Fall Pest Prevention

The cooler weather brings everyone indoors. Imagine sitting in front of the fire, nice and warm, snuggled up and a mouse runs across the floor in front of you.
Bringing the warm in to your home and it also brings some other pests looking to keep warm. Pests such as rats, mice, cockroaches and some spiders need to find a warm home for the winter to survive. These pests can pose serious risks to both people and homes. Mice will make their homes in your walls and rodents can chew on electrical wires and drywall.  They can pass on diseases such as salmonella. Cockroaches can contaminate stored food you have in your home and  leave droppings around your house and trigger allergic asthma, especially in children.

Here are a few pest-proofing tips from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) that every homeowner can follow to keep pests outside during the fall and winter:

• Screen attic vents and openings to chimneys, and any other areas where homes may be open to the outdoors.
• Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry. Pests are attracted to areas of moisture, something they need to survive. Using dehumidifiers in basements and garages will help keep these areas dry.
• Seal cracks and crevices on the outside of the home using caulk and steel wool. Pay close attention to where utility pipes enter your home. Some rodents can fit through a hole the size of a dime.
• Keep kitchen counters clean, store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles. Crumbs and a buildup of garbage are attractive to pests scrounging for food. Store garbage cans away from the home or garage.
• Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around the foundation and windows. As well as keeping pest out, it will help keep the cold air out too.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house. Removing areas where pests can hide near your home can reduce the chance of them finding a way inside.
• Keep all bushes and shrubs trimmed and not touching your house.  Don’t give any pests some help to get up to a crack or windowsill.
• Install door sweeps and repair damaged screens. Torn window screens and cracks under doors are an ideal entry point for household pests. When you open the window, you could be letting in more than just fresh air.
• Avoid leaving pets’ food dishes out for long periods of time. Pests don’t discriminate between people food and pet food. Pet dishes that have been left sitting out are enticing for all kinds of insects and rodents.
• Be sure all gutters are draining away from your home.  Keeping the moisture away from your home as much as possible.

Hopefully these tips will help in keeping pests out of your home.  However, if you do have a pest in your home, be sure to contact us at Exterminators to review your situation and we can recommend the best treatment for you.