Prevention is always better than cure, and that’s certainly true for pest control. After all who wants a pest infestation?!
Reducing the chances of developing a pest problem comes down to making your home or business less attractive to pests – remove sources of food and moisture and eliminating places for pests to shelter.
The actions you can take fall into 5 general areas:
- Ensure good hygiene practices
- Eliminate sources of moisture
- Prevent easy access to potential food
- Reduce places for pests to shelter
- Prevent pests from entering the building
Good hygiene practices
- Ensure garbage is placed in bins with tight fitting lids
- Clear up food spills
- Ensure dirty dishes are cleared away after each meal
- Regularly vacuum, especially under heavy furniture
Prevent easy access to potential food
- Place food from opened packets into sealed containers
- Don’t leave pet food out
Eliminate sources of moisture
- Fix dripping taps & leaks
- Ensure good drainage around and under the building
- Avoid watering garden beds adjacent to the building
Reduce places for pests to shelter
- Avoid storing boxes and goods under the house and in the roof void
- Trim back garden beds adjacent to the building
Prevent pests from entering building
- Ensure insects screens are well fitted
- Fill any cracks and crevices
- Trim back any branches that overhang the roof
If you can carry out as many of these actions as possible, it will minimise the chances of a pest infestation and maximise the performance of any pest treatment.