How To Prevent Pests

10 Effective Pest Prevention Tips + Infographic

Mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, ants, and more can be a nuisance and cause damage in homes and businesses. They can also transmit dangerous diseases and other health problems to people.

Preventing pests from becoming a problem in the first place is easier than trying to get rid of them once they’ve moved in.

Here are 10 of the best ways to deter and prevent pests in both residential and commercial buildings.

1. Seal Up Holes and Cracks

One of the main ways that pests enter structures is through small holes or cracks in the foundation, walls, roofs, windows, doors and more. Take time to walk around the interior and exterior of your home or building and seal up any holes, gaps or cracks with caulk, plaster, cement or other patching materials.

Pay special attention around outdoor pipes and wires that enter the structure. Even tiny entry points you can barely see can be enough for mice and insects to squeeze through.

Sealing openings denies them access and deters them from attempting to get in.

2. Install Door Sweeps and Weather Stripping

Doors that don’t close tightly or have gaps underneath them allow pests inside, especially crawling insects like ants, earwigs and cockroaches.

Install door sweeps made of rubber or brush bristles at the base of exterior doors to seal the gap between the door and threshold or floor. Make sure thresholds are tight fitting as well. Additionally, weather stripping around doors stops air gaps that they use as entryways.

Consider adding screens behind outdoor vents, appliance exhausts and large openings like pet doors too. This further barricades bug while still allowing ventilation and use.

3. Remove Exterior Food and Water Sources

Anything outside that offers source of food or water encourages them to stick around and try to find ways indoors for shelter. Get rid of sources like pet food bowls, overflowing trash cans, fallen fruit from trees, standing puddles of water, condensation from AC units and more.

Fix leaky outdoor faucets or kitchen drains. Enclosed compost piles also cuts off access and breeding ground.

Removing what attracts them outdoors reduces the numbers attempting to sneak their way inside where food and water may be more plentiful.

4. Store Food Properly in Sealed Containers

Pests feed on a wide variety of human food inside homes and food establishments. Store all food properly in airtight, sealed containers like screw-top glass, hard plastic or metal jars, or resealable bags and containers.

Avoid cardboard boxes, paper and soft plastic bags that rodents can easily chew into. Clean up all crumbs and spills as they happen too. Dirty dishes and surfaces covered in food debris give them an open buffet.

Proper storage and cleaning denies them easy meals.

5. Take Out the Trash Regularly

Letting trash build up overflowing containers offers a desirable spot for a variety of pests to gather looking for scraps to eat. Get in the habit of taking garbage out daily or every other day to control it before it piles up.

Use bins with tight fitting lids indoors and out to contain odors and spills. Use outdoor cans that lock lids down too for areas with large pest populations.

The less accumulation of waste, the better.

6. Control Landscaping and Plants Around Structures

Certain types of landscape materials, plants and yard debris located too close to buildings give pests places to establish nests, breed and hide.

Avoid using thick layers of mulch that rodents and termites burrow under. Remove stacks of firewood up against exterior walls that they nest behind. Cut back tree branches and bushes that touch the house serving as bridges.

Always rake up grass clippings, fallen leaves, needles and more that make cozy homes if left laying about. A cleared area around structures forces them to live farther out in yards and gardens instead of sneaking directly inside.

7. Install Repellent Plants Around Foundations

Using plants, herbs and flowers known to control pests planted closely around homes establishes a sort of defensive perimeter repelling them from going further.

Natural repellents like mint, lavender, chrysanthemum, marigolds, garlic, onion, thyme, lemon balm and more are safe to the environment. These solutions make yards less welcoming through strong scents, textures and emissions given off naturally underground as well.

Research exact species depending on target insects or rodents needing control in a particular area.

8. Apply Outdoor Pesticide Sprays and Granules

Applying chemical pest control products along the exterior perimeter of buildings provides an additional line of defense stopping creepy crawlies attempting to work their way inside.

Use fast-acting sprays and longer-lasting granules or pellets specifically targeting troublesome regional varieties like ants, roaches, fleas, ticks, beetles, mice and more. Tactically apply around foundation walls, under siding edges, fence lines, eaves, storage sheds, garages and other outbuildings frequented by nuisance creatures.

Always follow directions on pesticides carefully and reapply as directed on packaging.

9. Install Physical Barriers and Deterrents

For persistent pest issues, actual physical barriers offer a guaranteed blockade preventing access. Fine steel mesh added around foundation vents blocks insects yet still allows airflow. Wire mesh caps on chimney flues keep out unwanted wildlife intruders.

Gravel beds around basement window wells stop burrowing rodents from digging further and entering through wells into homes. Commercial electronic devices also use ultrasonic frequencies, electromagnetic waves and flashing lights to drive away type of pests.

Results vary depending on exact pest control device and species targeted.

10. Contact Pest Control Professionals When Needed

For severe pest infestation or problematic species not easily deterred with standard do-it-yourself prevention, contact pest control experts for inspection. They evaluate conditions, identify exact varieties and quantities involved and implement customised treatment plans for eliminating current infiltrations plus ongoing preventative pest management.

Consider periodic preventive appointments even when issues seem minor to catch and control invaders before major headaches develop.

Addressing problems early is key.

In conclusion, deterring and blocking access stops home and building pests before infestations get out of hand.

Apply multiple integrated prevention methods for best results. With vigilant effort to keep areas less welcoming, common pests seek alternative shelter and food sources away from structures.

Stay diligent in order to successfully safeguard homes and workplaces.