Top Pest Prevention Tips for Fresno, CA Homes

1. Inspect and Seal Off Entry Points

One of the simplest — and most effective — ways to prevent pests from getting inside your home is by sealing off their access points.

Start with a thorough walkaround of your home’s exterior. Look closely at door and window frames, where siding meets the foundation, and where utility lines enter the house. Even tiny cracks and gaps can be an open invitation for ants, spiders, and even rodents.

Doors that don’t close snugly, missing door sweeps, torn window screens, and unsealed vents are all hotspots. Use caulk or expanding foam for cracks, install door sweeps, and replace damaged screens. In places where rodents might be a concern, like around crawl space vents, opt for steel mesh — they can chew through softer materials.

2. Eliminate Sources of Standing Water

If you’ve lived through a Fresno summer, you know how valuable water is — and pests feel the same way. Standing water attracts mosquitoes, supports cockroach populations, and can even draw in larger pests like rodents that are searching for hydration during dry spells.

Check areas both inside and outside the home. Indoors, that means fixing leaky faucets, checking under sinks, and inspecting appliances like dishwashers or refrigerators for slow drips. Outdoors, it’s all about drainage. Make sure gutters are clear and downspouts are directing water away from the foundation. Low spots in the yard can create puddles, so consider grading your lawn if pooling is persistent.

Pet bowls and birdbaths should be emptied and refreshed regularly — stagnant water becomes a mosquito breeding ground fast, especially in late spring and early summer.

3. Keep Food Properly Stored and Surfaces Clean

Pests are opportunists — and your kitchen is their dream come true if it isn’t cleaned consistently.

One of the top reasons Fresno homes experience ant infestations is due to food being left out or improperly stored. Ants have an incredible sense of smell and can track even the smallest crumbs. Roaches, too, will feast on spills, pet food, and greasy residues.

Make it a daily habit to wipe down counters, sweep up crumbs, and store dry goods like cereal, rice, and sugar in sealed containers. Don’t forget to rinse recycling items before tossing them into bins, and take the trash out regularly — especially in the hotter months when smells intensify and attract bugs faster.

4. Maintain a Tidy, Well-Groomed Yard

The state of your yard plays a huge role in pest activity around your home. Overgrown bushes, tall grass, and piles of organic material offer perfect shelter for spiders, earwigs, fleas, and rodents.

To minimize your risk:

• Trim trees and shrubs back so they don’t touch your house — these natural bridges let pests bypass your sealed doors and windows.
• Rake up leaves, grass clippings, and other debris regularly.
• Avoid piling mulch or firewood directly against the foundation.

Dry, cluttered yards can also invite tick and flea activity, especially in areas where pets play or rest. Keeping your landscaping neat isn’t just about curb appeal — it’s about keeping pests where they belong: away from your home.

5. Schedule Routine Pest Inspections

Here’s a truth we’ve learned from years of serving Fresno families: many infestations start long before homeowners realize anything is wrong.

That’s why scheduling annual or seasonal pest inspections is one of the smartest things you can do. A trained technician knows exactly where to look for early signs of trouble — things most homeowners miss, like subtle termite damage behind walls, or rodent droppings in hidden attic corners.

And because Fresno neighborhoods vary — from downtown bungalows to suburban developments to homes near farmland — pest risks vary too. A customized prevention plan based on your home’s specific vulnerabilities will always outperform a one-size-fits-all approach.

With OPP, inspections are free — and they give you the peace of mind that someone’s looking out for your home.

6. Upgrade Window Screens and Door Sweeps

It may seem like a small detail, but functioning screens and tight-fitting doors are your first line of defense.

Check that every window has a screen, especially in rooms where you like to open windows for airflow. Even tiny tears can let in flies, gnats, and mosquitoes — which are especially active in Fresno during spring and summer.

On exterior doors, install (or replace) door sweeps to eliminate gaps at the bottom. You’d be surprised how many pests get in this way — especially ants and spiders. In garages or older homes with shifting frames, you may need to reinforce gaps with weather stripping too.

7. Adjust Outdoor Lighting to Reduce Insects

You might not think of your porch light as a pest problem, but for many homeowners, it absolutely is.

Insects are attracted to light — and where there are bugs, spiders and other predators often follow. If you have bright white bulbs near entryways, you’re essentially ringing the dinner bell.

Switch to yellow “bug lights” or sodium vapor bulbs, which attract far fewer insects. You can also use motion-activated lights to limit how long they stay on, or reposition fixtures further from doors.

It’s a simple change that can reduce nighttime insect activity significantly — especially helpful during Fresno’s warmer months when bugs are most active.

8. Handle Firewood, Trash, and Clutter the Right Way

Rodents, cockroaches, and spiders all love dark, undisturbed places. That includes stacks of firewood, storage boxes, and overflowing trash bins.

If you store firewood, keep it at least 20 feet from the house and raised off the ground. Never stack it against your foundation or siding — rodents will nest in it and then find their way into your attic or crawl space.

For trash, always use bins with tight-fitting lids, and rinse out containers before throwing them away. This reduces odors and food residue that can draw pests from surprisingly far away.

And inside? Avoid cluttered closets, garages, or attics. Use sealed plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes to keep pests from nesting or chewing through your belongings.

9. Keep Your Garage and Attic Clean

These are the two most overlooked areas in most homes — and also two of the most common hiding places for pests.

In Fresno, roof rats and mice often sneak into garages and attics during fall and winter when temperatures drop. They love the insulation, the quiet, and the access to stored food or pet supplies.

Check these spaces at least a few times a year. Look for droppings, nests, shredded materials, or gnawed items. Store seasonal decorations or gear in plastic bins with lids. If you have insulation that looks like it’s been disturbed, it might be a sign something has taken up residence.

Keeping these spaces organized, clean, and sealed off from the outdoors can stop many infestations before they begin.

10. Work with a Trusted Fresno Pest Control Expert

At the end of the day, even the most pest-conscious homeowner can miss things. That’s where professional support makes all the difference.

Local experts — like our team here at OPP — understand the specific pest pressures Fresno families face. We know which pests are seasonal, which are year-round, and how to create effective prevention plans that don’t rely on over-spraying or harsh chemicals.

Whether you want help keeping pests out for good, or just want a second set of eyes on your home, we’re here to help.

Free inspections. Safe treatments. Long-term protection. That’s how we do pest control in Fresno.