Here are some simple ways to keep bugs out of your home. Making a house one hundred percent bug free would be a major project and not at all simple but these few suggestions will make a big difference.

The single most important thing to do is to put mesh screens on all windows and outside doors. This will keep out most insects. Some smaller bugs such as aphids will be able to get through the mesh and the only way to keep them out is to make sure that the windows and doors remain closed. Glass screens can be used in the case of doors. All outside doors should be self closing or be protected by a screen door that is self closing.

Make sure that all door seals are in good condition and install door sweeps or thresholds. Rubber seals, as opposed to vinyl, should be used for garage doors. There is a very easy test to make sure that a door is sealed properly which is to look at it from the inside. If gaps are big enough to let the outside light in, work is required.

Cracks are most likely to develop around windows and doors and should always be filled. Silicon or latex caulk should be used for small cracks depending upon the properties required. Silicone is more flexible but latex caulk can be painted over and is easy to clean up. Larger cracks and openings should be filled with material that has similar properties to the damaged substrate.

It is worth taking a walk around the outside of the property and checking all the points where pipes or cable enter the home. Electrical, air conditioning, gas and many other utilities require that holes be drilled through the external walls. Contractors really should make sure that the house is sealed after they have completed their installation but that does not always happen. Caulk or silicone or polyurethane foam can be used as a sealant.

What goes in the yard and areas directly outside of the home is important. Any causes of standing water should be treated as a matter of urgency as mosquitoes require standing water to breed. pooling on the lawn caused by a thatch buildup can be dealt with by aerating the problem area which will allow the water to drain. If the problem is caused by poor drainage the solution is more complicated as dirt fill will have to be added at the very least. Blocked gutters can also be a source of standing water so they should be checked, cleaned and unblocked as required.

As a rule of thumb, the clearer the area immediately surrounding the house is the better. Piles of wood, especially untreated, should not be left against the side of a building. The area immediately adjacent to a house should have pea gravel or other stones as opposed to dirt or a lawn. Big shrubs and trees should definitely be cut back before they get close to the house. These measures will protect the property from many different pests.

Author Bio: Trevor Richards writes on behalf of Better Blinds (www.newblinds.co.uk), a UK retailer of fly screens.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: fly screens, insects, insect screens, rats, ants, vermin, pest control, house, home