5 Home Maintenance Issues That May Attract Pests
websitebuilder • December 4, 2018
Crumbs on the counter, garbage left uncovered, rotting wood left outside - these are all conditions known to attract pests. But did you know that seemingly small home maintenance issues can make your home more attractive to pests, too?
Your home does not have to have a caved-in roof or missing siding to be appealing to ants, roaches, and other pests. The following are some small, yet common home maintenance issues that perpetuate pest problems.
1. Clogged Gutters
Clogged gutters are especially common in the fall after leaves have fallen from the trees; this is also the time when many pests begin looking for refuge from the cold.
Clogged gutters themselves can become a breeding grounds for pests like ants and cockroaches - then the pests don't have to travel very far to get inside of your home. Clogged gutters also allow water to seep down the side of your home, moistening the foundation and landscaping to make it more appealing to various insects.
Remember to clean out your gutters every fall to avoid pest invasions as the weather grows cold. If your gutters clog easily, consider trimming back any trees near your home to reduce the amount of leaves that end up in the gutters.
2. Unkempt Landscaping
When life gets busy, you may understandably neglect your landscaping. Fallen leaves pile up against your foundation, bushes become overgrown, and weeds may pop up against fences. Brush and weeds provide the perfect shelter for ticks, and pests like centipedes and ants take up residence in leaf piles.
You may also notice an increased number of spiders as your landscaping falls into disarray; spiders eat the other bugs found in the leaves and debris.
If you have trouble keeping up with your landscaping, consider hiring a service to come in, perhaps just a few times per year, to tidy things up. Also think about replacing higher-maintenance shrubs and bushes with ones that require less pruning. Invest in a leaf blower to make leaf cleanup easier than with just a rake.
3. Roof Leaks
You may not notice a tiny roof leak until it grows larger, but insects like carpenter and cockroaches will take notice of the increased amount of moisture in your attic.
Remember to open up your attic every few months to check for leaks, and call a roofing company immediately if you suspect a leak. Always look over your roof after every big storm to ensure leaks are caught and repaired before pests find the moisture.
4. Leaky Plumbing
Leaky plumbing is another common source of moisture that attracts pests. You may not think much of a drippy faucet, for example, but it releases enough water to satisfy the needs of bugs like cockroaches and earwigs.
Make sure you check sinks in spare bathrooms, basements, and other areas where you do not spend as much time. Also look around the base of your toilets for evidence of leaks that may require repair.
5. Cracked Foundations
Small cracks in the foundation may not be a structural threat to your home, but they provide the perfect pathway for cockroaches, earwigs, silverfish, and other pests to enter your basement or crawlspace. You can seal small cracks with water-resistant caulk. If your foundation has a lot of small cracks, you may want to have it sealed and encapsulated by a foundation waterproofing company.
None of these home maintenance issues initially seem serious. But when you take into account the fact that they attract insects to your home, they obviously need to be dealt with. If you are struggling with pests due to any of these home maintenance problems, contact Anteater Pest Control, Inc.
Our experienced exterminators can get rid of ants, spiders, roaches, and more.
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