30 Things in Your House That Are Attracting Bugs and Rodents
Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about 30 Things in Your House That Are Attracting Bugs and Rodents and hope the blog can help you.
Behind every pest problem, there’s a cause. Learn some of the factors that may be responsible for your infestation, and how to keep pests from parading into your home.
Stop Paying for Pests
Pests and people are attracted to the same things: an easy meal, a convenient water source, and a cozy place to raise a family. All too often they find these things inside our homes. Delayed repairs and poor maintenance quickly become an open invitation for bugs and rodents to enter.
Once inside, it only takes a little food and water to convince them to stay, and insects alone cause more than $5 billion in damages annually in the United States. Avoid the expense and hassle of dealing with pest damage by preventing it in the first place.
Wet Basement
A leaky basement is more than an inconvenience. Pooling water attracts all kinds of pests, including insects, rodents, snakes and other unwanted creatures. Water in the basement also increases humidity that can lead to dangerous structural damage caused by termites and fungus.
To keep your basement dry, check the grading and downspouts around your house to make sure that rainwater is draining away from, not toward, the foundation. Be sure to address other potential sources of leaks—including windows and sump pumps—as problems arise.
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Clogged Rain Gutters
Clogged rain gutters allow moisture to build up close to the roof line. In addition to structural problems, clogged gutters provide a water source for insects and snakes to breed.
Keep bugs and other creatures from congregating in your gutters by cleaning them out in the spring (and after leaf drop in the fall). Installing gutter guards might also help.
High Humidity
Pesky insects like cockroaches and silverfish love humid places. Leaky pipes, slow drains and even poorly vented bathrooms are ideal conditions for them. Address repairs to these problem areas quickly (and while you’re at it, consider running a dehumidifier in these zones), or you may have some creepy crawlies to contend with.
Trash and Recyclables
It’s no secret that the food scraps in trash cans attract bugs and rodents. Avoid infestations by properly bagging and sealing garbage and storing it in closed containers. Be sure to rinse out recyclables and the recycle bin itself, and consider upgrading from an open-top curbside recycling container to a container with a lid.
Poorly Maintained Landscaping
Tall grass and overgrown shrubs give cover to rodents, insects, and other creatures that would not be welcome inside the house. While these animals are free to roam in their own domain, you can keep them out of the house by practicing regular lawn maintenance, and not planting shrubs and trees right up against the house.
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Dirty Grill
Outdoor cooking and dining attracts ants, flies, and wasps, but the grease and residual food left on the grill after a cookout can bring even more pests, including mice and rats. When the picnic is over, don’t forget to clean the outdoor cooking area.
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Dirty Dishes
Any little food scrap is an invitation for bugs and rodents, and dirty dishes are a veritable buffet bar for all kinds of pests. Keep your kitchen clear of insects and rodents by washing dishes after every meal. Wipe down counters, stovetops, and sinks while you’re at it.
Composting
Composting is a fantastic way to recycle food waste into an excellent garden soil amendment, but compost piles attract hungry insects and rodents. Avoid problems by using an enclosed composting system, and locate outdoor compost piles at least 50 feet from the house. Balance food scraps with garden waste like fall leaves and grass clippings to prevent a smelly mess, and never compost meat, dairy, and fatty foods.
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Countertop Produce
Some produce keeps better when it’s not refrigerated, but the bad news is that storing ripening fruit on the counter can lure fruit flies. To reduce the risk of flies, don’t let fruit sit too long before eating it and dispose of scraps and peels after each meal. If you can’t manage to eat your fresh produce before it gets overripe, consider freezing it for use in smoothies or baked goods.
Gaps In Siding
A mouse only needs a 1/4-inch opening to get inside your home. Holes in your siding or gaps under the door are easy entry points. Inspect the siding on your house at least twice a year, paying close attention to seams, trim, and transitions from siding to masonry. Plug gaps with silicone caulk, steel wool, or expandable foam sealant.
Roof Damage
Your attic is a great place to raise a family—just ask your neighborhood squirrels, bats, and mice. Animals are attracted to the warmth and protection that our houses provide. How do they get in? Possible entry points include holes or missing boards on the fascia or soffit, gaps between the fascia and eaves, gable or ridge vents without screens, and missing shingles. The best way to keep animals outside is to inspect these areas annually, and keep your roof in good repair.
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Worn or Missing Door Sweeps
Door sweeps do more than simply save on utility bills: These little strips, which DIYers can easily attach to the bottom of their front, side, and rear entry doors, also keep out bugs and other pests. Replace missing or worn door sweeps to eliminate a pest entry point.
Window Screens
Window screens were invented to keep bugs out of the house, but if they have holes, they can’t do their job. Inspect all household window screens each year, and repair or replace them as needed.
Indoor-Outdoor Pets
Dogs and cats may be protected against fleas and ticks with preventative medication or collars, but that doesn’t mean they won’t bring bugs into the house. Whether a stink bug hitches a ride on their fur, or they bring in live rodents on purpose, pets can be adorable instigators to a pest problem. Monitor your pets’ comings and goings, and inspect them when they come inside to stop unwelcome guests at the door.
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Porch and Landscape Lights
A traditional porch light left on for an hour after dusk attracts thousands of insects of all kinds—and if a door is opened beside the light, those bugs may invite themselves into the house. The same holds true for landscape lighting.
Even bug zappers attract far more insects than they kill. A better solution is to install motion sensitive security lighting away from the home. The light turns on when needed, and stays off the rest of the time, potentially keeping trouble and insects away.
Foundation Cracks
Concrete slabs, poured or block foundations, and even masonry veneers are subject to cracking. Even the smallest crack in concrete can easily become an entry point for insects into your home, and larger cracks may even allow enough space for rodents to come inside. Inspect masonry annually, and address repairs as the need arises.
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Open Garage or Basement Doors
We use garages and basements as storage spaces, workshops, studios, and potting sheds, but pests use them as a warm and welcoming home. These unwelcome guests often find their way inside when homeowners leave garage doors open for hours at a time. Garages and basements make outstanding entry points for all sorts of creatures. Always close garage and basement doors when they don’t need to be open.
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Openings for Pipes and Cables
There are lots of small openings in the foundation, walls, and roof of every home to allow various utility lines—telephone, cable, fiber optic, air conditioning, and