Bug proofing your home or apartment is important to avoid damages, inconvenience, and discomfort. Some bugs cause wood damage while others are vectors for dangerous illnesses.
Bug proofing requires a combination of strategies: remove attractants, seal access points, and implement preventative measures. Without a thorough plan, pest management efforts may not be as effective.
Pests only need the width of a coin to enter. Install door sweeps for gaps underneath. Use weather stripping for sides/above. Seal frame cracks with caulking.
Install hydraulic self-closing hinges so doors left open will close on their own. Or use magnetic mesh screen doors as backup.
Inspect all windows and sliding doors. Replace torn screens. Use 20-mesh or finer to prevent most common household insects.
Check bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages. Seal with waterproof sealant. Use expanding foam for large gaps.
Seal cracks in foundations, support beams, framing, and any other part of the home that pests could use.
All pests need water. Even the smallest leak or condensation buildup can sustain a growing infestation.
Pet Note: Cats and dogs can carry fleas and ticks. Keep pets cleaned and maintained to reduce the likelihood of unwanted bloodsuckers.
free quote to identify problem areas and entry points.
Call (866) 326-2847Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes hide in tall grass. Cut short to minimize hiding spaces and expose burrowing rodent damage.
Trim tree limbs to remove dense foliage and dead wood. Thin bushes and shrubs to remove ground pest coverage.
Clear leaves, grass clippings, branches, weeds. Keep pet droppings cleaned up as dog waste attracts flies and beetles.
Mosquitoes need only a bottle cap of water to lay hundreds of eggs. Check bird baths, clogged drains, gutters, fountains.
Use wire mesh screening or vent covers. Rodents can chew through soft metals and hard plastics. Cover chimney vents too.
Keep exterior trash in sealed receptacles away from exterior walls. Trash cans are the holy grail for all pest types.
Seal cracks. Check for mud tubes (subterranean termite sign). Noticing tubes before they reach your home stops damage early.
Use bird feeders and bat boxes. Implement exclusion tactics so predators help with bugs but do not become pests themselves.
The final step: apply residual pesticide spray around the exterior perimeter. This creates a barrier that infects insects on contact, causing them to die before they can cause an infestation. Reapply semi-regularly to maintain effectiveness.
If bug proofing is still not effective and pests are becoming a problem, enlist the help of a qualified pest control team. EcoGuard Pest Management provides free pest inspections to identify problematic areas and determine the correct course of action. We use an integrated pest management approach to leverage multiple treatment options. Call today to schedule an appointment.
An exterior perimeter application of residual pesticides can be applied around a home. This stays active after application and infects insects on contact, causing them to die.
Many bugs can be deterred by removing what they need: food, water, and shelter. If these can be removed from an area, bugs are much less likely to find resources to survive.
Install plant types that discourage bugs, create an environment that encourages natural predators like birds, eliminate harborage areas, and remove food sources.
