Hiring a pest control company is the best way to keep your home bug-free, but it may also be important to take the right steps in your home to reduce the number of bugs and rodents that get inside. Taking steps to keep bugs and rodents out of your home might help drastically when it comes to the number of pests you see, and this could even eliminate the need to have your home treated each month for bugs. Here are some of the best steps you can take if you want to keep your home pest-free.

Caulk Every Necessary Part Of Your Home's Exterior

Caulk is a material that is great for sealing a home, and it can be used on most parts of the exterior of a home. You should begin by purchasing several tubes of caulk—silicone caulk tends to work the best for this purpose. You may also want to purchase foaming caulk or insulation to use as well.

To begin this process, you should place a bead of caulk around every window and door you have. These are the most common areas bugs tend to use to enter into a home, but you can put a stop to this by caulking these areas. Next, you should place caulk around any other openings you have on the outside of your home, including vents and holes used for utility pipes and wires.

Foaming insulation is another great product to use, and you should use this to fill in any gaps or cracks that caulk will not be sufficient for. To make sure your entire home is sealed, walk around the exterior several times with your caulk and foaming product and fill in any and every crevice you see.

Replace All Old Screens

Screens on your windows are also great for keeping bugs out of a home, but they do not last forever. If your screens are really old and have holes in them or do not fit just right, you should consider replacing them. Screens are not overly expensive, yet the amount you must spend may add up if you have a lot of windows. If you complete this step, it will make a difference in the number of bugs that are able to get inside your house.

Keep Food Sources Away

It's also important to realize that bugs and rodents often enter a home for food, and they will do this more often if they have a food source in your home. To prevent bugs from wanting to live in your home, you may want to follow these tips:

1. Keep your home clean – Homes that have crumbs on the floors and food on the counters may attract more bugs than homes that are clean.
2. Put food items in sealed containers – You may also want to start putting all your food in sealable, air-tight containers. This too can discourage bugs and rodents, because they will not smell the food or have a way to get to it.
3. Keep your garbage away from your house – Bugs will also look for your trash because there is food to eat in there. Because of this, be sure to keep your trash cans as far from your house as possible.
4. Rinse recyclable items – If you recycle, you will need to make sure you rinse every item out as well as you can. You may also want to start putting these types of items in a garbage can that has a lid that seals.

With the right steps, you may be able to reduce the pest problem in your home. If you are still encountering problems with bugs or rodents, you should contact the professionals. A professional pest control company, like American Pest Control Inc, can provide you with the help and resources you need to keep your home pest-free.