While the above mentioned measures will help with your pest problems, you should recruit the help of a professional pest control team to take 100% charge of any pest-situation. A professional team will take care of your home’s health and ensure your family’s wellness. Book a house check-up today!
How to Keep Your Home Moisture Free
Who wants to provide lodging for insects and pests in their own home?
Nobody! So why not just work on the areas of your house that are humid and have excessive moisture?
Keeping your home moisture-free will force pests to search for a new home with a better water supply.
Why? Just like humans, pests require a constant water supply for survival. Hence excess moisture in dark and dingy areas of a house attracts pests.
Not only that, it can also result in fungi and mold growth which damages aesthetic and functional aspects of your house.
The Following Indicate That You Have Excessive Moisture Problems:
Floors are uneven or sunken in parts
Floorboards squeak
Crumbling masonry or bricks
Flooring separated from the baseboard
Musty smell
Cracked tile flooring
Notice any of these signs of moisture around you? If so, it is time to take action. Let the experts examine your home for pest infestation
Indoor Moisture Control
Controlling moisture in your home is the key to keeping unwanted guests far, far away! We’ve listed ways you can accomplish this here:
Sump Pumps
First of all, a sump pump if you live near a flood zone. Sump pumps remove water in order to keep areas, such as crawl spaces, dry and free of standing water.
Encapsulations
It is also important to encapsulate your crawl space when needed. Crawl space encapsulations cover the surface entirely with plastic to reduce moisture levels. This process compliments sump pumps and dehumidifiers. A proper encapsulation involves sealing off the foundation vents and air flow, applying the vapor barrier up the foundation walls while leaving 6-8 inch termite inspection gap, and finally covering 100% of the crawl space floor.
Vents
Don’t forget to keep up on regular maintenance of your home’s foundation vents. Open them in spring and close them in fall. Also, make sure to replace these vents as needed to fortify your home from problematic moisture.
Vapor Barriers
No moisture control plan is complete without a vapor barrier. Install vapor barriers around the wall, and crawl space floor, to aid in condensation prevention and excessive moisture. Vapor barriers are the first line of defense in preventing moisture from rising from the soil and entering the air in the crawl space. A vapor barriers purpose is to trap the moisture and humidity and prevent it from entering the atmosphere of the crawl space.
Borate treatment
Another effective method involves treating the structural wood to kill and prevent wood destroying fungi from forming. Borate treatments will kill mold, termites, and fungi which could destroy wood if left untreated. Certain borate products like Bora-Care, last for life of the wood. This means 30, 40 even 50 years later borate insecticides will still be present. This service is the most complete termite prevention option to date.
Use a Dehumidifier
You must constantly monitor the humidity levels of your house. Ideally, the humidity level inside your crawl space should be between 30-50%. Anything above this will cause wood destroying fungi to form and creates a conducive conditions for termites to thrive. Installing a dehumidifier will help lower the humidity level, control and monitor the humidity in the crawl space and prevent wood destroying fungi from forming and causing structural damage.
How to Prevent Pests from Entering Your Home
It’s not enough to take precautions inside your home. You also need to consider all the open spaces that invite them to walk in easily.
Here is how to control those areas of your home:
Seal the Gaps
Seal all the gaps in every corner of the house, including the garage, attic, or cellar. Pests like bugs and mice can easily slip in through these gaps so be sure to conceal and cover them. You can stuff copper mesh inside and over the gap with the help of a screwdriver.
Keep Firewood Away from Your House
Although it’s a crucial winter staple, firewood can attract a lot of pests. It is best to store firewood at least 20 feet away from your house.
Trim the Bushes and Plants that Brush Against Your House
There must be at least 3 inches of clear space between your house and any vegetation. Make sure that you trim all the greens before they provide the pests passage inside to your personal living space.
Install a Chimney Cap
Usually people forget to cover up their chimneys. This often invites birds and rodents to take residence in those dark corners. Never forget to cover the chimney!
Repair Torn Screens
Inquisitive summer pests barge in through torn door and window screens. Simple maintenance will better protect against the pests.
Keep the Trash Away
Trash bins attract ants, rodents, and insects. Storing garbage in the kitchen invites pests inside. This is clearly not healthy!
A Little Cleaning is all you Need
Clean every corner of your house regularly. Make sure that you do not keep any clutter around. Household clutter is the perfect hiding place for all kinds of pests and harmful micro-organisms. Vacuum, dust, and clean regularly.
Grooming Your Pests is Necessary
Make sure that you bathe your pets daily so that their thick fur doesn’t become a carrier for pests. Use tick and flea treatments to make sure your pets are squeaky clean and pest-free!
Place Sprinklers Away from Your House
When sprinklers are close to your home, they will keep your garden filled with water but also attract pests.
