A good pest control plan will not only address issues with any existing infestations, but it will also allow you to prevent future infestations. The most effective residential pest management plans will consist of three important steps. Continue reading to learn more about each of these steps.
Step #1: Eliminate Things That Will Attract Pests To Your Home
The first thing you will need to do in order to help prevent future pest problems is to make your home less attractive to pests. This can be accomplished by eliminating access to food and water sources in and near your home. Moving garbage cans several feet from your home, eliminating standing water, and storing dry foods in airtight containers are all great ways to accomplish this goal.
In addition to taking away the food and water supplies that will often attract pests to your home, you may also want to take steps to actively repel certain pests. For instance, if you find that you are battling ants on a frequent basis, choosing to plant mint around your yard can help to keep these particular pests at bay.
Step #2: Close Off Any Potential Entry Points
No matter how attractive your home may be to a pest, this will not matter if the pest is unable to find an entry point into your home. That is why an effective pest management system will include measures to make your home less accessible to pests. This includes sealing off cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and pipes. You will also want to trim any tree branches, bushes, or other plants that hang over your home since these plants can often provide an easy access point from your yard to your home.
Step #3: Have Your Home Professionally Inspected Regularly
One of the most important things for you to understand about household pests is that by the time you see evidence of pests in your home, there is a good chance that you are actually dealing with a full-blown infestation. This is because household pests are very good at hiding since their survival often depends upon their ability to move about undetected.
While you may not be able to notice the early signs of a pest problem, a professional exterminator will be able to spot the signs in their earliest stages. That is why you should always include professional inspections as part of your residential pest management system. This will ensure that any pests that do make their way into your home are quickly dealt with before they can breed or potentially cause property damage.
Contact a pest control company near you for more information about residential pest management.
