Pests can wreak havoc on your home if you’re not careful. While you may feel like you’ve invested in countless traps and fixes that just haven’t worked, the good news is you can solve many pest problems with simpler solutions.
The right practical actions can deter critters from seeking shelter, warmth, and food in your home. Read on as we look at 12 smart home automations that keep pests out.
1. Use Leak Sensors to Detect Moisture
Moisture is a magnet for pests like termites, silverfish, and mosquitoes. That’s why you’ll want to be alerted as soon as possible if you have a leak under your sink or around an old water heater.
Place sensors around toilets and sinks so you’ll get notified if there’s a leak. That way, you can intervene quickly and keep the pests from taking up residence in your home.
2. Turn to Sensors to Control Your Dehumidifier
You don’t want humidity levels to be too high in your home. If they are, you’ll be extended an invitation to insects, like mold mites and cockroaches, that love moist air. Plan on installing humidity sensors on all levels of your home to catch high humidity levels and turn on your dehumidifier.
3. Close Your Garage at Dusk
If you use your garage a lot, you may keep it open a lot. But doing this can create a simple entrance for pests, especially during peak times like dusk. Instead, use automation to ensure your garage door always closes when the sun goes down.
4. Switch Your Exterior Light Bulbs
Take some time to swap out your blue or white light bulbs in outdoor sconces or flood lights. Instead, use warmer lights that only operate for select hours from dusk to midnight. You’ll cut down on the number of pesky bugs swarming your lights and outdoor living spaces.
5. Use Motion-Based Lighting
You’ll constantly have insects hanging around your home entrances if you leave the lights on throughout the night. The better choice is to install motion-based lights that will only activate if someone moves toward them.
6. Try Automated Rodent Traps
Did you know you can get rodent traps that send you notifications if an animal engages with them? You’ll find out through a connected app on your phone right away, so you can remove the trap and pest before you smell bad odors.
Even with the best sensors and apps, though, sometimes you’ll need professionals to tackle bigger pest problems. The best residential pest control companies can go beyond traps and actually remove infestations and treat affected spaces in your home. They’ll be able to do a thorough assessment, too, so the pests won’t come back.
7. Add Magnetic Sensors to Windows and Doors
With magnetic sensors, you’ll always know if a door or window is open. When you have this extra layer of awareness, you can prevent rodents and insects from finding their way into your home.
8. Set Trash Reminders
Dinnertime food scraps and waste can be a tantalizing treat for pests. You don’t want to leave leftovers or dirty dishes out at night. Make sure you have an automated alert reminding you to put all scraps in the trash and take it out each night.
9. Tackle Kitchen Clean-Up Duties
If you use a smart home device to give reminders about tasks or activate appliances, put it to use in your kitchen. You can set up your hub to turn on the dishwasher and run the garbage disposal so crumbs, scraps, and other pest magnets are removed before you go to bed.
You can create checklists, too, to ensure that you’ve wiped all counters and swept up crumbs. Committing to regular clean-up duties can cut down on pests.
10. Access Early Warnings
Pests may seem quiet and sneaky, but they will create vibrations in your pantries, walls, or other cupboards. Placing sensors in these locations can give you a heads up to noises that may indicate you have pests.
11. Set Camera Alerts Outdoors
Outdoor cameras can be a great way to capture footage of pests like raccoons or mice. And with AI-enhanced features, some cameras will only capture footage when animals are detected. If you have cameras in the right places, you can see if pests are loitering near your trash bins or trying to access crawl spaces.
12. Create Seasonal Routines
You’ll encounter different pests each season of the year. In response, you’ll want to create a calendar of seasonal pest prevention routines to stay ready.
From monitoring humidity to setting garage door closing reminders, you’ll be able to limit access to your home.
Protect Your Home
With the right smart home automations, you can keep your home safe from pests. Set up cameras and sensors so you can track anything from noises to moisture levels and leaks.
When you’re proactive about taking the right measures, you’ll be able to sleep comfortably knowing pests aren’t invading your home.
