Ways to Prevent Pest Infestations in Your Garage

In the U.S. 76% of single-family homes have a garage or carport, and 100% of bugs would love to live in them. The garage is one of the most common spots for pest infestations. From easy access to tons of clutter to hide in, this sheltered spot is ideal for insects in a lot of ways.

No one wants bugs taking up residence in their garage, but the biggest issue is that they often don’t stay there. Here are some surefire ways to evict the garage insects before they get in your house.

Plug Up the Holes

Rarely are garage doors fitted to be airtight all around. This makes it much easier for bugs to get inside a garage because it usually isn’t weatherized like the home.

To test your garage door’s seal step into the garage during the day but don’t turn on the lights. This will make it easy to see where there are gaps, which is basically anywhere you see light coming through.

There are a few different ways you can seal up the gaps around the garage door:

• Weatherstripping – This product is just like the weatherstripping that goes around exterior doors in your home. If you have weatherstripping but it’s cracked and worn you’ll need to remove it and scrape the sealant clean to make way for new stripping.
• Replace the Threshold – The rubber threshold along the bottom of the doors can easily get worn and need replacing.
• Fix the Breaks – It will be hard to keep things sealed if the door isn’t sitting right.
• Check for Track Adjustments – Some garage doors have adjustment settings on the track to improve the way they sit and make them flush.

Reduce the Clutter

Another main attraction of the garage is all the clutter. It’s the catchall for basically everything that doesn’t have a place inside the home. A recent survey from Gladiator Garageworks found that around 25% of garages are too cluttered to fit a single car.

The more unorganized stuff there is, the more places bugs have to hide. Sounds like an opportunity for a weekend project.

A lot of the clutter can be controlled by simply getting rid of things that haven’t seen the light of day for months or even years. Old boards and firewood should also be removed so they don’t turn into a termite problem.

Once you’ve whittled things down, it’s time to start organizing. Start by sectioning the space off into zones that are arranged by themes, like frequently used, garden supplies, seasonal, etc. Now it’s time to begin adding organizational equipment.

• A pegboard along one wall closest to the door is a great option for tools and cleaning equipment. The Flow Wall is expensive but it’s great if you have a lot of sporting equipment and tools.
• Shelves are also a good way to make use of the vertical space if you plan to park vehicles in the garage.
• Rolling racks can be really useful if you use the garage as a hobby space.
• Labels for bins are also a big time saver anytime you need to find something in the garage.

Keep the Garage Door Closed

Pretty simple advice, but open garage doors are how a lot of pests get inside. This is particularly true for larger pests like rodents, squirrels and raccoons.

Keep Trash Well Contained

The garbage can is like a buffet for bugs. It’s understandable to want to keep the trash out in the garage, but it has to be sealed up tight. The best option is a metal garbage can that locks shut since rodents can chew through plastic.

Invest in Plastic Containers

Lots of people keep their dog food, birdseed, etc. in the garage instead of inside the house. That’s not necessarily a problem, but how it’s stored usually is. Just like the trash, animal feed will attract pests. If they get one whiff they’ll do whatever they can to enjoy the ready food supply.

The answer is pretty simple – sealable, heavy-duty plastic containers. Insects might be able to see the food, but they won’t be able to sniff it out or get to it.

If insects have already made their way into the garage of your Alabama residence give Vulcan Termite and Pest Control Inc. a call. We can put together a custom pest control treatment plan and provide guidance on how to seal up the garage to keep bugs out.

Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/home-pest-control/ways-to-prevent-pest-infestations-in-your-garage/