Having unwanted pests and animals in your home can become a huge problem. You might have to deal with annoying chirping, squeaking, and other sounds in your walls and attic. Of course, the smells from animal feces and urine as well as the smell of decaying animals in your home isn’t something you want to deal with, either.
Many of these critters spread diseases and parasites through their skin cells, saliva, urine, and feces that could put the health of your family and pets at risk. Having animals gnawing on your electrical wires can create the risk of a house fire.
You could also end up with significant property damage that may not be covered under your homeowners insurance—you might have to dish out thousands of dollars to repair the damage these unwanted pests do to your home. Having unwanted animals and pests in your home can even affect the resale value of your property.
Knowing all of these negative consequences that come from infestations, it’s only natural that you’d want to protect your home against them and avoid these problems before they start.
Here are some tips you can use to keep these pests at bay:
1. Clean Up
The first thing you should do to protect your home is to clean up. Remove any clutter and debris that could make great hiding spots for unwelcomed guests. Pick up paper, packaging, and anything else that rodents and other critters might use as nesting materials. When you clean up, you make your home less hospitable to unwanted pests, so they won’t be tempted to shack up there.
2. Secure Your Trash
If you’ve ever had a raccoon topple over your garbage can, destroy the bag, and eat the contents, then you undoubtedly know that animals love trash. Make sure they can’t get into it. Food waste should be put in a separate compost bin. Put your garbage cans in your garage or shed so animals can’t get into it. If this isn’t an option, secure your bins so they’re difficult to topple over—tie them with bungee cords to your fence. You can even use household deterrents—petroleum jelly on the lip of your trash bin can keep out insects, for example.
3. Invest in a Chimney Cap
For as little as $100, you can buy a chimney cap that is not only designed to prevent rain and leaves from coming down your chimney, but also raccoons, birds, and other critters.
4. Get a Dehumidifier
Both insects and rodents like to live in a damp, humid, and warm environment. Using a dehumidifier in the most humid rooms of your home, like your crawl space, basement, or attic, can deter these creatures from coming in and making these places their new homes.
5. Don’t Leave Food Out
Rodents and other unwanted pests can get through cardboard boxes and bags in order to get to your food. Make sure to clean up leftover food and place it in a sealed container or in the fridge. Wash food-encrusted dishes right away and clean up counters and stove tops of crumbs and food particles.
Consider your pet’s food, too. Feed them at specific times and then remove and clean their bowls. Keep their food in sealed containers so animals and bugs can’t get into it.
6. Make Necessary Repairs
Perhaps most importantly, though, make sure to seal up any entry points. Inspect your home thoroughly to look for any small holes. Remember, a mouse can gain access to your house from a hole as small as a dime. All holes and cracks in your foundation, walls, or near basement openings should be repaired. The same goes for ensuring your chimney cap is intact and sealed and that there aren’t any holes surrounding exterior electrical lines or water lines. Finally, cover vents with metal-grill work or screening.