5 Ways Pests Can Enter Apartments & Condominiums
Wintertime may be the perfect time of year for apartment and multi-family housing residents to curl up and get warm - and, unfortunately for building owners, many pests may be looking to do exactly the same thing.
Whether you’re battling against the threat of bed bugs in your apartment building or keeping close watch for any rodent activity around your property, pest prevention is year-round work. That’s why it’s critical to know exactly how pests find their way inside your property in the first place, and where you may need to direct your exclusion efforts to keep them out.
Here’s a look at some of the most commonly-used pest pathways in and out of your apartment building, and advice on what to do to make sure these spaces don’t become vulnerabilities to your property.
1. From Nearby Properties
Pest infestations have a tendency to be contagious - and just like a virus, pests can more easily spread to a building if neighboring properties are already affected.
If the building or restaurant next door is facing regular rodent problems, for example, an apartment landlord should be especially cautious to keep temptations for rodent invaders at an absolute minimum to prevent further infestation.
That’s why it’s critical for apartment building owners to not only know the pest status of their own property, but to also keep a close watch on other properties in the area. Often, that may mean establishing clear channels of communication between neighboring buildings, and relying on an experienced pest professional to monitor the surrounding area for signs of infestation.
2. Through The Garbage
Although not always the most pleasant location on your property, your garbage area may in fact be some of the most desirable real estate for pests looking to settle in and start a nest.
That’s because garbage areas are usually full of food scraps and standing water for the taking, combined with relatively little disturbance from human intervention. Combined, these factors can make a garbage disposal area, dumpster, or recycling area a prime place for pests like cockroaches or mice to find shelter on your apartment property.
Like all potential pest havens around your property, it’s important to keep your garbage area clean and clear on a regular basis, and to keep a close watch on the area for any signs of pests. That way, you and your pest prevention specialist can quarantine the area and respond to any issues long before pests reach your residents.
3. With Food & Other Deliveries
Whether it’s your guests having packages delivered to their doorstep or your own orders coming in to keep facilities stocked, it’s important to keep a close watch on deliveries to ensure pests are not finding their way into your building alongside your parcels.
Obviously. food deliveries and the delivery of any other perishables can be prime contact points for pests looking to enter your apartment building, and so it’s important to establish clear rules around package deliveries and personal responsibility for residents who bring pests inside via a delivery.
In the event that a pest does find their way in your building through a delivery, taking certain steps like quarantining your delivery area and tracing the pest back to its source can help stem the problem before it gets worse. Your pest prevention specialist can help identify and implement these improvements if any are needed.
4. Through Ductwork & Pipes
Your heating and plumbing system may be key to keeping your tenants warm and happy during the winter months, but all that heat and moisture can also be a huge temptation to pests looking for a place to settle in and start a nest.
That’s why it’s incredibly important to keep a close watch on these areas, and to have your pest prevention professional take time to regularly inspect these areas for any gaps, openings, or potential entry points for pests like rodents, cockroaches and others.
Once pests make it into your ductwork, it’s even easier for them to continue to spread out - meaning this is one area apartment owners simply cannot afford to ignore for long.
5. Alongside Your Tenants
While a significant portion of your pest prevention efforts should be directed toward your property and the weak points that may be present throughout your building, it’s important to remember that your tenants themselves can act as a key vector for pest infestation.
Fortunately, with just a few basic steps toward prevention education - like informal or written guidelines for preventing the spread of bed bugs, rodents, cockroaches, and other pests - can go a long way toward keeping your tenants from spreading pests the next time they come back from a vacation or holiday.
Your pest prevention specialist should be able to assist in keeping your apartment tenants well-informed on the latest pest prevention techniques, as well as what they can do to report pest problems early to help prevent their spread to other living areas.
Make Spaces Safe For Tenants - Not For Pests
Between filling tenant needs, keeping living spaces clean and in working order, and basic property-owner requirements, apartment building owners and landlords have enough work on their hands, and dealing with pest problems should not add to that stress.
That’s why it’s worthwhile to act proactively and work with an experienced pest prevention specialist to make sure your apartment building is free from weak spots before pests come around looking for shelter. Get in touch with a pest professional today and get your apartment building protected against pests - your tenants may just thank you.
