It’s that time of year again. As the weather heats up, mosquitoes will be out in full force, particularly if you live in a hot, humid part of the country. Mosquitoes shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the outdoors with your family, however, and they certainly shouldn’t bug you while you’re in your home.

Here are a few easy tips on how to mosquito-proof your home so when summer comes you’ll have no qualms about getting outdoors or sleeping without a mosquito net!

OUTSIDE:

The first step in keeping bugs away from your home is your yard. Insects enter first through your lawn and soil so preparing the outside of your home for “attack” is where to begin. To prevent mosquitoes, the most effective thing you can do is drain all standing water away from your property. Be sure gutters have a place to runoff, your bird baths are empty, and hoses aren’t leaking. Coy ponds and swimming pools are a hotbed for mosquito activity.

If you have a usable outdoor area, fortify it with mosquito repellents. This can mean a few citronella candles, bug zappers, or even electromagnetic mosquito systems that keep bugs away. Always wear DEET bug spray when enjoying the outdoors.

INSIDE:

The inside of your home should already be naturally fairly mosquito resistant, but these pests are crafty. First and foremost, replace all broken or cracked screens on windows and doors and check to be sure all seals are air-tight. Not only will you keep mosquitoes out, you’ll save money on air conditioning, too.

Though it’s tempting when the weather’s nice, avoid leaving windows or doors open without a screen in place. Once mosquitoes find their way inside the can lay eggs and reproduce making them harder to get rid of. Damp areas like basements or leaky faucets draw the bugs inside just as much as they do out.

Some communities have had great luck fighting mosquitoes together. In Virginia Beach, Virginia, for example, mosquito spray trucks roam the streets during the summer spraying a thick layer of repellent on bay-adjacent neighborhoods. Some communities in Hawaii have invested thousands in spiders, a natural mosquito predator. Certain birds also love to eat these stinging bugs so consider putting up feeders near the mosquito hot-spots around your home.

If you’ve followed these tips and still have a mosquito issue, contact a pest control professional in your area. There are a number of organic and chemical treatments available to help eradicate mosquito problems.