Like it or not, your home looks really appealing to pests. It’s a common misconception that pests are only found in dirty or unkempt homes. The truth is that pests can find their way into any home and may even prefer being indoors, away from predators and in a comfortable setting.
But the last thing that you want is for your home to turn into a Bug Hotel!
The best course of action to keep pests out is a multi-faceted approach that combines pest control with other effective pest prevention habits, such as sealing common insect entry points.
In this article, we’ll talk about how pests get into homes in the first place and how to take steps to prevent that from happening.
Older homes sometimes give pests more opportunities simply because aging construction materials may create more points of entry.
As we mentioned above, your home is a comfortable place for pests to hunker down. It can mean protection from predators and much more agreeable conditions than living outdoors.
But pests are opportunistic creatures, always in search of food for survival. For that reason, food is a major attractant to coming indoors.
Most pests are attracted to sugars, crumbs, and uncovered foods. Cockroaches, ants, and rodents, for example, are attracted to things like dirty dishes in your sink, garbage or pet food left out, and crumbs on the floor.
Even pet food can be an attraction. Many homeowners store pet food in the garage, but keep in mind how close that is to the house. A little bit of spilled pet food in the garage can attract pests that soon find their way inside your home.
And once they do find food, they bring their friends along for the feast. That’s when your pest infestation escalates.
Insect highways in homes — common entry points where pests are entering — need to be identified so you can start taking corrective action.
Some of the most common pest entry points include the following:
Even when closed, they often have enough gaps for tiny pests to slither in. Cracks or gaps, tears in screens, or loose-fitting screens can all become entry points for pests.
Foundation cracks are another entry point for pests, allowing bugs to get inside. Most homeowners also have shrubs and other plants around their foundations, which are common bug hideouts. But it’s not much of a leap for them to travel from their plant home through a crack into your home!
Air, dryer, and attic vents and fans can all be common entry points for insects. These environments can also be dusty and moist, which attracts pests.
If you have a woodpile outside your home, it is another common pest hideout. And if you bring any of that wood inside, bugs might already be living on it.
This is particularly problematic for termites.
We know it’s disturbing to think about, but pests can also come up through plumbing. The last thing you want is to see a pest coming up through your drain… but it can happen! This is more likely in sinks or tubs that might not be frequently used, such as those in a basement.
Crawl spaces tend to be dark and damp, making them very appealing to pests.
Pests can also crawl along utility lines and enter your home that way. Electric and gas lines can become insect highways in homes!
Bugs can enter through the same pest entry points discussed above; it’s just that older homes are more likely to have some of these issues. Older homes simply may have more structural weaknesses, including aging construction materials.
Some reasons pest entry points may be more common in older homes include the following:
Settling: As homes age, they tend to settle. This can make cracks more likely, whether it be in the foundation or the walls themselves.
Aging Construction Materials: As we’ve mentioned, materials can age and deteriorate over time. Many older homes have aging wood that can become a food source for pests like termites.
Older Plumbing: Issues with moisture, drainage, and aging plumbing can also attract more pests to older homes.
Landscaping Near the Home: Older homes tend to have more mature landscaping (sometimes overgrown landscaping). These are common pest hide-outs and might be the source of pest infestations. Trim back trees and shrubs that are touching the home. Also, clean up landscaping debris, such as fallen leaves, around your foundation.
As a homeowner, you can take steps to seal your home to help prevent pests from getting in. Here are a few considerations.
Seal up the windows: Examine your home’s windows, seal cracks, patch torn screens, and ensure there are no gaps.
Seal cracks: Be sure to seal cracks and gaps around the foundation and within your walls. Use a good quality sealant or have this completed by a professional.
Cover outdoor vents: If you have a problem with pests entering through vents, be sure to seal gaps with metal tape and cover the exterior opening with a fine-mesh screen.
Fix leaky pipes: Fixing leaks in your pipes can help keep pests out.
Yes, you can help prevent pests from entering your house, even if you live in an older home and have some of the issues we’ve talked about above.
Sealing up pest entry points will play an essential role in your pest prevention strategy, but it’s not enough on its own. That’s because it would be nearly impossible to seal up every single entry point. Pests can squeeze their flexible bodies through the tiniest of cracks.
Pests can also hitch a ride inside on clothing, packages, and more.
That’s why it’s also essential to implement a professional pest control program that targets pests around your property.
Specifically, at Lawn & Pest Solutions, we prefer an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.
This combines multiple techniques to effectively manage pests.
An IPM approach starts with a thorough inspection, an essential component of the entire strategy. This allows us to identify your insect problems and where they may be coming from.
Once we identify a problem, we can suggest solutions. You are also part of the decision-making process because your preferences factor into your desired outcome and the control strategies you feel comfortable using to reach that outcome.
This differs from a blanket approach: buying a product that can treat multiple pests and applying it everywhere. This is an almost blind approach because you don’t necessarily need to know the pest or its type, or even where it’s coming from. That’s not the most proactive or safest approach.
One critical area where pest control products should be focused is around the perimeter of your home.
Perimeter pest control involves blocking a bug’s entrance into your home by applying a product around the foundation to discourage entry. Regularly maintaining this barrier prevents it from breaking down and helps keep pests out, no matter the season.
You have choices when it comes to pest control in Tupelo, Oxford, and New Albany, MS. Be sure to do your research and look for a company that you feel confident has your best interest at heart.
When searching for the best pest control in Hernando, Olive Branch, Oxford, and Tupelo, MS, Lawn & Pest Solutions wants to be at the top of your list.
At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we offer a full array of professional pest control and lawn care services. This means you don’t have to deal with two companies for these services; you can have one contact to call and one to handle these issues.
During an initial consultation, we want to gather information about your home, landscape, and pest control challenges to prepare a plan that makes the most sense for you.
At the end of the day, we want to help deliver you peace of mind so that you don’t have to stress about pests lurking around your home.
Ready to learn why Lawn & Pest Solutions could be your choice for the best pest control services for your home and landscape in Tupelo, Oxford or New Albany, MS? Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan perfect for you and your home.