Winter Pest Control Tips for Your Home

Most Active Winter Pests

Rodents

The most prevalent winter pests are rodents. Rats and mice are all known carriers of disease which make them unwanted guests in your home. Once inside your home, rodents can be difficult to remove as they enter through tiny cracks and holes in your home’s exterior and entryways. Other mammals like raccoons are also common during winter in both rural and urban areas. They tend to be found in attics and basements.

Spiders

Spiders tend to seek out basements and attics to lay their eggs. Though most house spiders are not especially dangerous, it doesn’t take many of them to soon cause an infestation.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are tempted by warmth, and food and are searching for a good source of water during the winter months. When the cold temperatures drop, these insects are looking for warm spots like in your home. They will search out warm spots in your home so that they can survive the winter. These insects can be issues for homeowners as they carry disease and can contaminate food.

Pest Proofing Your Home for the Winter

Outdoor Pest-Control Steps

• Regularly check your eavestroughs for debris and standing water. Installing gutter guards can keep leaves from blocking drainage and reduce the collection of water in basements and around your home. Less moisture results in less pests.
• Trim shrubs and tree branches surrounding your home. Pests often hide in the foliage. Shrubbery and leaves brushing against your house provide an easy entry for pests.
• Inspect your home’s foundation for cracks and crevices. Seal any cracks you discover with steel wool and a waterproof filler.
• If you have a chimney, get it cleaned and install a chimney cap to keep rodents and raccoons from getting indoors. Be sure to store firewood away from your home as it can provide a handy hiding place for pests.

Pest Control at Entrances

• Inspect the door and window frames to make sure they are secure and don’t have any gaps.
• Install brush sweeps at the bottom of doors that lead to your home’s exterior.
• Cover and repair any holes in the roof that you find, no matter the size.

Controlling Pests Inside Your Home

• Cleanliness is key. Regular cleaning of your home and removal of clutter and trash deters pest infestation.
• Safely store food in secure, sealed containers. Clean countertops, and don’t leave pet food out overnight.
• Remove clutter from attics, basements, and garages.
• Inspect the insulation in the attic and basements for gaps.
• Look for leaks and their sources and correct them.

Get Professional Home Pest-Control Help from ASAP Pest Control

Preventing pests from entering your home during the winter is the first step in winter pest control. Hiring a pest control service can help pest-proof your home before the cold winter temperatures start. ASAP Pest Control can inspect existing and potential trouble spots for winter pests and make sure that your home is safeguarded from pests. Our Integrated Pest Management Program works by inspecting, resolving, and monitoring your pest issues to prevent reoccurrence. Our mission is to make you feel safe and secure in your home environment. Contact us today and we can help you prepare your home for the winter.