Maintaining your home can be of the highest important not only while you live in it, but can be a factor when you sell. Here are some tips to keep household pests at a minimum.

Moisture Getting In

All insects, rodents, actually all living things need moisture to survive.  Carpenter ants, for example, never nest in healthy dry wood.  They will seek out a window sill that has been damp from a leak, or an area near a water pipe that leaks and will start a nest there. Termites will eat most hardwoods, but they must have moisture and will locate their nest near an available source.  Brown Recluse Spiders, and other spiders love to eat termites and other insects. Although they wander and can find moisture from other sources, they must have a food source thus are often found near a moisture source.  Inspect your home.  If you detect any leaks have them fixed immediately.  Although repairs are expensive, in the long run the repairs will save you money from pest control services as well as more extensive repairs.

 

Waste and Clutter

Basements, Attics, Garages are all subject to clutter.  Boxes and various other storage items are all subject to infestations of insects, spiders, and rodents.  Roaches especially like the corrugation in boxes to breed.  Brown recluse like to hide in areas that are rarely disturbed.  Clutter also makes it difficult to inspect and treat areas should you have a problem.  I know from experience that it is difficult to avoid clutter.  One never knows when Shark Skin suits may come back in style.  If at all possible, buy plastic sealed tubs to use for storage and be sure they are tightly sealed and stacked six inches from the baseboards.

Gutters 

Leaf clogged guttering is a pain that we have to deal with nearly every fall unless you've invested a lot of money to have clog free gutters put on.  Many times cleaning them is put off until summer, and then forgotten about until excessive rain and waterfalls down the side of the house reminds us to clean them.  Not only does this cause wood rot and cellar leaks, but it is a breeding area for many insects and other pests.  Mosquitoes breed in standing water, silverfish have a water source, then access into the attic, have water soaked wood, and birds have a water source.  Clean all gutters, and make sure the slope is such that they drain into the downspout.

Pruning

Trees and shrubs that touch or overhang the house are runways for insects and squirrels allowing easy entry into your residence.  Carpenter ants are especially guilty of this, especially if they have dead branches on the tree to have begun a colony already.  Squirrels are often a problem in the winter months, especially if you have shake shingles, and tree branches allow easy access.  Shrubs touching the house or windows allow a variety of insects access to the windows, and they do not need much space to wander through a window and into you house.

 

Sandy Collins & Associates
The John Collins Company
5135 N. Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92106

Office: 619-224-0044
Fax. 619-223-0634

 

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