Pest control is an ongoing process that requires cooperating with a professional to ensure your home remains free of unwanted guests. Insects, rodents, and other pests are more than a mere nuisance. They can spread diseases through their droppings and their bites. However, taking steps to keep your home free of pests will help you keep your family healthy and safe.

4 Pest Control Actions to Help Protect Your Home

1. Seal Entry Points

You should tour your home once or twice a year to look for exposed crevices, holes, and other entry points.  By sealing up these access points, you will help save on your home’s energy usage, while also limiting the access that pests have. Materials that can seal up these areas include caulk, copper mesh, and liquid cement. Look for holes and crevices around door and window frames, dryer vents, HVAC units, and plumbing pipes.

2. Close Your Chimney

When your fireplace is not in use, the chimney is an ideal entry point for birds, rodents, and flying insects. Pest control professionals recommend getting a damper for the top of your chimney. This device opens and closes mechanically, so you can close off a chimney that’s not in use.  When closed, the damper significantly limits the access that pests have to your home.

3. Maintain the Home’s Exterior 

An exterminator can better do their job if you’re not creating a welcoming atmosphere for pests. This process starts with maintaining your lawn and keeping shrubbery and plants trimmed. If you must stock wood on your property for your fireplace, you should ask your pest removal professional for tips on reducing the chances of infestations. This precaution will help avoid bringing wood into the home that contains hibernating insects.

4. Inspect Your Roof

There are a few reasons to conduct regular roof inspections. You’ll spot damage earlier and be able to remove debris that would otherwise cause harm to the roof. By removing debris, you’ll make the roof unwelcome to insects, birds, and rodents. Leaves in the gutters or gathered on the roof are inviting homes for squirrels, chipmunks, and other pests, so keeping the roof and eaves clean is crucial.

While these suggestions help reduce the likelihood of a pest infestation, you should also hire the services of a pest control expert. Leitchfield Exterminating will provide your home with regular treatments so that pests won’t seek shelter on your property. If you do have pests, they’ll treat the issue quickly and thoroughly to ensure the critters don’t return. To learn more about their pest removal services, visit their website. Call (270) 234-1295 to request service.