Household Pests
Household Pests can be a significant nuisance in our homes. They cause damage and spread disease. While traps and pesticides can offer temporary relief, the only way to permanently rid your home of pests is to identify and block their entry points. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to detect and seal off these entrances to keep your home pest-free.
Look For Holes
One of the most common ways pests like mice and rats enter homes is through holes in the brickwork or roofing. These small openings can be found around the exterior of your house, often in places you would not normally check. You must spend the time inspecting your home for entry points and addressing them.
Firstly, examine the brickwork. Look for any cracks or holes in the bricks and mortar. Even small gaps can provide an entry point for tiny rodents. Secondly, inspect the roof. Check for loose tiles or shingles and any gaps around the eaves. Birds and squirrels can also take advantage of these openings. Lastly, ensure you seal any gaps that you may find. Use caulking or expanding foam to seal small cracks. For larger holes, you may need a more robust solution like cement or metal mesh to block the entry completely.
Get A Drain Survey
Rats are notorious for using drains to enter homes. If you have a rat problem, it is important to consider that they might be coming in through your plumbing system. A professional CCTV drain survey can be invaluable in this situation. A drainage specialist can use a CCTV camera to inspect the inside of your drains and sewers, identifying any breaches or openings that rats could exploit. The survey results will show you exactly where the rats are entering. The causes may vary from broken pipes to faulty connections. Once identified, these points can be repaired and reinforced to prevent further access. This might involve replacing sections of pipe or installing rat blockers.
Follow The Trail
For smaller pests like ants, following their trail can often lead you straight to their entry point. For example, ants typically move in lines. Follow their trail back to its source, which is often a crack or gap in the wall or floor. For other pests like cockroaches, look for droppings, shed skins or egg casings, these can indicate where they are coming from. Once the entry point is located, use caulk or another suitable sealant to block it. Ensure there are no other nearby gaps they can use.
Check Soft Furnishings And Clothes
Fleas and bed bugs are often brought into the home on pets, used furniture or clothing. To prevent these pests from making your home their own, you must take precautionary measures. When bringing in used furniture or clothes, thoroughly check them for signs of pests. Things to look out for include tiny black specks, which may be flea dirt or small blood spots, which can be from bed bugs. For any new items, especially those bought second hand, wash them on a hot cycle before use. This can help kill any lurking pests or germs.
If you have pets, regularly check them for fleas and use preventative treatments as necessary. Fleas can easily transfer from pets to carpets and soft furnishings.
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