A pest infestation is a nuisance for any homeowner, whether it’s spiders, rats, or cockroaches. These critters can eat your food, damage your home, and carry disease. Pests can be difficult to get rid of once they have nestled into your home, which is why it’s crucial to work with a residential pest control company. To help keep pests out, follow the tips below.

How to Prevent Pests From Nestling in Your House

1. Seal Doors & Windows

Pests often explore their surroundings to find new sources of food. If they smell food in your home, they’ll wander around your property until they find an opening. The easiest way for them to come in is through gaps in the doors and windows. Seal any cracks you find in door and window frames with caulk. Make sure all window screens are securely in place and replace old, damaged, or missing weatherstripping.

2. Check Your Attic & Crawlspaces

Rodents and bugs like to establish their nests in secluded places, especially attics and crawlspaces. They can enter these spaces through holes in your roof or your chimney. Seal openings by installing chimney caps and placing a crawlspace vapor barrier.

3. Fix Leaks

Pests of all kinds are attracted to water. When your plumbing leaks, pests such as ants, roaches, rats, and termites can follow the constant stream of water. Identify any leaks under your bathroom and kitchen sinks, in the basement near the washing machine, and outdoors near the sprinkler or hose. Repair all leaks right away to keep pests at bay.

4. Examine Containers 

When mice find open containers filled with food, they may either nestle in to eat as much as they can or create a path to the open container for future digging. Before putting containers away, inspect them for droppings or unusual smells. Keep pet food, cereal, pasta, and oatmeal in sealed plastic containers to prevent them from being an attraction to mice and rats.

5. Trim Plants & Trees Near Your House

Ants, spiders, and other insects use nearby shrubs and branches as a handy walkway to reach your walls and roof where they make their way inside. For ultimate residential pest control, trim up bushes and trees so they’re at least a foot from your home. Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your house, since it can harbor all kinds of vermin.

If pests have nestled in your walls, basement, or roof, the team at Safeguard Pest Control will inspect the affected areas and provide a solution. Since 1979, they’ve served California’s Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, and Tuolumne counties. They remove a variety of pests, including spiders, wasps, and ants, as well as provide gopher control solutions. To schedule an appointment with this residential pest control professional, call (209) 267-1200 or visit them online to browse their services.