Fall Pest Prevention Tips For Maine Homeowners
How to keep your Maine home pest-free this fall and winter
Nobody wants to share their home with mice or other pets, especially during the long, cold winter. Unfortunately, it happens and quite frequently especially in older homes that have lots of openings that opportunistic pests use to enter. Of course, newer homes are not exempt from insect and rodent issues and so with that in mind, our pest control company has put together a few of our top fall pest prevention tips.
Outdoor pest prevention
Let’s start outside since that’s where the majority of pest problems originate. In order to keep pests out where they belong, we recommend:
Sealing all cracks and crevices on the exterior of the house including areas where utilities enter the dwelling.
Repairing larger holes at the roofline or elsewhere on the outside of the house.
Screening attic and dryer vents as well as replacing or repairing window screens.
Replacing weather-stripping around doors and windows.
Installing a new gutter system or replacing damaged gutters and making sure that downspouts divert water away from the foundation.
Keeping firewood out of the home (except for what you are going to use for the day) and off the porch or deck. In fact, woodpiles should be at least 20 feet away from your home and up off the ground.
Feeding pets indoors rather than outside. If that’s not an option, be sure to pick up food and water bowls as soon as a meal is complete.
Cutting back tree branches so they don’t touch the roof and trimming shrubs and bushes so that there’s a good amount of space between the landscape elements and your home.
Indoor pest prevention
Another critical element of pest prevention is practicing good housekeeping and modifying your indoor environment. To do that, we suggest:
Eliminating moisture problems from the crawl space or basement all the way up to the attic and in the garage. Since moisture is a huge draw for most pests, keeping these areas dry and well-ventilated is crucial.
Replacing water damaged wood under sinks, behind bathroom appliances, and any other spot.
Keeping your kitchen immaculate. That means counters and floors clean, storing food in airtight containers, emptying the trash can often, and never leaving dirty dishes in the sink for any length of time and especially not overnight.
Reducing clutter (i.e., places to hide) in the garage, attic, closets, anywhere you store belongings.
Using durable storage containers with lids to house your Christmas decorations, summer clothes, and other stored items.
Inspecting your deliveries, groceries, and other items you routinely bring inside from outdoors or from some place else.
Partner with a pest control company
If it’s too late and you’re already dealing with a single pest or multiple, contact the local pest control team at Advanced Pest Solutions. With over 30 years of industry experience and a dedication to implementing techniques that follow an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, we are ready to help you get rid of mice and other pests that have made their way into your home.
Offering home pest control services in Lewiston, Augusta, and Manchester as well as throughout central and coastal Maine, you can rely on us to take care of existing pest issues and stop new ones from occurring.