How to Prevent Common Household Pests

If you’ve ever had to deal with pests, you know it can be a real pain. There are, however, ways to protect your home and prevent pest problems before they occur. Let’s take a look at common ways pests can enter your home, some things you may be doing that attract them, and what you can do to prevent them so you don’t have to deal with them bothering you ever again!

Most pests enter the home through the tiniest cracks or gaps. One of the most common ways is through poorly sealed windows or doors (that includes your garage door) or broken screens. Fun fact, fixing windows and doors is one of Fixer’s top requested projects — so much so that we also created a new maintenance program to help prevent problems before they become more costly repairs. Some things you can do to maintain windows and doors and in turn help keep out unwanted pests are:

Install a Threshold

Aluminum or steel thresholds can be adjusted to close the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor so there is a good seal.

Install a Sweep

A sweep can give added protection since it seals gaps between the bottom of the door and the threshold. You’ll save money on heating and cooling as well as protect against moisture, dust, and insects. Opt for nylon rather than vinyl or neoprene options for best results!

Re-caulk Frames

Sealing up any remaining gaps around the frame is a good idea to really prevent any lingering areas bugs can enter.

Repair Screens

Making sure screens are intact and free from any rips or tears is a really important defense against various bugs.

Another common entry point is through cracks and passages in the foundation or perimeter of the home. Some particularly vulnerable areas include where cables, heating, or plumbing lines run into your home. These lines run not only through the outside walls, but through the inside ones as well, making it important to seal both areas to ensure pests are not getting in.

Other large openings like chimneys can also be a common point of entry and while you can’t exactly seal it up you can prevent bugs and other pests by covering the openings with screens or hardwire cloth. Also, be sure to check and inspect areas regularly that vent to the outside, like the dryer or fan exhaust, to ensure they remain intact and are functioning properly.

Now let’s take a look at some things you may be unknowingly doing that attract pests. Eliminating certain conditions in and around your home that appeal to pests will help to reduce the attraction that brings them in.

Food & Clutter

Bugs and other pests love to have food to eat and a place to hide. Reducing and removing clutter as much as possible and cleaning regularly will disrupt any area where pests may consider making a home. Cleaning up any crumbs and debris that may have been a potential food source will also make your home far less appealing. Making sure to store any pantry foods in a resealable bag/container is also a good idea.

Trash & Recyclables

Refrain from throwing food trash in other wastebaskets around the house. Instead, try to just use the kitchen one to ensure waste is getting removed properly and often. Rinsing out your recyclable containers before placing them into the bin and making sure both the trash & recyclable bins have tight-fitting lids is another thing you can do to be proactive. Also, if possible, store these bins outside rather than in your garage!

Yard & Landscaping

The fewer pests you have living outside of your home, the fewer pest issues you will have inside, which is why it is important to maintain your grass and landscaping. Any poorly maintained yard with overgrown trees, grass, or shrubbery, as well as certain types of plants or flowers, will create a sanctuary for pests. Standing water is also one of the most common problems, as it encourages mosquitoes to breed. Making sure to mow grass regularly, rake and remove leaves often, trim shrubbery back where it touches the home, and remove any standing water will all help keep pests at bay.

No home will ever be perfectly sealed to avoid an occasional bug every now and again. After all, we are all opening doors and windows throughout the year as seasons change. Hopefully, this post will help you put some preventative measures in place and avoid potential problems, especially if you already have issues with mice, ants, fruit flies, or other common household pests.