Exterior Vents

Exterior vents and openings should be properly sealed to keep out unwanted visitors. Insects, rodents, birds and other pests are constantly looking for food and shelter, and if you're not careful, they'll use your home.

Structural openings such as roof vents, crawl space vents, chimneys, exhaust vents and sewer pipe vents are all possible entry ways for unwanted animals. Survey your home from top to bottom. See if any of these areas need screening or capping.

If so, there are a variety of materials to close structural openings used by animals. Metal hardware cloth, aluminum flashing, caulk and specialty caps are all viable options. Check the manufacturer's instructions for each material to determine where and how to install it.

Patching up those problem areas around the house will definitely go a long way toward keeping pests where they belong . . . outside.