Pest Proofing Your Phoenix Home – Inside & Out

As a homeowner, you know how to protect your property from unwanted intruders. You install the best security system that fits your budget, make sure all windows and doors are securely closed and locked, and avoid sharing vacation photos on social media until you’ve returned home. These help you keep your home secure and protected while you’re away. Suppose you’re camping on the assumption that you have home security under control. In that case, we don’t want to rain on your parade, but (and there’s always a but) have you really secured your home against all invaders, specifically those that fly or crawl into Phoenix homes? Insects and rodents can get into your home at any time, but they are particularly troublesome in the fall – and no security system will keep them out. You need a different kind of protection to stop pests. In today’s blog, we’ll look at some of the common pests in our area and how you can apply pest-proofing strategies inside and out to keep them from infesting this fall.  

Why it’s important to keep bugs and rodents out of your home this fall

As the weather cools down in Phoenix and nights get chilly, pests are likelier to enter your home, where temperatures are nice and cozy. When pests get in, they can threaten your comfort and health. Here are a few common pests you can expect to find indoors and some of the ways they can cause trouble.

• Boxelder Bugs
  These black and red insects can enter structures by the hundreds through small gaps and fly right in through open doors and windows. While boxelder bugs don’t bite or sting and do not reproduce indoors, they are a considerable nuisance and can stain fabrics.
• Scorpions
  These pests often scale exterior walls and slip in through tiny gaps to get indoors. When scorpions find their way inside, they can sting painfully, which may require medical treatment.
• Spiders
  Phoenix is home to black widows, Arizona brown spiders, and other house-infesting spiders. When these arachnids enter homes searching for bugs to eat, they may not feel like leaving. Moreover, a run-in with a venomous spider could require medical attention.
• Cockroaches
  Unfortunately, cockroaches are as comfortable crawling in sewers and through trash bins as they are walking across kitchen counters. That is a recipe for illness.
• Rodents
  Whether it’s mice or rats, rodents can negatively impact health and well-being when they leave their droppings, urine, and saliva all around the house as they explore. Germs and bacteria left behind can result in food contamination and may cause sickness. Rodents also damage property with their gnawing and destructive behaviors.

Do you see what you’re up against? Some pests fly, some crawl, and some have strong teeth that can chew through building materials. It isn’t easy keeping these pests out. 

Where to focus your energy pest-proofing

Let’s start with an easy one—keeping a clean home. Insects and rodents benefit greatly from clutter, crumbs, and spills. By simply keeping kitchen counters and floors spotless, emptying trash cans often, cleaning dishes after every meal, and organizing storage areas, you can reduce the chances of pest problems. A sanitation strategy can make your home less attractive to insects that are attracted to decay, and by reducing these insects, you’ll deter the pests that eat them, like spiders and scorpions.

Keeping your home dry and well-ventilated is another pest exclusion must-do. Not only are cockroaches, mice, and other pests attracted to damp homes, but you run the risk of mold growth, and damage to the structure may occur. To keep your home dry, make sure all leaking pipes and appliances are fixed, eliminate moisture build-up in areas prone to being wet, make sure damp rooms are ventilated, correct drainage issues, and repair roof leaks.

Our last tip for the day is to keep insects and rodents out of your home by making sure they cannot get inside in the first place. You know the saying the best defense is a good offense? Here are some tips to pest-proof your exterior and go on the offense with your pest control:

• Use expanding foam to fill in holes, cavities, and gaps in your exterior walls and around wires that enter your home.
• Remove all weather stripping from your exterior doors, remove sweeps, and replace everything. A good seal is vital for weatherproofing and pest-proofing.
• Repair or replace damaged screens to keep flying insects from entering.
• Use a caulking gun to seal around exterior door and window frames to stop creeping insects, like roaches and ants.

Make sure every hole, gap, and opening on your home’s exterior is identified and sealed off. You should also ensure that your landscape elements do not touch the sides or roof of your house. Pests often hide in vegetation next to homes before entering and scale vegetation to reach higher entry points.

What if it’s too late, and you’ve already got pests infesting your home?

In recent days, we’ve heard from a homeowner who found rodent droppings near her front door. We’ve received multiple reports of scorpions in garages and inside houses and have talked with other property owners about a variety of bugs. If this sounds familiar and you’re already dealing with uninvited houseguests this fall, Northwest Exterminating can help!

Sign up for Northwest Exterminating’s home pest control services

Our home pest control services, available in Cave Creek, Apache Junction, Mesa, and throughout the Phoenix metro, Tucson, and Southern Arizona, are the ideal solution for homeowners who want to eliminate existing pest activity and keep pests from returning.

Compare our residential plans below or contact us today via form or phone so we can learn more about your pest troubles and, more importantly, offer a solution that results in a pest-free home!

Let us help you pest-proof, too!

At Northwest Exterminating, we’re pleased to offer Arizona homeowners our Desert Guard service. This rodent and pest exclusion service was designed with our unique desert environment in mind; here’s what you can expect:

• A thorough inspection to identify potential entry points along the house's base, roof, eaves, entries, windows, and more!
• Our specialized technicians install pest-proofing materials such as netting, screening, weather stripping, and caulking.
• A one-year warranty for material replacement and labor.

Contact us with any questions or to schedule your inspection!

This blog was originally published on October 19, 2022; it has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date information about pests and our services.