What Can I Do to Reduce the Chance of an Infestation This Fall?
The fall is one of the times of year during which pests are most likely to try to find ways into your home. After all, with the weather cooling off outside, they become more invested in finding a warm place to live, which means looking for cracks, holes and other ways to enter buildings.
With this in mind, it can be a good idea for you to take some preventative measures to ensure your home is protected against a potential pest infestation this fall. Here are some simple principles of pest control in Butte County, CA for you to take into consideration as you plan your pest prevention practices for this season:
- Find where the pests can enter: Your first step should be to locate any potential areas where pests could enter your home. Check below the siding, inspecting its underside it with a mirror so you can see if there are any gaps. Check also for cracks or holes in the foundation, where it might be easy for bugs or rodents to get into your home. Make sure you close up doggy doors, and don’t leave exterior doors sitting open. Where you find gaps, fill it with acrylic latex caulk.
- Use weather-stripping: Seal off the doors, basement sashes and windows with weather-stripping that you can easily remove at the end of the season. You may need to clean off surfaces first to allow the adhesive to stick better.
- Check the dryer vent: Check any dryer vents going to the exterior of your property to make sure the damper isn’t broken off or stuck in an open position. The seal between the wall and the vent should be tight—if not, see what you can do to tighten it, or at least caulk it up.
- Check your soffit: Another area where pests can enter the home is at gaps in the soffit. Pull out any nests that may be up on your roof near the soffit, and fill the openings with expanding foam. Once the foam hardens, you can cut off the excess with a utility knife.
- Set mousetraps: If you know you have a history of mice problems in your home, it can be a good idea to set up mousetraps. Make sure you set the traps properly—this means placing them in the right areas, where you’ve seen brown pellets indicative of mice activity. You can use peanut butter or chocolate syrup as effective mouse attractors.
- Eliminate moisture buildup: Try to keep soil and mulch away from window frames and low wood around your property. Turn over your mulch regularly to help keep moisture levels at bay. The more moisture you have around your foundation, the more it will attract bugs and the more likely they’ll be to find their way into your home.
These are just a few examples of some of the steps you can take to prevent issues with pest problems this fall. For more tips, contact Hobbs Pest Solutions for the best in pest control in Butte County, CA.