Keeping Pests Out: Critters And Plumbing

When it comes to keeping pests out of your home, you can do a few things around the property that won't cost you any money.

Standing Water

If you have a pool or pond in your backyard, make sure it has a cover over it to prevent critters from making their home there. The same goes for puddles that form after rainstorms—these should be quickly dried up as soon as possible. You might also consider planting some shrubs or flowers around the perimeter of your yard in order to give yourself more privacy and keep unwanted pests away from where they shouldn’t be hanging out.

Turn off the water to your house when you're not using it. If you have a sprinkler system, turn off the water to the sprinklers. If you have a pool, use a pool cover to deter pests from swarming your home.

Seal Cracks

It's important to seal off cracks and holes around your home, especially near pipes. This will prevent pests from entering your home through these openings. While you're at it, make sure to seal off all pipes that go through the walls of your house as well as any pipes that run outside the house. Check to make sure that no trees are overgrowing into the plumbing, causing leaks and cracks.

You should also seal off any pipes that are located in attics or crawl spaces to keep pests out of these areas; this includes sealing off vents and registers for fireplaces, furnaces or air conditioners as well as ventilation systems for heating ducts and water heaters (or central air conditioning units).

Drain Care

Clearing out the drains regularly is an easy way to keep pests out of your plumbing system. Pests attract the smell that can build up in your drain, so it’s important to clean them out regularly.

There are a few ways you can do this, starting with drain cleaners. Use a drain cleaner that is safe for septic systems and follow the directions on the label. While we do not always recommend chemical drain cleaners for home care, they do have their uses. For most cases of drain care, we would recommend simple baking soda and vinegar mixture to help clear out debris. Typically most build-up will clear out with this homemade mixture, and run less of a risk of damaging your pipes than chemical cleaners pose.

Clear out clogs with a snake or drain auger if you have one available; otherwise, use a plunger to dislodge any clogs into an open bucket or garbage bag until they break free. While these tips may seem fairly straightforward, it is these simple steps that will keep pests from finding your home a suitable place to nest.

Mark Carpenter Plumbing has got you covered for all your HVAC needs when you call us today at (575) 222-2551