You keep up with lawn maintenance. You don’t let your grass get overgrown. You’re safe from pests, right? Actually, you may be missing a few key things that encourage pests to pay a visit. As the saying goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Proactive Pest Control Tips
Keep Your Gutters Clean
The inside of our gutters is not something we typically think about until they’re backed up, and the water flows over the top. However, clogged gutters can not only cause structural damage to your home. They can be a haven for various pests, like female mosquitoes, which need stagnant water to lay their eggs. The most likely culprit for clogged gutters is fall detritus, i.e., dead leaves and other organic matter. If you’ve ever cleaned your gutters yourself, you’ll know how dark and junky they can get. If you allow a lot of time to pass in between gutter cleanings, that stuff you remove from them is essentially compost. It may be good for your garden, but it absolutely doesn’t belong in your gutter. Insects will nest in the gutters, and all that extra weight can cause damage to the fascia.
If you didn’t know, the fascia is the board that runs along the lower edge of the roof and supports the weight of the gutters. When clogged gutters get too heavy, the fascia can pull away and break off from the fascia. If the fascia gets damaged, it can expose vents that lead to your attic or create other openings that allow pests in. Rodents can easily gain access to your attic through these openings. A professional gutter cleaning will restore your gutters and allow them to do what they were designed to do.
Keep Moisture Under Control
Moisture invites not only insects but also pests of the bacterial kind. Fungus needs moist environments to thrive. Female mosquitoes need stagnant water to lay their eggs. Termites are also attracted to moisture. It creates a humid environment where they can thrive. It also makes it easier for them to break down the wood. When you hire Cramer Pest Control, we’ll do a thorough inspection of your property to see if there is a source causing the excess moisture. This includes things like:
- The uneven lawn where water pools easily and does not drain off
- Clogged gutters or gutters that don’t adequately cover the edge of the roof
- Leaky plumbing
- Cracks in the foundation
If you haven’t already done so, two things you can do yourself to avoid moisture problems, and thereby pests, is first to consider getting a dehumidifier for your basement. This will also help prevent mold problems. Secondly, make sure not to overwater your lawn. Grass only needs about 1.5 inches of water a week, and that includes any rainfall.
Keep Vents Clean
Unfortunately, vent cleaning is something that’s done far too infrequently. Like vacuuming behind the stove, it’s something that you probably only do once every decade or so. Cleaning your vents will not only prevent pests but will also improve the air quality of your home. Because ducts are warmer in the winter, they are naturally attracted to bugs looking to come in from the cold. By scheduling a yearly duct cleaning, you can clear out any adult bugs or larvae that may be lurking in your ventilation system. We also can clean your dryer vents, which will prevent pests as well as reduce fire hazards.
Drain Cleaning
It’s difficult to tell when drains are dirty, but once they are, they will attract pests like crazy. As drain sludge builds up from soap, hair, skin oil, food, and other substances, it collects in the drain and stopper. As disgusting as it may sound to us humans, bugs like to use that sludge as a food source and nursery for their eggs. To prevent this, it’s important to keep the drains thoroughly cleaned. It’s easy to tell when you need to clean the tub or vacuum, but most homeowners don’t realize just how dirty the insides of their drains are. But don’t worry! That’s where Cramer Pest Control comes in! We’ll get your drains clean again without causing harm to the plumbing.
Get Pest Control Near Columbia, SC
Cramer Pest Control offers a holistic approach to pest control. We not only treat for existing infestations, but we’ll also identify ways to prevent future ones and offer advice. If you’d like to learn more about our residential pest control program, contact us today! Call (704) 763-0204 for North Carolina or (803) 802-7540 for service in South Carolina. You can also leave us a message online. And don’t forget to check out our blog and Facebook page for more helpful information!