Regardless of your commitment to keeping the linens fresh and the landscape tidy, no home is completely safe from pest infestations and will require pest control at some point. Fortunately, regular inspections of a few common “hot spots” should keep flies, mice, cockroaches and bed bugs out of your home. Here’s a handy guide for preventing and detecting pest infestations in your Staten Island, NY, home.
Know what to look for
Before you can inspect your home for signs of a pest infestation, you need to know what to look out for. Here is a basic checklist that includes some of the tell-tale signs of pest infestation:
- The first thing to look out for is damage or debris that might have been caused by insects or animals.
- Look for food debris and unsealed containers that may serve as a tantalizing treat to unwelcome pests.
- Holes and crevices near windows and doors make good entry points for pests and should also be noted.
- Pests also prefer a warm, food-filled entry into the home and any mulch or vegetation near the home may pose a threat.
- Any stagnant water near the home also serves as an invitation to mosquitoes.
- Look out for any old nests, as insects like wasps tend to return to old nests.
Know where to look
Different sections of your home and yard have different functions, atmospheres and climates. Therefore, you are more likely to find certain pests in specific areas of your home and hardscape. Here is another quick checklist including some of the common “pest hot-spots” that should be inspected:
- The kitchen commonly houses cockroaches, flies and rodents. Look out for these unwelcome guests in storage areas, your waste disposal, underneath equipment and in the ceiling.
- Laundry rooms can be infested by rodents and cockroaches.They are commonly found behind large laundry machines and where towels and linen are stored.
- Your pool is a haven for mosquitoes, wasps, bees and cockroaches. Look for these pests in and around the pool deck, especially near surrounding vegetation.
- Bedrooms are commonly plagued by bed bugs, ants and cockroaches. Mattresses, headboards, carpets, ceiling fixtures and any adjoining bathrooms are prime spots for these pests.
- Outdoor waste disposal areas and dumpsters are frequented by rodents, flies, ants and – once again – cockroaches! While the presence of pests around your dumpsters is somewhat inevitable, there are preventative measures – like sanitizing garbage cans regularly and keeping them as far from the home as possible – which will help to prevent the spread of those pests into the home.
Related: Top 4 Reasons Why You Need to Sign Up for Pest Control Services in Huntington, NY
Act fast
Address any vulnerable spots within your home using some of the following preventative measures:
- Have any holes and crevices in the walls filled up.
- Ensure that all the containers in your kitchen are properly sealed and store dry foods away from the walls and floor.
- Trim the vegetation around your home.
- Eliminate any sources of stagnant water, particularly from heavy rain or near the pool.
- Have any water leaks repaired and ensure that all drains are thoroughly cleaned.
- Have any wasp nests on your property removed.
- Have the areas behind kitchen appliances and laundry machines sealed.
- Ensure that your bedroom is regularly cleaned to keep it free from food debris and excess moisture. Consider opting for lightly colored sheets in order to make any rust-colored stains, indicative of bed bugs, more noticeable.
Once you’ve identified some of the tell-tale signs of pest infestation, it’s time to call in a professional pest control service, such as Biotech Termite & Pest Control. A Biotech Termite & Pest Control professional will also be able to conduct a regular inspection of your home and property.