Just like any other homeowners, renters, or homeowners in apartments and condos, you have a responsibility to help keep your home pest-free. These pests can enter your home through open doors or windows, cracks in walls and floors, or simply by crawling through tiny gaps. Pests may invade to get food sources like pet food laid out on the floor for cats and dogs.
Pests are not something that can be ignored; they lead to problems such as allergies because of their droppings (whether from mice or rats). It is possible for pests to chew through walls into neighboring apartments. They also carry diseases such as salmonella and tuberculosis which if contracted can mean big trouble for someone’s health.
Have A Plan
Start by doing a quick inspection of your home and note areas where pests may be prone to enter. Pay close attention to little cracks in the walls or floor, doors that may jam, or spaces underneath stoves, refrigerators, cupboards and drawers. Take proactive measures such as installing weatherstripping around doors or sealing gaps at baseboards. These are good ways to limit pests’ access into your home. Take note of areas that are not sealed and leave them alone so you can address them later.
Inspecting Your Home
Do a quick walk-through of your home, making a mental list of things that need to be replaced or repaired; such as torn or faulty screens in the windows, gaps at the bottom around doors, openings in the walls or floors. Ensure that there are no holes in the crawl spaces near plumbing or inside walls.
The professional will make an inspection of your home to check for leaks (how much water, air, or moisture is being lost) and other problems such as pest infestation. The inspection will help determine the type of pest control treatment needed.
Preventing Pests and Their Entry
Once you know that you have a pest problem, it’s time to take action. Check the areas that are prone to pests’ entry. Seal the cracks and gaps using methods such as caulking; or fix doors so they don’t jam by replacing keys and locks.
What can’t you do
Don’t take on pest control on your own! This is very important! Most homeowners end up taking “short cuts” like relying on chemicals that aren’t safe enough, not calling a professional, and not hiring a professional who knows how to deal with real pests (such as mice and rats).
What you can do
Get a pest control company with real expertise – the kind that has been in business for a long time. Call local pest control companies, like this one here, and ask them how long they’ve been in business, what they offer, and more importantly, if they have any experience dealing with your specific type of pest problem. Find out if they have any recommendations from previous clients. Ask for references.
Conclusion
Unless you have a pest problem in your home, it’s a good idea to learn how to prevent ever getting one in the first place. That way worst-case scenarios won’t happen.
