Your first appointment starts with a detailed inspection to identify target areas and entry points. Aptive’s year-round treatments ensure your home will be protected from pests throughout the year. We prioritize convenience and responsibility as we control pests. Aptive’s team of professionals is passionate about protecting Columbus homes from damage caused by pests. Don’t take on bugs and rodents alone; choose convenience and call your local Aptive branch today for a free quote.

Pest prevention starts with learning about what attracts them to homes—food, water and shelter—and how to make simple changes to your habits to solve these problems. You can start by making sure that any foods you store in the pantry or cabinets are sealed in airtight, metal or glass containers.

Always wash dishes or put them in the dishwasher after you’re done with them. Pests can climb onto counters to reach dirty plates, contaminating eating surfaces. Changing garbage bags as soon as they’re full is another simple way to avoid attracting pests.

Many U.S. households are composting food leftovers and other organic materials to reduce the amount of waste they produce. It’s great for the environment (and can benefit your garden soil). However, it can also attract pests to your home. To avoid infestation, follow these composting tips: Composting outside can add nutrients to the soil...

Bury your compost pile at least eight inches in the ground to make it less accessible to pests. If you’re using a dedicated bin, make sure its lid closes tightly. If it doesn’t have a lid, you can also block the opening with sticks or wire to keep rodents out. Adding a layer of dried leaves or dirt on top of the composting material can help mask the smell and make it more difficult for bugs to find.

In the spring, many pests become active again after overwintering underground or in less desirable places—attics, walls, garages. Ants, in particular, become common sights on sidewalks, driveways and kitchen floors. Other insects, including yellow jackets and wasps, also start searching for food.

Warm summer weather brings people outside, where pest activity is at its highest. Stinging insects often interrupt cookouts while ants quickly find ways into the picnic foods. Ticks and fleas can become serious problems in the summer when pets and people spend more time near grassy and wooded areas.

Cockroaches, which are generally active all year, might become especially noticeable if they start moving indoors when temperatures cool. Mice squeeze through tiny holes for the same reason. Spiders, meanwhile, build webs where they can catch insects. If the insects start entering homes, so will spiders.

Winter might seem like a quiet time for pests, but they can still cause problems. Mice that have found ways inside can damage wiring and furniture as they build nests. Spiders can build a number of webs in attics, basements and other storage areas. Cockroaches can multiply and spread extremely quickly. Seeing one means there might already be an infestation.