Keeping Pests Out of Your Home During a Storm
If you’re from the South, you know that we deal with our fair share of inclement weather every spring and summer season. Heavy rainstorms, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes can all have devastating effects on homes across the South. That’s why it’s important for homeowners to prepare their homes for nasty weather conditions before they arrive. While boarding up windows, clearing the yard of heavy debris, and bunkering down ahead of extreme weather is all fine and dandy, you still might be unaware of another risk lurking once the storm passes––pests.
To fully prepare your home for spring and summer pests, we recommend following these helpful tips.
#1: Inspect Your Home Before Inclement Weather Arrives
Before James Spann pops up on the TV to address potential severe weather in the area, it’s a good idea to inspect your home. We recommend inspecting your home thoroughly inside and out to check for any structural damages that might be worsened by an impending storm. Seal any cracks you find with a silicone-based caulk, any existing water damage should be fixed, and your property should be irrigated to keep water flowing away from your house rather than towards it.
Furthermore, make sure to keep any pest-harboring things such as garbage cans, standing water, and mulch away from your home.
#2: Drain Standing Water to Keep Mosquitoes Away
Though it seems like a monsoon would keep mosquitoes away, they thrive (literally) when it comes to standing water left behind after a heavy rainstorm. Standing water is more than ideal for mosquito breeding, and they only need half an inch of water to breed. As a homeowner, make sure you look in typical places where standing water is prevalent––grill covers, garbage cans, clogged gutters, and birdbaths.
#3: Dispose of Soiled Food to Avoid Wildlife, Rodents, and Flies
After a storm a lot of animals are displaced and searching for immediate sources of food. Don’t let your garbage bin become their next buffet! To avoid attracting unwanted pests like flies, make sure you dispose of any rotten food in a sealed trash bag. Food waste and left out trash can also entice rodents. For this reason, having waste management pick up your garbage promptly can limit the possibility of rodents finding a meal in your trash can.
#4: Assess Water Damage to Prevent a Termite or Ant Infestation
Termites love feasting on old, rotting wood, which is usually what gets discarded after a severe storm. But, excessive moisture around your property is also begging for trouble when it comes to termites––a pest that can silently chew through multiple layers of wood and cause thousands of dollars in property damage.
Moisture and oversaturated soil can also alert ants who are living underground to seek higher ground and shelter inside of your home during a storm. To prevent an infiltration of either pest, we recommend discarding rotten wood and debris that could harbor pests, and fixing any damaged pipes that may be leaking. While you’re at it, schedule a termite inspection from a pest-control professional.
#5: Inspect Your Home for Structural Damage
High winds, heavy rain, and hail can all damage your property in different ways, as well as displace surrounding wildlife such as rabbits, squirrels, rats, and raccoons. In order to keep your home free of pests of all sizes, we recommend looking for signs of damage to your home’s exterior and repairing it as soon as possible. Signs to look out for include:
- Damaged siding and roofing
- Holes in screens
- Gaps in windows
Use caulk to seal any remaining entry point you may come across.
#6: Schedule a Post-Inspection After the Storm Clears
If your home has been damaged by inclement weather, there’s a good chance that you might have a few unwanted guests living with you. Don’t worry, our pest control experts are just that––experts. We’ll make sure your home is sealed in every way possible to limit the possibility of having unwanted pests inside or outside of your home. Contact Vulcan & Termite & Pest Control today.