Blog
Fall Pest-Proofing
10/20/10
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Spiders and other overwintering insects and rodents may try to enter your home in the fall |
Don’t forget to pest-proof your home this fall.
Each year as the weather begins to cool; we all start to hear about the importance of weather proofing our homes to conserve energy. What we often overlook is pest-proofing our home to prevent overwintering insects and rodents. Just as you want to stay warm in the cooler weather, so do cockroaches, flies, lady bugs, spiders, stink bugs and mice to name a few. While invading insects and rodents may seem harmless they are capable of causing extensive damage and some of these pests pose a health risk.
Did you know?
Cockroach droppings and saliva can trigger asthma attacks, especially in children.
Rodents carry Salmonella and Hantavirus, and cause structural damage as well as chew through electrical wire and insulation
Protect your home and family with these helpful pest-proofing tips
Even when pests don't pose a threat to health or home, they are still an eye-sore and are often irritating. So how do you stop these pests from entering?
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Store food in airtight containers, preferably made of glass
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Install door sweeps
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Inspect screens on doors and windows and repair any rips or tears
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Add or repair screen vents to openings to your chimneys
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Seal any cracks in your foundation
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Replace weather stripping around basement windows
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Move firewood at least 20 feet from your home and keep off the ground
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Keep all shrubs and trees trimmed so that they do not form a “bridge” to your home
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Caulk or patch cracks or gaps in the walls around electrical outlets Look for cracks or gaps in the wall around electrical outlets
You are ready for winter
By taking these simple preventative steps you greatly increase your chances of staying pest free this fall and winter. If at any time you suspect that you have pests, you should contact your local pest control company for assistance to insure that the problem is eliminated quickly.