3 Effective Preventative Pest Treatment Tips For Older Houses

17 March 2023
 Categories: , Blog


Wear and tear on old houses can make them particularly vulnerable to infestation by pests of all sorts, from termites and spiders to ants and rodents. Apart from keeping your house clean and sealed to the best of your ability, these steps can help you avoid many pest issues before they become a problem.

Reduce and Remove Bridges

Pests can find many creative ways into your home, and that includes anything that might be touching your house. This could be a branch of a nearby tree or bush, a garbage can close to a patio cover post, a fence or gate that touches your house, or a broom propped up against the wall.

In short, the fewer things there are touching your house, the better. One reason these work so well for pests is that they can offer a way around insecticide treatments, traps, and other preventative measures by letting them simply walk over them. The best treatments in the world won't work if pests can just find a way around. Take some time to trim away brush and branches and walk around your house to make sure there are as few items in the immediate surrounding area as possible. Gates and posts and other more permanent objects can be treated by your pest control specialist.

Get Leaks Repaired

Old pipes are more prone to leaks, and even if your pipes are only leaking a few drops at a time, this is often enough to attract pests that seek moisture. This is important not just for pipes that are inside your house, but for things like gutters and downspouts and HVAC condensate drains as well; if moisture is collecting anywhere near your home, it can attract all kinds of pests.

Fixing leaks and making sure water is properly diverted away from your house is a good way to make a dry barrier of sorts between your yard and your home. If you aren't sure if something is a problem, ask your pest control specialist to take a look. They are familiar with pests in your area and what attracts them.

Set Up Preventative Treatment Plans

An older house requires more upkeep than a newer one, and that upkeep includes pest treatments. Rather than getting a one-off treatment, consider setting up a plan that involves multiple visits from your specialist. This way they can check the effectiveness of current treatments and make modifications as necessary. This will make your treatments more effective over time. These are also valuable as the types of pests that pose the biggest threat in your area can change depending on the weather, the season, and other factors. For example, you may be more at risk of rodent infestation in the fall as they seek warm places to hide during winter.

To learn more, contact a residential pest prevention and control service in your area.


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