The first step in the path to successful pest control is to keep any
unwanted visitors out of your house.
The first step in the road to successful pest control is to keep any
unwanted critters out of your house. The old saying says that an ounce
of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and nowhere is this more true
than when trying to rid your house of mice and other rodents. A couple
here and there can quickly lead to an infestation. If you know you live
in an area susceptible to this kind of activity, you should take
preemptive steps to stop it before it starts. Here are some things you
can do to ensure you never have a real problem on your hands.
Securing the perimeter of your house should be your first order of
business. Go out and take a close look at the outside of your home. Look
for any cracks, crevices, or other openings that a mouse could get
through. This includes any holes that exceed ¼ inch. That’s right, a
determined mouse can get in a hole even that small, and bugs can get
into openings even smaller. You want to try and close up your house as
thoroughly as possible. Take some gauze made from copper or even some
steel wool and stuff any holes larger than this. Use a caulk gun for
larger openings and even smaller ones when you want to be thorough.
Next, check the foundation. Good pest control, again, means making sure
that rodents and other unwanted visitors don’t have a way into your
fortress. As they say, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
You can have the most impenetrable walls possible, but if there is but a
single crack in the foundation, it could mean these furry guests have a
passport to the inside of your home. Make sure you have no such
weaknesses. Look for any areas where the concrete isn’t holding up and
repair them as soon as you can. If there are serious breaches, you
should consider having this done by a professional company. This,
naturally, is wise not only to keep mice out, but for the strength of
your home as well.
Okay, so you’ve repaired your foundation and you’ve ensured there are no
cracks or crevices in your home that mice can get in through. But what
about your air conditioning system? You have to be cognizant about any
areas—even pipes and vents—where a mouse could find their way into your
home. Because they will find it. If it exists, it will eventually be
found. And if those mice find that they can get to food inside your
home, you will have an infestation before you know it. Be vigilant when
ensuring that all of your vents and pipes are secured firmly.
