Starting the new year pest free comes down to taking away what pests need from your home (food, water, shelter and a way inside) and scheduling an inspection before spring activity picks up, which is worthwhile because pests can trigger allergies and asthma, spread germs, and bite or sting. Saela Pest Control, a residential and commercial pest control company based in Orem, Utah, builds that idea into its integrated pest management approach, which includes sealing entry points and reducing the food, water and shelter that support infestations. As our article on making pest control part of regular home maintenance explains, steady upkeep is easier than reacting to an infestation.
Allergies and Asthma
Cockroaches and other pests can make a home harder on people with allergies or asthma. The EPA’s guide to asthma triggers notes that droppings or body parts of cockroaches and other pests can trigger asthma, and that proteins in cockroach feces and saliva can cause allergic reactions. Its recommended steps are simple: keep counters and floors clean, clean up crumbs and spills right away, store food in airtight containers and seal cracks around cabinets. Our article on whether cockroaches can influence asthma and allergies explains the connection in more detail.
Diseases Carried by Pests
Some common household pests can spread germs that make people sick. Rats and mice can spread hantavirus, mainly through contact with their urine, droppings and saliva, and the CDC’s hantavirus overview describes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome as a severe and potentially fatal disease. Mosquitoes can spread germs that cause infections such as West Nile virus and dengue, according to CDC guidance on mosquito control at home. Keeping rodents out and removing standing water are two practical ways to lower these risks.
Bites and Stings
Stinging and biting pests add a different kind of risk. Wasp and yellowjacket stings usually cause short-term pain, but UC IPM’s guide to social wasps notes that some people have life-threatening allergic responses. Bed bugs are not known to spread disease, but the CDC’s bed bug overview notes that their bites cause itching and lost sleep. Winter is a good time to plan ahead, since overwintering wasp queens start new nests when the weather warms in spring.
Saela’s Protection Program is designed to prevent problems before they start, with interior and exterior treatments on an every-other-month or quarterly schedule; covered pests and visit frequency depend on the plan you choose. Every Saela plan includes a 50+ point property inspection of entry points, nesting sites and attics. In a February 2024 Google review, Paul Rugg wrote that his technician “did a great inspection and noticed some areas that needed attention.” To start the year with an inspection, book a call with Saela.
Frequently asked questions
What are the first steps to a pest-free new year?
Start by sealing gaps around doors, windows, pipes and utility lines, storing food in airtight containers and fixing leaks that give pests water. If rodents have been a problem, a rodent exclusion service can find and repair access points and place traps for rodents still inside.
When should I schedule a pest inspection?
Late winter is a good time to schedule a pest inspection, because problems such as entry points and nesting sites can be fixed before spring activity begins. A thorough property inspection should cover entry points, nesting sites and attics, and you can book a call with Saela to schedule one.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
