Summer Pest Proofing: Your Weekend Checklist
As temperatures in the Valley hit triple digits, the desert environment becomes incredibly harsh. Pests of all kinds—from ants and roaches to scorpions and roof rats—start aggressively looking for three things: food, water, and shade. Unfortunately, your house provides all three.
Here is a quick, actionable weekend checklist to make your property less inviting to summer invaders before the peak heat arrives.
1. Fix the Drip (Eliminate Water Sources)
Water is the ultimate prize in the desert summer. Even a tiny, slow drip from an outdoor hose bib or an over-watering irrigation system can sustain an entire colony of pests.
- Check all outdoor spigots for leaks and replace worn washers.
- Adjust your sprinkler and drip irrigation timers so water doesn't pool in your yard.
- Ensure your A/C condensation line is draining far away from the foundation.
2. Establish a "Dry Zone" Around Your Foundation
Pests use dense vegetation as a highway straight to your walls. Keep shrubs, bushes, and tree branches trimmed back at least 6 to 12 inches away from your home's exterior.
Rake up deep leaf litter and consider replacing organic mulch (which holds moisture and bugs) with decorative rock or gravel near the base of your house.
3. Seal the Envelope
When you turn on the A/C, your house starts leaking cold air. Pests can feel this cool draft from outside and will follow it in.
- Replace torn or flattened weatherstripping around exterior doors.
- Check the rubber sweep at the bottom of your garage door; if you can see daylight, bugs can get in.
- Ensure all window screens are free of tears.
4. Rethink Your Lighting
Standard white outdoor bulbs attract massive swarms of flying insects at night. These insects, in turn, attract the predators that eat them (like spiders and scorpions). Swap out your porch and patio lights for warm, yellow "bug lights" which are much less attractive to night-flying insects.
