Spring is here! Any time the seasons change, household pests change their behaviors. It’s not unusual for homeowners to see pests coming into their home at this time of year. Some pests come for shelter from warmer temperatures in summer, while other pests are looking for water, food, and other important, life-sustaining resources. Either way, it’s important to seal your home from spring pests. There are many things you can do to keep pests away!
Inspect Your Home’s Exterior
Spring pests can enter your home through small cracks and holes in your home’s exterior. These entrances can be so small, you may not notice them unless you’re looking. Inspect your home’s exterior to look for places where pests can enter. Some spots to search for include:
- Broken vents around the attic. Larger pests like rodents, raccoons, and bats can enter your attic through broken vents.
- Cracks around doors and windows. This can be an entry point for insects like ants, and in some cases, small rodents.
- Broken windows. Broken windows can be an entry point for any pest that can fit through.
- Un-covered vents. In addition to the attic vents, there are other vents in other parts of the house, usually in the form of pipes. These vents should be covered with hardware cloth or another strong mesh screen to prevent rodents from entering your house.
- Openings into the crawl space. Your crawl space should be vented with openings that allow air to circulate under your home. These vents need to be covered with hardware cloth or another form of strong mesh to prevent mice and rats from entering underneath your home.
After performing your inspection, make repairs to your house as needed. You may need help from a contractor, or you may be able to make these repairs yourself. If you’re not sure whether a part of your house is a problem, have your pest control professional take a look at your house to give their opinion.
Weatherstrip to Seal Your Home from Spring Pests
Weatherstripping is good for your home’s energy efficiency – and it’s also good for keeping out pests. Seal the area around your windows and doors with weatherstripping. You can purchase weatherstripping from hardware stores and home improvement centers.
Most weatherstripping takes the form of rubber or foam strips that fill gaps between the window and the frame, or the door and the frame. The foam should be thick enough to fill those gaps, without preventing the door or window from properly opening or closing.
If you installed weatherstripping on your home in the last year, check the existing weatherstripping to see if it needs to be replaced. While you’re at it, check and replace rubber thresholds under exterior doors. These strips can help keep out small rodents. A good rubber threshold can last for years, but will eventually need to be replaced.
Seal Up Food Sources from Spring Pests
In addition to sealing your house, you should seal up food sources that could be a draw for pests. Take out your trash every night, to prevent it from becoming a draw for pests like mice and rodents. If you have food in boxes, like cereal or crackers, put the food in a glass or plastic container that a rodent can’t penetrate.
Keep food up off the floors of your pantry. Keep your pantry closed at night, and if there’s a big gap between the pantry door and the floor of the pantry, consider installing a rubber threshold that can fill that gap.
Inspect the Walls of Your Home
Walk through your home’s interior to look for holes in the walls that could serve as conduits for mice or rodents. For example, look at the pipes that enter your home through the walls. Look under sinks and in the area around your water heater.
Gaps between the walls and the pipes allow rodents to roam freely between the spaces in your walls and the rest of your house. Look for any other holes in your walls that could allow rodents to move about.
Clear Around Your Foundation to Seal Your Home
Keep things away from your house that could attract rodents. For example, move trash bins away from your home’s exterior. Seal your trash bins so they can’t be opened or compromised by rodents and animals, and put your trash bins near your garage or shed.
Do you store firewood near your home? Move it away from the foundation of your house. Firewood can attract wood-eating pests while also providing a space for small animals to live.
Eliminate Water Sources
Leaks provide water to pests who live in your home. Getting rid of water sources can help seal your home by making your house just a little less hospitable. Look for leaks under your sinks and on your roof. If you need help getting rid of these water sources, contact a plumber or contractor to get help.
Seal Your Home from Spring Pests with Professionals
The best way to keep away spring pests and seal your home is to work with a pest control company. Call EcoTek to identify signs of pests and determine solutions. At EcoTek, we provide year-round treatments to customers to prevent seasonal pests and more. We’ll help you find areas where pests can enter, then we’ll provide guidance to help you fortify your home. Call today to make an appointment.
