Summertime comes with heat, barbecues, and tons of time outside. But, something many people don’t think about when summer rolls around is summer storms. These summer storms can cause devastating effects to homes and the area that they hit. Because of this, it is extremely important for homeowners to not only take precautions to prevent damage from the storms but to also keep their homes safe from pests during storms too.
Take the tornado that touched down in Fredericksburg just a few days ago, for example, it left fallen trees and tons of other damage in its wake. These fallen trees are not only dangerous to your home but also attract and displace many of your least favorite pests. While making sure that your windows are reinforced and you have a safe place to bunker down during the storm are some of your top priorities, you also have to worry about downed trees and standing water. In order to fully prepare for the spike in pests during storms and in the days and weeks following there are a few things, you should do.
How To Prevent Pests During Storms
Take Pre-Storm Pest Control Precautions
Before the storm actually rolls in you can help prevent pests during storms by taking the time to conduct both interior and exterior inspections of your home. This helps you to identify and address any structural issues that you may currently have before they can be worsened by the storm.
For example, if you find any cracks they should be sealed with silicone-based caulk, any water damage that exists should be taken care of, along with making sure any water will be diverted away from your home’s foundation. You will also want to make sure that any potential breeding sites for pests such as garbage cans and mulch are placed away from your home in order to keep pests away and prevent the influx of pests during storms from taking over your home.
Get Rid of Any Old Food and Debris
Something that many people don’t think about when it comes to preventing pests during storms is spoiled food that occurs after extending power outages. This can invite flies into your home and prompt them to breed in the rotting food and potentially expose your family to disease. This is why you will want to take the time to put any spoiled food in sealed trash bags and place them outside of the house.
Food waste along with clutter can also attract rodents that have been displaced by the storms and are in search of food and shelter. This is why it is important to ensure that any discarded food is picked up by sanitation workers in a timely manner in order to prevent this increase in pests during storms from impacting your home. Sanitation workers usually prioritize taking care of common household garbage versus construction debris after storms so you will want to separate your common waste from that debris to ensure it is picked up as quickly as possible. You will also want to make sure your piles of debris are organized away from your home.
Drain any Standing Water
You may think that the heavy rain and flooding that are oftentimes associated with storms would work to eradicate any mosquito populations. However, the standing water that is left behind creates the perfect breeding ground for these pests.
Mosquitoes require only about a bottle cap full of water, or about half an inch of water to breed. Because of this, it is important to walk your property and address any sources of standing water in order to prevent an influx of pests during storms and after storms. While this standing water can be found in obvious places it can also be found in birdbaths, clogged gutters, grill covers, flowerpots, and garbage cans and lids. By taking the time to drain and empty these water receptacles you can prevent the development of a mosquito population in your own backyard.
Assess any Possible Water Damage
Standing water is not the only thing you need to keep an eye out for in order to prevent pests during storms and after them. You also want to keep an eye out for rotting wood caused by water damage because it can attract termites. Termites are pests that can silently chew through your home’s wood joists and flooring leaving thousands of dollars in damage in their wake.
Excessive moisture around your home can also oversaturate the soil, causing insects that live underground, such as ants, to seek higher ground and find shelter inside of your house. The best way to prevent these pests during storms is to remove any rotting debris that could harbor pests while also fixing any damaged pipes. Another way to prevent pests during storms is to make sure that your home’s drainage system is facing away from the foundation of your home in order to prevent water from pooling around its foundation.
Check for Openings Caused by Structural Damage
High winds, rain, and hail that accompany storms can not only cause severe damage to your home but can also displace the surrounding wildlife. All of these things combined encourage larger pests such as rats, raccoons, squirrels, and mice to seek shelter in your home.
Damaged roofing and siding can serve as entry points for pests during storms who are on the hunt for a safe place of refuge. Making sure you take the time to look for any damage around the exterior of your home and fixing them immediately will help to prevent the presence of pests during storms and after storms too.
Get the Professionals Involved
Even taking all of these precautions does not guarantee that you and your home be safe from pests during storms. The best way to prevent pests is through professional pest control practices. Our team at Sigma Pest is well versed in all things pest control and is here to help you with all of your pest control needs. Contact us today for more information about how we can help you tackle your pest problems head-on!
