6 Possible Reasons You Could Face Pest Infestation
by | October 4, 2022 | Blog
Pest infestations plague many American homes. The U.S. Census Bureau found that 14.8 million homes reported seeing rodents in their units, while 14 million saw roaches. Many Texans share their homes with these pests, whether they know it or not, often due to a few different factors. Here are six of the most common reasons you might be at risk for pest infestation and how you can correct them.
Improper Home Hygiene
Having a messy or cluttered home is a surefire way to invite unwanted guests inside. Piles of laundry, dusty corners, unorganized drawers, and dark crevices make perfect homes for roaches, spiders, and rodents, whose nocturnal habits make shady and dimly lit areas a perfect hideout. Forgetting to take out your trash is also a ticket to pest infestations for the same reasons. It is no surprise, then, that neighborhoods with pileups of trash or homes near abandoned buildings have an increased risk of pest infestation. To prevent pest infestations early on, frequently check crawl spaces, clean between tight crevices or gaps in furniture, and perform regular drain cleaning.Neglecting Home Maintenance
When you neglect your home maintenance by ignoring cracks in walls, abnormally large gaps between windows and doors, holes in the caulk, and more, you leave open entry points in your home for pests to infiltrate. Worse, many pests tend to exacerbate these problems by chewing and scratching at these entrances, making them much wider. This makes it easier for more pests to enter. Beware of entry points leading to crawl spaces specifically, like in your roof or vents near attics, as rodents tend to hide and multiply quickly when left unbothered and unnoticed. Your lawn and outdoor areas are also included in your pest "home maintenance." Rodents and bugs can easily hide in overgrown trees, shrubs, unkept grass, and other vegetation. Keeping these areas properly trimmed and professionally treated can make them inhabitable for pests, repelling them from your property. Checking for holes and gaps underneath decks and patios is also advisable since many rodents camp out there.Bad Food Storage Practice
Protecting your food goes hand-in-hand with protecting your home from pests. Most common household pests have a keen sense of smell and can locate unsealed food items with insane accuracy. Not sealing food in air-tight containers, leaving trash with rotting food out, and ignoring fallen crumbs or food particles is a recipe for a pest infestation disaster.Drink is Available
A reliable water supply is highly sought-after by pests. Many insects need water to survive by absorbing it through their skin, drinking it, or using it as a breeding ground to reproduce. Everything from our toilets, pipes, sinks, drains, dripping faucets, pools, pet water bowls, and puddles are all water sources that pests look for in a sustainable home. If you own a pool, expect to become familiar with the classic summer struggle of mosquitoes and wasps thriving off the infinite water supply. You'll also likely face issues with mice, squirrels, and rats trying to take a sip from your pool and falling in. If you notice any of these problems, mainly wasp nests accumulating, call a pest control specialist immediately before the infestation gets too big.Seasonal Changes and Weather
In Texas especially, the seasonal changes are often signaled by the appearance or remission of certain pests.Cold Season Pests
During our frigid Texas winters, some pests will come inside to escape the cold:- Cockroaches
- Spiders
- Lady Bugs
- Boxelder Bugs
- Rodents
Hot Season Pests
Other pests will use your air conditioning to beat the heat, or begin to appear for the mating season:Rainy Season Pests
Let's not forget the critters that make their way inside to escape the rain:- Spiders
- Mosquitos
- Termites
- Ants
- Cockroaches
- Yellow Jackets
- Stinkbugs
Dry Season Pests
Finally, some pests enter your home in search of water when it's too dry out:- Crickets
- Ants
- Grasshoppers