4 Easy Ways to Keep Pests Away this Fall
During the fall season, we welcome to tend to appreciate the presence of leaves, acorns and spooky beings. While the beautiful colors of the leaves might make you smile and creatures like skeletons, vampires and ghosts are fun, creepy-crawlers such as spiders and mice are never wanted nor guests. To stop insects and rodents from crashing Halloween parties, instruct your clients on these pest prevention guidelines. After all, their house should be decorated in fake cobwebs — not real ones!
Take Care of the Gaps and Spaces
Over time, it is common for gaps and spaces to form between windows and window frames at varying rates. These spaces are caused by differing expansion and contraction rates of various materials at varying temperatures. Homeowners should remember to apply caulk to these window gaps, and to any gaps in attic vents in order to avoid unwanted visitors. It is also wise to install new weatherstripping around doors. This shield around the home may keep insects and rodents out as well as potentially improve the home’s energy efficiency in the cold weather.
Inspect the Trees Around Your House
Trees around the perimeter of a house can act as a welcome mat for raccoons, skunks, and mice. Make sure that no tree branches touch the house, especially on the roof, as animals love to climb from branches and enter homes. Also, insects congregate near woodpiles and shrubs, so keeping a distance between the home and woodpiles and shrubs makes bugs less likely to travel into the house.
Use Chemicals if Necessary
It is recommended that homeowners protect their home by spreading an insecticide along the foundation of their house. It is best to spray a couple of feet from the ground up and a couple of feet from the foundational wall. Either a liquid spray or a granular insecticide can be used to help combat the bugs around a house’s perimeter. Make sure that they trust a professional to implement pesticides with chemicals that are not harmful to people or pets. Trick-or-treaters would certainly appreciate the effort.
Inspect the Roof (Including the Chimney)
Because mice can easily climb brick walls and enter a house through the chimney, recommend that your clients install chimney caps or a metal cover secured on top. Not only could this prevent unwelcome critters from infesting a home, but it could also block autumn leaves from falling into the chimney and posing a fire hazard.
Do not let all the hard work go to waste. You should stay vigilant and close all garage doors, windows and screen doors at night. If unwanted creatures still find a way to the home, the best plan may be to banish them with traps or poisons. However, since it is much easier and cheaper to prevent pests from entering in the first place, be sure your clients follow these guidelines to keep their home protected. This Halloween, they will have the house that spooks trick-or-treaters with freaky decorations, not with terrifying critters.