Most cockroaches are introduced into the home by being carried in. The thing to remember about pests is that they need warmth, food, and water to survive. That said, you need to take extra precautions to make sure you’re not providing a way to carry them into your home.
It’s really important that you do that because cockroaches can carry diseases like salmonella and mice can transmit a really dangerous disease known as leptospirosis. What’s more, all of the mistakes that people make that inadvertently allow pests into their homes, businesses, and warehouses in one way or another provide pests with warmth and protection against the elements or a steady supply of food and water.
By taking a few simple steps you can significantly reduce the odds that your home is seen as an oasis for pests like mice, cockroaches, or ants, among other annoying pests. Consider these top five mistakes that invite pests into your home that you should make sure to avoid.
1. Waiting to Fix Torn Screens and Openings
One of the most egregious mistakes that people make when it comes to allowing pests into their homes is putting off screen repair or not weatherstripping their homes. Make sure to use caulk or cement to fill in any gaps along your home’s exterior. You might even need to make a quick audit of the outside of your home to see where you might be vulnerable.
Here’s where enlisting the help of a pest control specialist can really pay off since they know what to look for and how best to deal with different kinds of pests. A pest control specialist will look for signs of mosquitoes (in stagnant water), termites and carpenter ants (holes in wood logs out back), or mice (signs of nibbling or droppings) and develop an appropriate plan of action.
2. Forgetting to Seal and Stow Food Away
One way that New England homeowners allow pests into their homes is by leaving food on the counter or failing to seal food properly by putting it in a tupperware and stowing it out of sight. Even garbage that’s not put inside a secure metal or plastic container outside the home can be an invitation for raccoons, possums, and other pests. Raccoons are especially omnivorous, or what you might call equal-opportunity feeders.
3. Eliminate Moist Areas
Leaking pipes under the sink or clogged drains in the basement can be the perfect breeding ground for a host of pests, including cockroaches. Try to eliminate these sources of water and moisture as best you can. In your backyard, also try to overturn stagnant pools of water (birdbaths, etc.) that you think could be harboring mosquito larvae.
4. Trim Bushes and Properly Store Firewood
Termites and carpenter ants love munching down on firewood log piles that you might have waiting around in your backyard. Ideally, you could store your firewood in a shed, but where that’s not possible, consider storing your firewood at least 30 feet from your house to lower the chances that termites and carpenter ants eventually threaten your home’s foundation. Trimming bushes around your home is also a good way to keep ticks from causing issues. Ticks can transmit harmful diseases like Lyme disease and Q fever along with a number of known viruses.
5. Putting Off Effective Pest Control
Once you’re hit with an infestation, it may be too late. Bain Pest Control’s home protection plan and quality C.A.R.E. commercial plan can keep you protected around the clock. Get pest control handled before an infestation starts. Contact Bain Pest Control today.