As the weather gets colder and colder, common pests in your area are about to make one of two choices. The first option (if they are able to) is to hibernate. Pests that hibernate hole up in a safe location during the winter months and will emerge once it warms back up. The second option is to seek food, water, and shelter inside warm spaces, and there is no better spot than your home or business. Today, we will share with you our winter pest prevention top tips to help your home or business not become a pest’s winter vacation destination.
Winter Pest Prevention Top Tips
Update Landscaping
We aren’t advising that you add flowers but instead take an afternoon to update your landscaping and prepare for winter. Any landscaping you have close to your house is an ideal hiding spot and transport center for pests to make their way into your home. To prevent this from happening, we recommend doing the following:
- Store firewood 5 inches off the ground, 20 feet away from the house
- Keep trash, recycling, and compost bins away from the house in a secure area
- Trim trees and shrubs back from the house, especially overhanging limbs
- Divert standing water away from the house to a drain system
Seal Entries
The second step is to fill gaps, holes, cracks, and any other spot (no matter how tiny) that a small critter or insect could sneak through. Mice are exceptionally proficient at sneaking in as they can wiggle through holes as small as a dime!
We recommend carefully scanning all of your exterior walls for any such areas. If you happen to find one, fill it with caulk and steel wool to prevent pests from reopening it. Additionally, if you have a chimney, speak with your local chimney expert on whether or not it would be wise to have a cap or mesh wiring. Please don’t just install one as it could become a fire hazard if you added it to the wrong chimney.
Keep it Clean
We are sure you’ve heard of spring cleaning, but what about winter cleaning? Winter cleaning is when you get your home reorganized after the chaos of summer, so it is neat and tidy for the cold months. What this involves is:
- Throwing away old boxes, newspapers, or anything that pests could use to make a nest
- Sweeping leaves out of the garage and away from the house
- Packing away summer clothes in air-tight containers
- Storing extra food in sealed containers
In addition, you want to make sure to clean your home regularly. By sanitizing surfaces, sweeping up crumbs, and vacuuming, you remove food sources that pests need; so, they will have to look elsewhere.
Did They Still Get In? Call Reliable Pest
Even the best winter pest prevention efforts can fail at times, which is why we are here to help. If you are suffering from a pest problem, please call us today to schedule an appointment. Please don’t wait until they get comfortable in your home, as it can be that much harder to get rid of them!