(ARA) – Where do bugs enter your home? The short answer: all over. Sometimes they crawl or fly in when windows or doors are open. They also slip in through cracks in walls or foundations, holes in window screens or crevices in the home that let in cables, wires and pipes. Most commonly though, they’ll drop right onto your roof and crawl through the tiny openings in your siding and air conditioning vents, right into your attic.

Attics are the one area of homes that go overlooked when pest-proofing, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). This can cause big problems. For example, cockroaches, a common attic pest, are known to “carry at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens,” according to NPMA.

How do you protect your home? Start with your attic. The NMPA gives the following DIY tips for preventing pests in attics:

* Attics should be kept well ventilated and dry by using dehumidifiers and ventilators.

* Keep any items stored there off the floor and in sealed plastic containers to prevent nesting.

* Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home.

* Keep tree branches and shrubbery well trimmed and away from the house.

* Repair fascia and rotted roof shingles; some insects are drawn to deteriorating wood.

* Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around attic windows.

They also suggest homeowners “pay special attention to the home’s insulation” which not only keeps your home’s heat or cool air from escaping, but also helps keep invasive pests out.

However, what makes pest control in your attic such a challenge is that it’s a constant process. In fact, the NMPA recommends pest-proofing the forgotten rooms of a house on a year-round schedule.

And every year, many homeowners spend large amounts of money and time doing just that. If they aren’t doing it themselves, they’re hiring pest management companies to come out and do it for them, which can be costly.

An alternative option that provides a long-lasting solution for homes is now available for the first time though that may offer some relief from this ongoing process: pest control insulation. It’s a DIY project that can be installed over a weekend and will combat pests year after year with little to no additional effort needed on the part of the homeowner.

“Before this, preventative pest control had to be reapplied on an ongoing basis,” says Bruce Harned, director of marketing at GreenFiber, manufacturer of the OrkinTherm pest control insulation. “Now, you can purchase and install a long-lasting solution once to proactively protect homes against pests before problems arise.”

While there’s definitely an infestation point at which you need to call in a professional, the best defense is a good offense. There are several preventive measures and good quality solutions for superior pest-control that can be easily administered by homeowners over a weekend.

The NMPA encourages homeowners to take pest control into their own hands and consider using DIY options. These can be effective pest-proofing measures to protect your attic and other areas of your home. Visit www.PestWorld.org for more tips and techniques on DIY pest control.

Homeowners looking to install this product can visit the insulation aisle at select The Home Depot stores. Detailed videos and other information, featuring how-to install simulations and store availability for OrkinTherm pest control insulation can be found at www.orkintherm.com.