A Guide: What Is The Best Way To Prevent Pest Infestation?

Every year, the tropical storm season takes place in New Jersey roughly between August and early November. With the change in weather comes a myriad of knock-on effects, and one of them is an increase in pests.  Home and business owners suddenly discover that their once pest-free environments are filled with unwelcome critters. The sudden downpours chase insects and pests out of their hiding places and into homes and offices. These dry environments are ideal for pests seeking shelter but having to share your space with them is anything but. Fortunately, there are several steps that you can take to prevent pests from setting up house in your home or offices. To help you weather the storm season pest free, use these helpful tips:

Inspect And Fortify Your Premises

There are no “ifs” when it comes to pests seeking shelter during the storm season. They will invade your living and working spaces. Your first Achilles heel is entry points. Conduct a detailed inspection of your property’s windows, doors, and foundations. If there are any cracks or holes where pests can gain entry, these should be sealed immediately to stop them in their tracks. Thin gaps around doors and windows should get sealed up with silicone or any other caulking agent. If you have larger gaps or holes, you can use expanding foam in a spray can or fine gauge steel wool. Any damaged weather stripping or shingles should get replaced, as should any old wire mesh over air vents. Consider installing chimney caps as well, as they are very effective at keeping pests out. Look at the areas where wiring and utility cables or pipes enter your building. If there are gaps due to weathering, seal these. Don’t forget to keep shrubbery and trees trimmed well away from the building or house. Overhanging bushes and branches are perfect entry pathways for pests. Lastly, it’s vital to keep your stacked woodpile raised on a pallet above the ground and well away from your exterior walls. Woodpiles are hotels for insects and pests.

Making Your Home As Unwelcoming As Possible

Making your home as unattractive to pests is your best form of defense. Start outdoors by checking that your gutters are clear and clean. Piles of debris that collect water, damp, mulch, and other organic matter should be kept clear of your outer walls. Keep your trash cans far away from your home and ensure they have tight-fitting lids. Also, turn off outside lights which attract mosquitoes, moths, and insect-eating creatures. Inside your home and office, it’s crucial that you get rid of all your clutter and that you tidy up properly. All the clutter that you don’t want to get rid of should get stored in plastic containers with well-sealed lids. Always avoid using cardboard boxes for storage as these serve as food for fish moths and other paper-eating insects. All food and pet food should be stored in well-sealed containers. Clean up any spills and overflows immediately and wipe down countertops, sinks, and eating areas regularly. A regular clean under appliances (both big and small) will prevent any moisture or grime build-up. Sweep and vacuum regularly and if you find any leaks in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, or basement, get them repaired. In a nutshell, keep your home and garden as clean as possible as it makes it far less desirable to pests.

Get Rid Of Standing Water

Standing and stagnant puddles of water are the perfect breeding ground for many pests, particularly mosquitoes. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so drying and packing away any containers, buckets or ceramic pots that hold water is always your best bet. If you recycle, make sure your recycling bins have drainage holes. Turn your wheelbarrow over so it doesn’t collect water, and the same goes for any paddling pools or kids’ toys that could collect small pools of water. It’s a good idea to empty your bird bath every evening, and if you have ornamental pools or fountains, aerate them and stock them with fish to feed on mosquitoes. Regularly cleaning your chlorinated swimming pool and making sure water doesn’t collect on your pool cover is also a good move. Remember that mosquitoes can breed in the tiniest amount of standing water, so get rid of it! In every case, prevention is better than cure. 

Eliminating Spoilt Food

With storms come power outages. No power for long periods usually results in food going bad, both in the fridge or freezer. Flies can smell food from miles away, and you certainly want to avoid an infestation of these pathogen-spreading insects. Get rid of all food that’s gone bad as soon as possible, using a well-sealed trash bag. If you’re popping the bag in your trash can remember to keep the can far away from your home.  

Deal With Water Damage

Along with storm damage, water damage can undermine the structural integrity of a building, whether it’s your home or office.  Even worse, is that water damaged wood is like candy to carpenter ants and termites.  Always repair damaged wood and any plumbing leaks that are causing water to collect in one place as soon as possible. If you have a damp basement, dehumidifiers are very effective in getting rid of excess moisture.

Tackle Water-Logged Outdoor Yards

Ants cannot live in flooded underground nests or colonies. You can bet your bottom dollar that if there’s any flooding, they will move to higher ground to seek shelter. If you have a wet yard, make it a priority to eliminate rotting and wet garden debris and to fix all leaky faucets and garden hoses. If you’re building, position the structure on the highest point of your yard. Ideally, your yard should slope away from your foundations.  If you are already in a low-lying home, try to even out dips or depressions in your yard where water can collect during and after a storm.

Contact Twin-Boro For A Helping Hand

As you can see, there are many ways you can prevent an infestation of pests during the storm season. However, we know that sometimes, you can do just about everything and still have an infestation. Pests are notoriously stubborn, and when there are storms and water involved, even more so. If you need a helping hand, contact Twin-Boro. Our pest control experts can ensure that your storm season doesn’t include being plagued by pests.