How to Make Your Home Inhospitable to Pests

Millions of homeowners suffer through the annoyance of dealing with pests inside their homes. If you have noticed an increase of pests in your home, or are just looking for prevention measures, IPM can help. Let IPM Pest & Termite of Lexington, Kentucky, show you a few ways to help make your home inhospitable to pests.

Maintain Plants and Mulch

Make sure your shrubs, tree branches, and other plants are trimmed so that they do not make contact with your home. Plants that touch your home create a bridge for small pests to use that give them easy access to your home. The type of mulch that you use will also have an effect on the level of pest control in your home. Mulch, pine straw, and wood chips that are right against your home could leave to greater pest issues than with other materials.

Seal Openings

Ensure that your home is pest free by making sure that the possible openings into your home are secure. Doors, windows, sidings, roofing, and utility lines are all areas that will need to be checked. Even the tiniest opening can lead to a major pest problem. If you discover any openings make sure these spots are sealed correctly. If pest prevention is your goal, expanding caulk will not be your best choice for repair. Choose fillers like steel wool, mortar, or copper mesh to make it more difficult for pests to chew through.

Lighting Choices

Flying insects are attracted to light. If you have noticed a recent increase in the number of insects surrounding your outdoor lights, changing your lightbulbs is a great decision and bug deterrent. Most outdoor lightbulbs are mercury vapor lights. These lights let off white light that bugs are attracted to. Switch out these lightbulbs with sodium vapor or halogen options, which cast a pink or yellow tint and don’t attract as many insects. If you are installing new lighting in the front of your home, consider keeping light fixtures way from your doors and windows. Install lighting farther away from the house and have it pointing towards the doors and windows to avoid bugs.

Debris Upkeep

The cleaner the inside and outside of your home is, the less chance for bugs to find things to hide and live in. Keep your yard, patio, stoop, and garage free of standing water, garbage, and stored foods. These items will attract bugs and lead to pest problems for your home.

Pest Control

If these tips don’t help with your pest problem in your home, calling in a professional will completely get rid of the problem. Regular bug inspection and preventative treatments will decrease the risk of pests entering your home or get rid of the problem quicker. At IPM Pest & Termite, serving Lexington, Kentucky and the surrounding areas, we specialize in ridding your home of a wide range of pest problems. As a member of Angie’s List with an A+ BBB rating, we can guarantee that our services will meet all of your standards. If you are ready to tackle your home’s pest problem, contact IPM Pest & Termite today!