For the home inspector and HGTV host Joe Mazza, dealing with pests is all about perspective. After telling a client he found mouse droppings in her new home, he attempted to assuage her worry. “I go, ‘Where are you moving from?’ She’s like, ‘New York City,’” he said. “I go, ‘Okay, you’re downsizing. You’re going from a big rat to a mouse.’”
For many first-time homeowners, the variety, severity and tenacity of household pests is an unwelcome surprise. Climate, home age, type and state of repair can all affect which pests are likely to do the most damage. Homeowners in California and Alabama may find a common enemy in termites, for example, while someone in South Carolina should remain vigilant against fire ants.
But there are a few measures — starting from before you buy a home through to when you spot that first mouse dropping — that can help prevent infestations and takeovers.
Before you move, learn what you can.
While a home inspection will give some insight into any recent damage done by pests and vermin, it is worth finding a home inspector who is also trained in pest control or bringing along a pest-control expert as well.
It helps to know which types of vermin to look out for. Termites have been found in every state except Alaska, so it’s always a good idea to specifically check for termite damage. Mice are particularly fond of insulation, so make sure the area is looked at during the inspection, and if you see a mouse or other critter in the attic, act quickly to have the insulation further inspected and dealt with.
Along with a professional inspection, Kyshawn Lane of the popular Instagram account Weekly Home Check has a simple suggestion: “Talk to the neighbors. ‘Do you have a problem with pests? Do you have a problem with water on the block? Leaks?,’” he said. “Your neighbor would be your best reference here, considering you’ll be new.”
During your first days, fill in the gaps.
Whether on your own or with the help of a professional, scour the property for holes and cracks on exterior walls, down in the basement and up in the attic. (Mice can squeeze through anything bigger than around a quarter of an inch.) Pay particular attention to windows and doors. “I don’t expect the average person to find every opening,” said David Castro, the associate certified entomologist and technical training manager of Viking Pest Control. But there are “common ones that most people should be able to look for, like daylight around the doors and obvious holes where utility lines go through the house.”
When you can, seal off larger openings in the home like chimneys and vents that lead to the outside. “Gable vents have to have mesh covering over them, on the inside or outside,” said Mr. Mazza. “I’d rather see it on both the inside and outside.”
It is also important to keep unoccupied spaces like the basement and attic as free from hiding places as possible. “What some people don’t realize is critters are smart,” Mr. Lane said. “They know exactly where to go where they can thrive, where they can be left alone.”
Inspect the exterior.
To keep the inside of your home as pest-free as possible, you will need to pay careful attention to the outside. Keep your grass cut low and hedges trimmed, and pick up pet droppings. Both Mr. Mazza and Mr. Lane mentioned the importance of maintaining the trash area. Keeping the trash sealed and regularly cleaning the bins will help keep pests away. Drilling a hole into the bottom of a can or bin can help drain any accumulated water. Mr. Lane suggested “seasoning” bins with a mix of cinnamon and cayenne to repel pests.
Mr. Mazza recommended putting some distance between greenery and the house. “I’m good with 18 inches off the siding of the house,” Mr. Mazza said. “When your hedges are growing against your house or the trees, they’re trapping moisture within that area.” That trapped moisture can cause wood rot, which should be replaced immediately, as it can attract wood-boring pests, such as carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles. Removing standing water and ensuring your sprinklers don’t touch the house will also help keep the area outside your home as dry as possible.
It’s important to monitor gutters and outside drainage pipes, too. Not only could a clog create standing water, but it could also create easy access for vermin, particularly if the fascia board, which runs along the roof and protects the house from moisture, starts to pull away from the house. Vermin “can sometimes pull that down so it opens a wider gap between that board and the actual roof itself,” Mr. Castro said. “Which can allow for insects to get in, sometimes even mice and squirrels if they feel that warm air coming out of the house as they’re running around.”
When all else fails, call in the experts.
With a mix of cleanliness, vigilance and dedication, new homeowners can lower their chances of a pest problem. But perhaps the best tool in their arsenal is to know when a problem is out of their league. “I think oftentimes homeowners don’t think of that until they come up against a nest or have someone getting stung in their yard or on their deck,” said Aly Silva Mulgrew of Plunkett’s Pest Control in Minnesota. She points out that while a trap or bait will work in some pest-control circumstances, unless the homeowner is certain what type of ant they’re dealing with, or where exactly that bat entered the home, it’s best to call in a pest control specialist who will be able to identify not just the pest but the source.
Consider what is at risk. “Anything that’s got any kind of safety or structural components to it,” Mr. Castro said, “a professional is really the best way to go.”
The post What to Do When There’s a Mouse in Your First House appeared first on New York Times.
