Pest control services are essential for any home. They can eliminate pests in your home and help you prevent them from returning. However, you do have to do your part to ensure that pest control services can do theirs. Choosing the right home improvements can help you to ensure that pests don’t have a way into your home. Here are some steps you can take to keep pests away.

Address Moisture Problems

Pests of all kinds love a moist environment. Moisture can attract ants, termites, cockroaches, and other pests. Investing in home improvements that solve moisture problems will also help reduce the amount of pest control services you need. Basement waterproofing, functional gutters, and proper drainage around your home can help to solve the moisture problem.

Seal Out the Pests

Insects and other pests are masters at finding a way into your home. If there are cracks, gaps, or crevices that they can slide through, they will. Use caulk and weather stripping to seal gaps around windows and doors. Repair or replace window screens. Seal areas around pipes that are entering and exiting your home. Essentially, you want to make it difficult for pests to squeeze their way into your home.

Evaluate Exterior Walls and Make Necessary Repairs

Rodents are another bunch of creative pests in how they find access to enter your home. According to the Census Bureau, houses with walls that lean, buckle, or seriously slope are about five times more likely to have a rodent problem than houses that don’t have exterior wall damage. Repair exterior wall damage to keep rodents away.

Screen Vents

Roof vents and any other vents need to be screened to ensure that pests are not getting in through them. Getting on the roof and updating the vents is something you should leave to the professionals. You can DIY new screens with lower-level vents, like venting for crawl spaces.

Pests need three things to make your house a home. They need an access point, water, and food. If you can control the access point and the moisture in your home with home improvements, you can better control the pests. Professional pest control services can evaluate your home and determine necessary improvements to keep pests out. Call Barrett Pest & Termite Services today to learn more.