Blog
Fall Pest Proofing Tips For Your Maryland Home
11/5/13
Fall is a very important time of year to make sure that your home is properly protected against pests. In the fall months as the days become shorter and the weather becomes much cooler, many common household bugs will try to find shelter indoors to overwinter. If you do not take the proper steps to pest proof your Maryland home and get help with fall pest control, you will find pests in your house and needing to deal with the headaches that come with them. Common fall pests that are found in Maryland include:
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Spiders
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Lady Bugs
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Stink bugs
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Ants
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Mice
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Rats
Having pests in your home is not only a nuisance but can be can also be dangerous to the structure of your home and cause health issues for your and family. Rodents like mice and rats may enter in your home and cause structural damage to your home like chewing through wires, pipes, structural wood, and insulation. They can contaminate your food and food prep areas with their urine and feces and introduce bacteria and disease like Salmonella. Spiders may also enter your home and hide in closets, basements, and attic areas and leave unsightly webs throughout your home; they are also difficult to find and eliminate. Stink bugs in your home, along with lady bugs, and ants can also be very hard to get rid of from your home without professional Maryland or D.C. pest control. They can invade your kitchen, bathroom, basement and attic areas causing damage to your personal property and contaminate your food.
As a homeowner, the best way to control fall pests is with professional help and a year round pest control program. But in addition, there are some fixes that you can make around your home in order to help prevent an invasion. Fall pest prevention tips for common pests include:
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Sealing areas around the exterior of your home that may allow pest inside- your homes’ foundation, exterior walls, and gaps around windows and doors.
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Storing your outdoor trash cans away from the exterior of your home and making sure that they have a tight fitting lid.
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Making sure that your gutters are clean and that water is being directed away from your home. Areas of moisture around your home will attract pests.
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In the kitchen, clean up spills and crumbs immediately and store food in sealed containers, the refrigerator, or freezer. Do not store food on your counters.
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Keep storage areas like basements and attics as clutter free as possible, having fewer areas for pests to hide will deter them or make their presence soon known.
While there are many projects that you can accomplish around your home on your own pest control should not be on that DIY list. If the pesticides are not mixed or used properly they can be very dangerous for you, your children and pets to be around. Also, if you are not using the correct pesticide for the job, your pest problems will just persist and could get worse over time. The best way to prevent and handle issues with fall pests is with professional pest control. Professionals will be able to inspect for and successfully treat for fall pests along with helping with prevention of future pest infestations.
For all of your pest control needs in Maryland, D.C. or surrounding areas, contact American Pest today!