Here are some common issues that can lead to pest infestation, along with measures you can take to resolve them.
Open trash. Pests such as rats and cockroaches feed on all kinds of food debris, and if they can access this food supply in or around your home, your residence stands a chance of being targeted. Open trash is like a buffet counter for pests, so make sure your trash cans and are kept tightly closed. The smell of trash can attract pests, so make it a habit to regularly clean the cans out.
Cracks and gaps. For an infestation to take hold, pests need to be able to access your property. If a home is plagued with gaps and cracks, this will be make it easy for unwanted visitors to gain entry. Seal or caulk all cracks to prevent pests from entering your home. Rodents have an affinity for crawl spaces, so if there are any gaps around your home's crawl space, seal them to avoid providing a gateway for rodents and other pests.
Standing water.Some pests such as cockroaches and rats will drink from standing water, while pests such as mosquitos will use this water as a site for reproduction. Make sure leaks in and around the home are promptly fixed, and don't allow water-filled trays to linger under house plants. Clogged gutters on the roof will accumulate standing water, so take care to regularly clean gutters to prevent buildup.
Vegetation close to your home's exterior. If there is shrubbery touching your home's exterior walls or tree branches making contact with the roof, it could be easy for pests enter your home. Rodents hate open spaces, and they crave the cover that vegetation provides. If there's lots of foliage close to your home, it gives rodents the camouflage they need to come and go. Ants may use tree branches to access your roof. Make sure there's at least a 3-foot gap between the home and all vegetation.
Firewood resting against an exterior wall. Certain insects feast on firewood. Carpenter ants, in particular, love this food source, and if there firewood resting against an exterior wall, it is basically providing a bridge of timber that pests can use to enter your dwelling. If you're storing piles of firewood outside, make sure they're kept at least a few feet from the house.
Failure to consult with a pest control professional. Not all issues that support infestation are immediately obvious. For example, while some cracks and gaps that allow pests entry into your home are easily visible, others may be located in out-of-the-way places, and this might cause them to go unobserved. A pest control professional will be able to thoroughly assess your property for weaknesses that could trigger infestation. It's a lot cheaper to pay for preventive pest control than it is to tackle a full-blown infestation, so taking a proactive approach could save money in the long run.
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