5 Must-Know Summertime Pest Prevention Tips

From mosquitoes to bed bugs, fleas, and rodents, these are just some of the many critters that the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) lists as pests. As the DOH points out, they can damage homes, wreak havoc on garden plants and trees, and spread severe, even deadly diseases.

And now that it’s summer, all those pests (and many others) will become more active, as the temperatures rise and food and water become more available. For the same reasons, you, as a homeowner in Seattle, WA, should start implementing summertime pest control strategies and preventive measures.

If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry. Eastside Exterminators has your back, so read on for expert pest advice and insights into summer pest issues.

1. Regularly Inspect Your Seattle, WA, Home

Regular pest inspections are an effective way to prevent unwanted guests from entering your Seattle home, as they allow for early identification of:

• Pest-conducive conditions
• Potential entry points
• Existing pest problems

Let’s discuss each in more detail.

Pest-Conducive Conditions

Inspections can reveal factors that entice pests to your home, such as:

• Excessive moisture
• Clutter
• Overgrown vegetation

By determining the presence of the above in your Seattle home, you can address and eliminate them immediately. Doing so can make your home less appealing to uninvited guests.

Let’s use excessive moisture as an example, which plumbing leaks can significantly contribute to. They’re also common in American homes; they waste a trillion gallons of water yearly, says the U.S. EPA!

Regular pest inspections can help you determine whether you have moisture or leak problems. If so, you can then address them ASAP. The sooner you do, the sooner you can stop further water wastage while also pest-proofing your Seattle abode.

Potential Entry Points

Your Seattle home may seem seal-tight, but there are many ways critters can penetrate it, given their small size. Here are some examples of entry points they can use to invite themselves into your abode without your permission (or knowledge):

• Cracks in the foundation
• Gaps around doors and windows, particularly those with damaged or missing caulking and weather stripping
• Roof and dryer vents without screens or with damaged screening materials
• Gaps around pipes
• Damaged or poorly sealed garage doors
• Gaps around cables and wires that enter your home

Regular pest inspections can help enhance your summertime pest prevention efforts, as they let you spot unprotected entry points early on. You can then have more time to seal them and keep your home pest-free.

Existing Pest Problems

Regular pest inspections can also help you spot pest problems in their early stages and address them before they turn into full-blown infestations. For instance, if you spot one or two spiders in your Seattle home, chances are, they’re getting in from somewhere. Still, there’s likely no infestation yet at this early point, so all you may have to do is release the critters back into the outdoors and hunt down and seal the entry point.

2. Eliminate Standing Water

While summer is undeniably the driest season in Seattle, it can still rain from time to time. During these rainy days, water can pool up in outdoor areas of your home, like:

• Clogged gutters and downspouts
• Malfunctioning outdoor drains
• Pet dishes
• Outdoor toys

Standing water is never a good idea because it can become a breeding ground for pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms like bacteria and viruses) and insects. Mosquitoes, for instance, love standing water because their larvae and pupae live and thrive in water with little to no flow.

Unfortunately, mosquitoes are more than a nuisance. Yes, their constant buzzing around the ears is undoubtedly annoying, but they can also cause dangerous, even deadly diseases, such as West Nile and Zika. What’s more, the CDC says that of the 200 types that live in the U.S., 12 spread disease-causing germs.

So, as part of your summertime home pest defense strategies, make it a habit to check for and eliminate any pooling water around your home’s exterior.

3. Seal Entry Points

As soon as you’ve identified potential entry points, seal them up with appropriate materials. Examples include:

• Caulk
• Weather stripping
• Expandable foam
• Steel wool
• Durable bug screens

Also, don’t delay fixing or replacing damaged window and door screens. Tiny bugs and insects can take advantage of even just a small hole to gain access to your home.

4. Practice Good Sanitation

Good sanitation is paramount to pest control and prevention because it entails removing pests’ sources of nutrition (food and water) and shelter. By eliminating these factors, you can make your living environment less inviting to unwanted residents.

To remove sources of nutrition for critters:

• Regularly clean your home, especially food and beverage spills
• Never leave dirty dishes in the sink for prolonged periods
• Store food items in well-sealed containers
• Dispose of household waste properly

Also, minimize potential sources of shelter by eliminating clutter in your Seattle, WA, home. For example, get rid of things you no longer use but have stored away, such as reading materials (e.g., old magazines and newspapers) and cardboard boxes. Pests, especially rodents, love these things because they can use them as nesting grounds.

5. Invest in Professional Solutions

Investing in professional services, such as the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions we specialize in at Eastside Exterminators, is another excellent strategy to add to your summertime pest prevention measures. We’re proud of our team of professionally trained and highly skilled technicians who use only high-quality products and systems, state-of-the-art technology, and industry best practices. With our help and guidance, we can help you keep household pests at bay and under control.

Implement These Summertime Pest Prevention Strategies Today

From regularly inspecting your Seattle, WA, home to sealing entry points, eliminating standing water, keeping your house properly sanitized, and investing in professional solutions, all these are effective summertime pest prevention strategies. The sooner you implement these measures; the sooner you can keep unwanted critters out of your living spaces.

Our highly reputable and experienced team at Eastside Exterminators is happy to be of service and help you keep your home pest-free. We’ve been providing reliable, exceptional pest control solutions throughout the greater Seattle area since 1969. We’ll use our 50+ years of experience to help you protect your home and loved ones from nasty bugs and critters.

Speak with us today to request your free, no-obligation quote!