It really doesn’t matter what time of year it is, bugs will often seek the refuge of a garage when it’s convenient. Warmer weather might mean the presence of some moisture buildup, while colder weather might mean bugs attempt to find refuge from frigid temperatures.
Listed below are some important steps you can take to make sure that bugs remain out of your garage:
Seal All Food
The idea of putting food in the garage can seem odd to some people, but space considerations in kitchen cabinets can often make this a reality. While the icy conditions that can come in winter may at least temporarily serve as a haven for cold items, most people prefer to place non-perishable items in these surroundings. Pet food can also be placed in these areas. Homeowners must make sure that all items are properly sealed. Otherwise, it can serve as a haven for any hungry bugs, who can then breed more while in there.
Keep The Surroundings Dry
Open garage doors can mean that rains find their way into this area, which is why most people make a concerted effort to close them. However, those same people may sometimes neglect to remove standing water from such things as garbage can lids or planters.
Standing water is attractive to mosquitoes that can be a scourge in warm weather, who can also be lured by those garages that happen to have a water heater in them. While being vigilant in quickly addressing any damp, wet spots or the aforementioned standing water can be aggravating, you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that such problems won’t develop.
Have Defensive Options in Place
Take proactive steps such as spraying insecticide on both sides of your baseboards. The same holds true in the placement of things like ant traps near the outside. Small investments in perimeter defense can help you avoid a costly call to remove these pests.
Check The Walls
Bugs will look for any way to enter a garage, even if the door is closed. One sneaky way that they can gain entry is when walls have even a small crack or hole in them. That, of course, leads to a parade of these aggravating menaces using the same access point, which only results in headaches for a homeowner.
Checking these areas out can spot both trouble spots and ones that are close to reaching that point. The cure for this problem is to break out a caulking gun and fill in any segments that you find. Again, the cost of a tube of caulk is miniscule to dealing with an infestation that has to be tackled by an exterminator.
Seal Things Up
You may feel that since you already do all of the above items and more, you’re set. However, if there happens to be even the smallest entry point at the bottom, all of that effort can go for naught. That’s because without a garage door threshold seal in place, water and other bug lures can enter.
This type of seal serves as a protective cover that completes the job and lets you go on with your life. You can buy these in the store but applying it to the bottom of the door has to be done correctly or you’re just wasting your money. That’s why many choose to have a professional install it.
