Nearly all homeowners struggle with pests at some point or another. Whether it’s insects, mice, raccoons, bats or another creature entirely – pest problems happen to everyone.
As a homeowner, the best way to protect yourself is to pest-proof your home. By sealing up cracks, watching for signs of pests, knowing which pests are most problematic in your area and by working with a pest control company with a good reputation, you can protect your home from this unfortunate problem!
At EcoTek, we help homeowners like you protect their homes from the pests that are common in Spokane, WA. Whether you struggle with spiders, insects or animals that go bump in the night, we can help you fortify your home. Here’s what you need to know.
Why It’s Important to Pest Proof Your Home
Pests can chew holes in your walls, do damage to your floors, spread illnesses and negatively impact the appearance of your property. Pest proofing your home is a way to maintain your property’s value and protect the structural integrity of your house.
Signs That Your Home Has Pests
Knowing the signs that your home has pests can help you decide when your pest proofing measures aren’t working, or that it’s time to adopt new pest proofing measures.
- Droppings. Many pests will leave droppings in areas where they spend time. Mouse droppings, for example, are smaller than a grain of rice, dark brown, and symmetrical. You’ll see them in places like cabinets, under the stove, in the pantry, or in the garage.
- Sounds. If your home has pests, you might hear animals chewing in the dark, gnawing on your walls or running in your attic.
- Holes in walls. Mice and other animals are known to chew holes in walls or tear holes in screens to enter your home or make your home easier to navigate.
- Visual confirmation. You know you have a pest problem when you see pests in your house. Most of the time, pests prefer to stay hidden. If you’re seeing pests in your home, then this could be an indication that your pest problem is getting bigger.
How to Protect Your Home from Pests
There are many things you can do to pest proof your home. The more measures you take to protect yourself from pests of all kinds, the less likely you are to have a problem with pests in the future.
Inspect for Pests Regularly
Look for the signs of pests. If you find indications that your home has a problem, contact a reputable pest control company in your area. Look for signs of pests in the kitchen, bathroom, garage, basement, closets and in other sheltered areas of your house.
Look under the sink, in bottom cabinets, in the pantry, near and under your stove and refrigerator and near the furnace. Remember that pests need food, water and shelter. They like to tear up boxes and chew cloth and use soft things to create their nests.
Get Rid of Food Sources
Keep all pest food sources out of reach. Anything that’s stored in a bag or cardboard box, like cereal, rice, pasta or oats, is a likely target for a pest like a mouse. Some insects, like pantry moths, can easily find their way into sealed bags.
Keep all food in hard containers that are easily sealed, like jars or plastic sealable containers. If you don’t have the budget to buy containers for every single type of food item in your pantry, consider buying large plastic tubs to hold categories of food items. For example, buy a tub to hold all your bags of pasta, a tub to hold all your cereal, and so on.
Fix All Leaks
Mice and insects need water just like you. Leaks under the sink can become a source of drinking water for pests. Leaks in other parts of the house, like a roof leak or a leak near a window, could lead to structural damage that makes your house more appealing to wood-eating pests. Keep your house in good repair and fix all leaks as soon as they develop.
Seal Your Home
Seal cracks around windows, doors, and in your home’s foundation. Patch any holes in your attic vents and in your window screens. Cover open vents that lead into your home. If you have an open, uncapped chimney, install a cap to prevent birds and rodents from using your chimney as a doorway to your home.
Declutter
Clutter provides places where pests can hide, and can also provide pests with nesting materials. Keep your home organized and get rid of items you don’t need. Declutter on a regular basis to keep your house tidy and organized. Removing clutter also makes it easier to see other signs that your home has a pest infestation, so you can get your problem under control faster and easier when one starts to develop.
Contact a Reputable Pest Control Company
One of the ways that you can protect your home from pests is to contact a reputable pest control company that can watch for signs of pests, lay traps when they’re needed, spray for spiders and take other measures to keep your house protected from the many pests that are common here in Spokane, WA. To learn more about pest proofing your house, call EcoTek to make an appointment.
