Some people are afraid of bugs, while others are captivated by them. However, the majority of people will agree that insects have no place in the home. From the buzz of a fly to the irritating bite of a mosquito, they not only cause filthy circumstances, but they’re also just plain annoying. Fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks can transmit diseases to pets and humans, while bees, wasps, and scorpions can sting and produce painful stings. Even the ordinary cockroach, especially in children, can trigger allergies and asthma attacks.
With around 10 quintillion bugs on the planet (that’s 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000! ), bug-proofing the house can feel like a hopeless battle at times. Fortunately, once you know what draws bugs to your home, you may start making changes that will help you get rid of them permanently.
Insects, like people, require food, water, and shelter in order to thrive. You may lessen the likelihood of insects taking up residence in your home by reducing their food source and eliminating their favorite hiding places. Of course, keeping pests out completely is the greatest approach to avoid infection. You’ll need to fill up the cracks and holes in your home’s exterior to accomplish this. You may considerably improve your chances of remaining bug-free by tightening up the entry points that insects use to gain access.
Are you ready to begin? Continue reading to find out how some basic door hardware can help you start bug-proofing your home.
5: Keep Large Openings Covered
A hole in your roof can let all the bugs in, as well as larger invaders, into your home.
A hole in your roof can let all the bugs in, as well as larger invaders, into your home.
Some of the larger holes on the exterior of your home are more difficult to repair. After all, you can’t really use caulk to seal your chimney or roof vents. Use very thin wire mesh, sometimes known as hardwiring cloth, to fill bigger apertures and keep bugs out. To keep pests out, this material comes in rolls that may be stapled over holes. It not only keeps bugs out, but it can also prevent raccoon and squirrel infestations, which can bring fleas, ticks, and other insects into the house.
Large holes on the roof, such as those around the chimney and roof vents, should be investigated. In lieu of wire mesh, a pre-fabricated chimney cap may be more effective at keeping a variety of pests out of the chimney. Over gaps in crawl spaces and basements, as well as grilles, vents, and registers, wire mesh should be put
Some vents come with pre-installed dampers to keep bugs out. Check to check if yours are working properly, and if required, repair or replace the dampers. You can also use screened variants to replace existing grilles or vents that are designed to keep bugs out.
4: Don’t Have Bugs Over For Dinner
There will almost certainly be a way for them to get into your home, no matter how hard you attempt to keep them out. Remove their favorite comforts to prevent them from making themselves at home. Clutter, as well as vulnerable food and water sources, must be removed. Bugs will move on to the next house if they don’t have these supplies, leaving you alone.
A crowded home is an ideal environment for pests to thrive. Insects can reproduce in large numbers before they’re even seen if they’re hidden under heaps of newspaper or in a crowded cabinet. It’s nearly impossible to get rid of them at that point. Keep clutter to a bare minimum, and prevent infection from starting in the first place.
Insects, like humans, require food to thrive. Keep them out of your house by storing all food in airtight containers and refrigerating open food products whenever possible. Limit food consumption to one part of the house, and clean up crumbs and spills as soon as possible. Dishes should be washed or put in the dishwasher as soon as possible after use.
Pet food can be a tempting treat for ants and cockroaches, so keep that in mind. Put your pet’s food away after meals, or buy a bug-proof container that allows your pet to eat while keeping insects out.
3: Proper Trash Storage
If there is trash in the area, the bugs will find it.
If there is trash in the area, the bugs will find it.
The garbage cans in a home can be a gourmet banquet for cockroaches and other pests, just as one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Proper storage and management are essential for preventing bugs from feasting on your rubbish.
Food waste should be disposed of in the kitchen rather than in wastebaskets throughout the house. The trash should be placed in a lidded can that is emptied every night. To keep insects out, exterior cans should have self-closing lids and tight seals. All garbage cans and recycling bins, both inside and out, should be cleaned and sterilized on a regular basis, especially if they are exposed to spills.
If you keep a compost bin, make sure it has a tight lid and is lined with hardwire cloth to keep bugs out. Every three to six months, remove fully composted items.
2: Make sure the foundations are solid.
The foundations of your home are one of the most common entry points for bugs because they are the closest component of the structure to the earth. You can drastically reduce the likelihood of infection by keeping foundations free and protected.
Termites, ants, fleas, and spiders are very adept at multiplying and prospering in damp environments. You may make it more difficult for them to multiply by keeping moisture away from your foundations. To avoid attracting termites, keep heaps of wood, leaves, mulch, or grass clippings away from foundations, and stack fuel well away from the home
Also look for gaps in the foundation and siding joints. The bottom row of siding or trim is frequently not firmly sealed to the home, allowing insects access. Check underneath this row for gaps or bad connections, then repair with trim, caulk, or foam.
Many homeowners opt to treat their foundations with chemical insecticides or termicides, and these treatments are often inevitable. Consider putting boric acid or diatomaceous Earth at the base of these walls for a more natural solution. These compounds are non-toxic and will not damage pets or family members.
Encourage natural predators in the first place.
A bat colony
A bat house might be able to help you solve your problem.
One of the simplest ways to bug-proof your home is to enlist the help of the insects’ natural predators. A vast number of birds and bats rely on little insects as their primary source of nutrition. Mosquitoes are killed by warblers and swallows in particular. Wasps, flies, spiders, mosquitoes, and even scorpions are among the creatures and pests eaten by bats.
It helps to give trees and bushes where birds can build nests to encourage them to help with your pest control efforts. Add a freshwater supply and change it frequently to avoid stagnation. To augment their insect-based diet, you may want to add a birdseed or nectar feeder.
Despite their capacity to help decrease pest populations, many homeowners may be apprehensive to welcome bats into their yards. Bats, on the other hand, sleep during the day and only fly at night, so you’re unlikely to spot them. They’ll be hard at work getting rid of bugs while you’re asleep, preventing them from crawling into your home. Install a bat home or roost in your yard to attract bats.