Pest prevention is a very important component of home maintenance. And similar to changing your car’s oil so you don’t end up with engine problems or putting new hoses on your washing machine to avoid water issues, making sure that pests are excluded and their food sources are eliminated work to prevent big future pest problems.
There is a good chance that you are performing other preventative maintenance tasks around your house already. Many people install signage and security cameras to help deter crime and collect evidence in the event that a break-in occurs. We purchase and maintain fire extinguishers and smoke detectors so we are well-prepared for fires. Pest prevention makes it possible for us to stay ahead of those pest issues that may cause sanitation problems, which are a negative factor when it comes to home appearance and cleanliness, and even can cause physical damage to your house.
It is also critical to be proactive when it comes to pest control since pests reproduce rapidly. For example, mice reproduce 8 times per year, on average, with 6 new mice, on average, each time. Those mice, in turn, can reproduce with one another at 3 weeks old. Now you can see how mice populations can explode so fast! Many house sales are contingent on any pest problems being resolved, particularly with issues that relate to rodents. Before a house is sold, inspectors commonly discover signs of mice in a basement or attic, which can cause frustrations and delays in the house selling process.
Like other aspects of preventive maintenance, an ongoing effort is necessary to ensure your houses stay in top condition. Pests are constantly searching for new ways to enter your house, looking for shelter, moisture, and food. Houses often offer more of those survival features than the own natural environment of the pests. That means that pests are constantly searching for ways to enter into your house, via any unsealed holes or gaps, chewing into your house, and through utility lines.
However, don’t be fooled. One common mistake made by homeowners is cutting back on their pest prevention efforts when there isn’t any obvious pest activity. However, that is similar to wondering whether treating your lawn is really necessary when you can’t see any weeds when the main reason why your grass is so healthy and looks so good is due to the fertilizers and weed control that you have applied. When it comes to pest prevention, the same is true. When you don’t see pests, that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have any pest problems. What it really means is your pest solution is currently working. There are always going to be more pests attempting to get into your house. Therefore, pest prevention is always necessary to keep your house free of pests. When pest control is stopped, all of the defenses that have been built up will start to break down, which exposes the home to some of the same pest vulnerabilities that it had before.
AIPM Can Help You
AIPM provides pest prevention programs for all budgets and homes. Our professional pest control technicians will make sure that the pest-entry points in your house are all sealed off and ensure that a year-round barrier is maintained around your house year-round. So, you will not need to deal with pests no matter which season it is.