As the temperatures start to drop, we spend less time outdoors and more time inside where it's warm. Unfortunately fall pests have the same idea. This is the season when rodents and cockroaches seek shelter from the cold.
They can carry diseases like salmonella and Hantavirus as well as cause damage to your wiring; so make sure you take precautions to keep the pests away from your home.
Seal Up Your House
Pests have an incredible ability to sneak into your home through the tiniest of holes. A mouse can squeeze through even a dime-sized hole. Double check the screens on your windows for any tears or holes, and replace any damaged screens.
Caulk the edges of your windows and inspect the weather stripping under doors to make sure there's no way for pests to get in.
Keep The Firewood Away
Don't stack firewood against your house. A woodpile serves as a safe haven for rodents, and if it's too close to your house, the mice will find a way in. Keep it at least twenty feet away. Overgrown bushes and shrubs can have the same effect so keep them trimmed and weeded.
Check Your Dryer Vent
A common entry for pests can be the laundry room. When a dryer isn't installed correctly, the vent can be left open to the outside air, and this open vent can be an open door for critters. Double check your vent to make sure it's fully sealed. It could be raising your electric bills as well.
Keep Your Food Out Of Reach
Nothing attracts pests more than food. Don't leave crumbs on the floor and be sure everything in the pantry is closed and sealed. A common mistake is to leave dog food out. Keep the bag sealed, and empty the bowl. You're feeding your dog after all, not the fall pests.
Moisture Is The Enemy
Moisture breeds pests. You don't want any standing water around your house, so clear any clogged drains or gutters. Rake moist soil and mulch away from the house a few inches as well to keep the bugs away from the walls.
Monitor For Infestation
Put some mousetraps and glue traps in your attic and basement. Hopefully, there won't be anything to catch, but if you keep traps out, then you'll know at the first signs of infestation.
As it gets colder, fall pests are searching for a warm, dry place to stay. With a few simple measures you can make sure that warm, dry place isn't your house. Take the time now and boost your defenses against the fall pests, and avoid an infestation later.
For more information about the Atlanta area real estate market, please email me at ed@edshort.com or call me at 404.918.2500.
~ Ed Short, Atlanta REALTOR®
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