Living side by side with bugs of all sorts, it’s inevitable that the creepy crawlers will make their way to your house. Most bugs are harmless annoyances, to both you and your home. But some, like carpenter bees that chew away at wood siding, and mosquitoes, that cause pain and can carry harmful diseases, need to be discouraged from nearing you and your property.
There is no set schedule for when you should treat the exterior and interior of your home, but many pest control products have a short – term preventative effect – anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
As part of your plan to thwart insect invasion, it’s important to know what conditions to avoid.
- Clogged, water and leaf – filled gutters, as well as downspouts that create pools too near the house.
- Damp crawl spaces and low – sitting decks that create moisture pockets.
- Untreated wood siding will draw boring bees during warmer months.
- Untreated pets can carry ticks, fleas and mites into your home.
- Trees that are near the house make jumping from limb to roof a breeze for roaches and beetles.
Mosquitoes can be a particularly painful nuisance. There are several things you can do to discourage mosquitoes from breeding near your home and to prevent bites.
- Eliminate standing water in flower pots, swimming pool covers and buckets. Bird baths, ponds and swimming pools can have filters and drips to keep the water fresh.
- If you open your windows to let in spring and summer air, be sure they are screened to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.
- Avoid wearing sweet fragrances and floral prints when outdoors.
- If you’re spending substantial time outside, use a bug repellent with DEET.
For most people, bugs are no fun. It’s important to have a termite prevention plan in place, as most homeowner’s insurance don’t cover termite damage. Although you can thwart the progress of pests on your own – several products are available at retail stores to assist you –it’s a good idea to contact a local professional. He or she can help you gauge your pest problem and put a quarterly prevention plan in place.
