7 Ways Pests Can Get Into Your Home

Fed up of pests entering your home? To keep out these unwanted guests, you need to work out where they’re getting in. Below are just some of the most common entry points for household pests and what you can do to block these entrances.

Open windows

Many pests including mosquitoes, spiders, ants and wasps will simply enter through an open window. Closing all your windows is a solution to this, but if you want to keep your home ventilated or let a cold breeze in, there is another solution: bug screens. These screens have tiny holes to allow air through while keeping critters out.

Gaps under doors

A gap under an exterior door as small as ¼ of an inch can be enough to let in an array of pests ranging from cockroaches to mice. Blocking this gap is recommended if you want to keep pests out. You can do this using a raised threshold, a draft excluder or a brush strip. This will also stop drafts coming in on a cold night.

Holes in your roof

Various pests can enter through a damaged roof including birds, wasps and rats. It’s worth occasionally getting your roof inspected and fixing any cracks or crevices. This is important not just for keeping pests out, but for preventing rainwater getting in and trapping heat in. Roofing companies like A&J Professional Services can find any damage and repair it for you.

Cracks in walls

A large enough crack in a wall could provide an entry point for bugs and rodents, while also being a source of heat loss and potential leaks. Filling these cracks with caulk or another filler substance is recommended. Larger cracks or fissures may require professional repairs. Make sure that large cracks are not a sign of foundation issues – unless the foundations are reinforced, these cracks may continue to grow and put the structural integrity of your home at risk. Check out this guide at This Old House about the signs of foundation issues.

Basement damage

Basements can also develop cracks in the walls and floor, which can become an entry point for all kinds of pests ranging from termites to snakes. Water can also seep in through these cracks and lead to water damage and mold. Regularly inspect your basement and fix any damage before it leads to other problems.

Vents and chimneys

Various creatures can also make their way into your home via vents and chimneys. This is particularly the case if they’re unused – such entry points are common places to encounter birds nests or wasps nests. Consider sealing up any unused chimneys or vents. Mesh covers can also be added to working vents to stop pests getting in.

Utility openings

Holes where pipes and cables enter your home may have enough space around them for pests like spiders and mice to pass through. It may be possible to fill these holes a bit more so that there is no space around pipes or cables for intruders to get in. You can use foam filler to do this or spackle for small holes