act as a bridge for pests to enter your home, so trim them back as needed. Bugs and critters also like to hide in piles of firewood. If you have wood stored against your house, you’re bringing bugs all that much closer to your home. The easy fix: find a new place to store your firewood.
Home Pro Pest Control offers comprehensive, effective plans that cover more than 30 different kinds of pests. To learn more about our pest control programs or to schedule an appointment, call us at (757) 499-1078.