Totowa Teems Between Business and Pleasure

Protecting Your Home From Common Infestations

Like so many Garden State cities, pests thrive in Totowa. But this doesn’t mean infestations are inevitable. There are several ways to protect yourself from creatures and critters of various species.

To deter rats and mice, seal gaps and cracks, even if they seem too tiny for a furry fiend to squeeze through (remember, it only takes a coin-sized gap for rodents to gain access). Store food in sealed containers and don’t leave crumbs in the kitchen or garage. If you feed birds, keep the birdseed high (don’t let it spill onto your deck) and store it indoors. Keeping your areas free of clutter also helps deter infestations and, as an added bonus, improves your mental health!

To keep mosquitoes away, the most vital thing you can do is reduce moisture on your property. Mosquitoes are natural water babies because they need water to have babies. And any kind of water, from birdbaths to pet bowls to overflowing planters, can attract them. Even a bottle cap filled with water is enough to sustain their life cycle and attract them to your Totowa patio.

Ants can show up inside your home in droves. They’re especially attracted to crumbs and spills, which means cleaning up as soon as messes happen (and encouraging your kiddos to clean up after themselves) is one of the most important steps you can take. Other ways to deter these six-legged sugar seekers include sealing cracks in foundations, storing food in airtight containers, and trimming vegetation around the base of the home.

Carpenter bees are a type of wood-excavating creature known for drilling perfect circles into the side of houses, decks, and fences. To deter these flying foes, paint or seal exposed surfaces and quickly replace damaged or weathered wood. Inspect decks, fences, and eaves each year and fill any old holes before spring arrives.

Termites, like carpenter bees, go after wood, but for different reasons; carpenter bees use the wood to set up tunnel systems, while termites use it to wine and dine. Termites are ferocious eaters of cellulose, the main component of wood, and can eat around the clock thanks to their simple nervous systems. To avoid these long-living insects, keep wood mulch and firewood away from the home, repair leaky pipes or anything that causes excess moisture (as termites like damp wood), seal cracks, and schedule regular inspections (we can help you with that), especially if you live in an older home.