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How to Bug Proof Your Home

No one think about bugs during the winter because you can’t see them. Out of sight, out of mind. 

But boy, do we ever start minding them come spring.  Even more so during the summer. You expect to encounter them outdoors and you brace yourself for that. But once they work their way side, suddenly your patience is all but gone.

That leads to one clear conclusion: do everything you can to keep those bugs outdoors. And, as fate would have it, here are a few effective ways to accomplish that goal. 

 

  1. Play keep away. Bugs hibernate for the winter and take up residence the rest of the time outdoors. That you already know. What you may not know is where they typically dwell, like in a pile of firewood, leafy debris that may be resting against the side of your house, cracks in your foundation, and so on. The farther you can keep them from your house, the better.
  1. Repair window and door screens. It sounds so obvious, but you’d be amazed at how little space an insect needs to gain entry. That’s why you need to patch up even smallest of screen tears or replace the screen if the whole is too big for a patch. If you don’t have a screen door in front or back and you’re prone to indoor bug infestations, it wouldn’t hurt to install them.
  1. Check the seals around doors. The rule of thumb is that if light can get in, so can insects. Thresholds should be tight fitting and door sweeps should be set at the right heights. Use caulk to fill in any gaps caused by settling.
  1. Keep your trash bins clean. Leftover food scraps and sticky residues act like a “dinner bell” for insects of all kinds. Wipe them down and wash them when they get even a little dirty.
  1. Get rid of standing water. Any source of moisture will attract bugs – especially mosquitoes. Be sure to empty anything that holds water, including plant trays, catch basins, play sets, and fire pits. Bird baths should be cleaned, emptied, and re-filled on a regular basis.

Speaking of standing water, be on the lookout for wet patches of lawn when the rest of it is dry. That could indicate a cracked or broken sewer line, and there’s nothing certain kinds of bugs like better.  Not to mention that you might have a repair problem on your hands.  So, if you do locate a wet patch, contact Connor Plumbing to investigate the cause. If it does have something to do with your underground sewer lines, early detection can help minimize the problem.

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