How to Keep Your Home Pest-Free This Winter
As the weather starts to turn cold, Raleigh residents often notice a sudden lack of flying insects outdoors. The first freeze usually brings a reprieve from mosquitoes, flies, bees, and wasps. Unfortunately, the cold temperatures can also lead to a variety of indoor pest problems.
The annoying insects most people associate with summer and fall may no longer be buzzing around people’s heads while they’re trying to enjoy time outside in the yard, but that doesn’t mean homeowners are completely off the hook until spring. Mice, cockroaches, spiders, and other nuisance insects and animals will be seeking shelter from the cold, often in the warmth and comfort of people’s homes. Read on to find out how to keep all of those annoying pests at bay.
Keep Insects and Rodents Out
As with most things in life, prevention is the best cure when it comes to controlling nuisance animals and insects. Pest exclusion should be on every Raleigh, North Carolina homeowner’s to-do list for before the first frost hits. Follow the pro tips below to keep all those unwanted visitors out.
Seal Holes
The first step in the pest exclusion process is to head outside and look for any visible holes and cracks. Check the areas around pipes and utilities, and keep in mind that mice can fit through holes as small as a dime. Homeowners can seal up any holes they find with copper mesh and specialized caulk.
Make Necessary Repairs
If there’s any loose siding, weather stripping, or mortar on the outside of the home, it’s time to seal it up. Unwanted insects can squeeze through even smaller openings than mice, so they’ll have no trouble getting through basement cracks or damaged weather stripping around windows. Making those necessary repairs now will also reduce thermal transfer, helping to keep Raleigh homes warm and homeowners’ heating bills low.
Clean Up the Yard
Families that heat their homes with wood stoves should be sure to keep their wood piles at least 20 feet away from the house. Mice, ants, and other pest species like to nest in wood piles. They also love to hide in brush piles and yard waste, so clean up the yard and remove all those temptations before the first snow.
Eliminate Food and Water Sources
Even if homeowners can’t keep 100% of insects and rodents out, they can make their homes seem less hospitable. Take the time to eliminate all sources of moisture, from leaky pipes to clogged drains, to keep cockroaches at bay.
It’s also important to keep food in pest-safe containers, dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and crumbs in the trash. Eliminating food and water sources for insects and rodents will make the home seem less hospitable, so even if they manage to gain entry, they’ll be less likely to stick around.
Don’t Leave Trash Uncovered
All trash cans, whether inside or outside the home, should be covered to prevent insects from getting in. Take the time to replace rocker lids, which allow fruit flies easy entry points and tend to get propped open as the trash can fills up, and make sure the garbage goes out as soon as the can is full. Once the trash makes its way outside, keep it in a sealed container to prevent insects and nuisance animals from getting in to look for food and make a mess of things.
When to Schedule a Visit With a Pro
Not every family has the time to devote to substantial home repairs and weatherization. As winter approaches, pest control experts can help. They can identify potential entry points, food sources, water sources, and inviting yard debris and take steps to eliminate them. It’s fine to get a jump start on dealing with bugs and rodents by calling to schedule a fall inspection and preventive control.
If there are already bugs or rodents taking up residence in the home, it’s past time to call an expert for help. Call an exterminator as soon as residents notice these common winter pest problems:
Ants in the kitchen
Cockroaches anywhere in the home
Signs of bed bugs
Serious increases in spider populations
Termite infestations
Signs of mice, rats, or squirrels
Bats in the attic
Raccoons creating problems in the yard
A professional pest removal and exclusion company should be able to tackle all of these problems quickly and effectively, no matter when they rear their ugly heads.
Take a Sustainable Approach
Know it’s time to call in an expert, but not sure who to trust? Sustainable Pest Systems can tackle just about any insect, rodent, or nuisance wildlife problem Raleigh homeowners might have. They offer full-service pest management using the latest and most effective eco-friendly techniques, so don’t hesitate. Call or text (919) 752-3284 today.