7 Pest Control Tips for First-Time Homeowners on Long Island, NY

Becoming a homeowner on Long Island is an exciting milestone, but along with the charming neighborhoods and proximity to the beach comes a new responsibility: keeping pests out of a house that's now entirely yours to protect. Most pest problems in a first home come down to the same handful of gaps: unsealed entry points, an unmaintained yard, and no plan in place before something shows up. Whether you've just moved into a historic home in Huntington or a newly built one in Islip, here are seven pest control habits worth building into your first year of homeownership.

1. Seal Off Entry Points

Long Island's coastal climate provides the perfect environment for pests like rodents and insects to thrive. Mice and rats are notorious for seeking out warmth and shelter as colder weather sets in, and your home can be an easy target if there are any entry points.

• Doors and windows: make sure all exterior doors close tightly, especially in older homes where weather stripping may have worn down, and replace seals that look cracked or worn. Install door sweeps on exterior doors to block rodents from sneaking in through small gaps.
• Foundation walls and gaps: Cornell Cooperative Extension notes that critters can come in on a potted plant, through a crack, an open door, a torn screen, or a gap in siding, and the larger the opening, the larger the pest you can end up hosting. Use caulk or expanding foam to seal gaps around the foundation, and pay special attention to crawl spaces or basements, where cracks are common and often overlooked.
• Vents and chimneys: if your home has a vent system, especially common in coastal areas like Fire Island, make sure vents are covered with mesh wire or hardware cloth to keep out rodents, birds, and wildlife. Install a chimney cap to prevent raccoons or squirrels from moving in.

2. Maintain Your Yard

Living on Long Island means you likely enjoy beautiful landscapes, but an overgrown yard can attract pests just as easily as it attracts admiration. Overgrown grass, dense shrubbery, and piles of leaves give insects and rodents places to hide close to your home.

• Trim trees and shrubs: overhanging branches act as a bridge for rodents to reach your roof and attic. Cut back anything touching the house, since that's an easy entryway for ants, termites, and other insects.
• Rake and remove leaves: fallen leaves attract ants, spiders, and beetles looking for warmth once temperatures drop. Stay on top of raking near your foundation especially.
• Clear debris and standing water: wood piles in contact with your home are a hiding spot for termites and ants, and standing water in birdbaths, clogged gutters, or old tires draws mosquitoes during Long Island's humid summers.

If you live near a beach, moisture management matters most for keeping mosquitoes down. In wooded areas like those near Massapequa, rodent prevention deserves more of your attention.

3. Keep Food Sealed

From beachside towns to inland neighborhoods, food attracts pests everywhere, especially ants and cockroaches.

• Use airtight containers: store pantry items in glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids to keep out ants, cockroaches, and pantry moths.
• Clean up crumbs and spills right away: wipe counters and sweep floors regularly, including behind appliances and under sinks where crumbs build up unnoticed.
• Keep trash bins sealed: in warmer months, loose lids invite flies, rodents, and raccoons to rummage through your garbage.

4. Watch for Termites

Long Island is known for its older homes, many of which carry a higher risk for termite activity. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County notes that termites are the subject of more inquiries than any other insect in the county, and damage often goes unnoticed for years before it becomes visible. If you've just moved into a house in an older neighborhood, it's worth knowing the warning signs.

Termite activity is a year-round concern on Long Island, so having your home inspected by a professional termite control provider in your first year is worth the peace of mind, especially in older neighborhoods.

5. Consider Seasonal Pest Prevention

Long Island experiences all four seasons, and each one brings its own pest pressure. Spring and summer bring mosquitoes, ticks, and ants, while fall and winter push rodents and spiders indoors looking for warmth.

• Mosquitoes: the New York State Department of Health notes that used tires are a significant mosquito-breeding site, right alongside clogged gutters and anything else holding standing water. Clearing those out, along with mosquito control treatment, keeps the warmer months more bearable.
• Rodents: inspect your attic and basement regularly once temperatures drop, and consider rodent control if you notice droppings, gnaw marks, or scratching in the walls.
• Spiders: keep corners clean and webs cleared. Essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus near doors and windows can help as an extra layer.

6. Don't Forget About Bed Bugs

If you're moving into a pre-owned home, it's worth checking for bed bugs before you settle in, especially since they're notoriously difficult to spot once established. New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development notes that the surest strategies to keep bed bugs from spreading are prevention, early detection, and rapid treatment, which holds true for a first home just as much as a rental.

• Inspect furniture: check the seams of mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture for dark spots, shed skins, or live bugs.
• Wash bedding immediately: if you've picked up second-hand furniture or bedding, wash it in hot water right away.

Bed bugs aren't as widespread on Long Island as some other pests, but they're still worth ruling out early, especially in more densely populated areas.

7. Invest in Professional Pest Control

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, pests find a way in. Here's how a first pass at prevention compares to bringing in a professional:

Look for a pest control provider that understands Long Island-specific issues, from termites and rodents to seasonal pests like ticks and mosquitoes, and one that offers preventive treatment rather than only responding after something's already inside.

Owning a home on Long Island comes with beautiful scenery, a strong sense of community, and easy access to everything the Island has to offer. Staying proactive with a few pest control habits in that first year keeps your new home comfortable no matter the season.

At A&C Pest Management, we've been protecting Long Island homes for over 57 years, and we understand the nuances of the pest pressure that comes with the Island's mix of coastal, wooded, and suburban neighborhoods. If you'd rather have a professional take the first look at your new home, contact us today.