Maintaining a Pest-Free Home

With the temperature hovering below zero, it’s time to prepare your home for winter hibernation by creating a healthy pest-free environment. By conducting indoor and outdoor house inspections and incorporating a few easy pest-control measures, you can improve the value of your property and create cleaner, happier living conditions.

The first step in eliminating pests is to prevent them from entering your home. Begin by examining the exterior of your house to identify minor cracks and holes in the bricks and mortar where insects typically live and breed. Once crevices have been identified, consider spraying a pesticide into these crevices to destroy pests, but be sure to educate yourself about potential harmful effects of various bug-repellents. To safeguard your home from bugs in the future, ensure that openings are properly closed by sealing them with outdoor caulk, inserting steel wool or applying weather-stripping.

Next, carefully inspect your roof and eaves troughs for damage often caused by birds and squirrels, which can lead to water leakage and moldy insulation. Promptly repair gutter and roof leaks that cause dampness and therefore attract pests. Install mesh or perforated leaf shields to discourage larger animals from nesting in your gutters.

During the winter season, many animals hibernate in chimneys to escape from the cold weather, therefore it is a good idea to secure wire mesh over your chimney’s opening and close the flute whenever the fireplace is not in use to avoid animal nestings. Consider having your chimney inspected by a professional chimney sweep at least once a year and if you discover an animal living in the chimney, call an experienced pest control service to remove the animal as safely and quickly as possible.

Once you have completed checking your home’s exterior, begin an indoor inspection of the entire house. Start with the basement, an area that typically contains potential openings for pests, such as air conditioner ducts and minor cracks in the walls, floors and drains. Explore every room in your home, examining walls, floors, doors and ceilings
for open spaces and cracks, and seal all cavities with indoor caulk or paint. Use clear caulk as a short-term, affordable solution for small holes in window screens or invest in a strong wire mesh to patch larger holes.

To eliminate pests from the kitchen, store food in packages inside airtight containers with snap-top lids. When grocery shopping, ensure items are properly sealed or can be resealed securely. When disposing of garbage, be sure to use a can with a firm seal and clean garbage cans often to remove odours that attract insects and rodents. Other kitchen tips include mopping the floor regularly, cleaning countertops and drains immediately after use, and rinsing cans before reusing or recycling.

Vacuuming your home at least once a week, including upholstery, will also help ensure a sanitary, pest-free home. If bugs are still evident in your home after a thorough cleaning, place baits, sticky traps, snap traps or glue boards in areas where pests hide or contact a professional pest control service to identify and eliminate the problem.

You can keep your home pest-free with regular inspections and proper maintenance that will help minimize costly home repairs and ultimately add value to your residence. And, your efforts will ensure a clean and healthy home for your family and friends to enjoy for years to come.