SAVVY TACTICTS FOR WINTERTIME PEST PROOFING
The best place to be during the cold winter months, is indoors. A cozy home, warm kitchen, near the fireplace or snuggled up in a puffy bed seems ideal and very inviting; not just for you, but for annoying little ciphers too. In the same way that humans meander outdoors during warmer Spring and Summer months and more vulnerable when exposed to the colder environment, so too are presumptuous creatures. They are on the lookout for a safe retreat. You do not need to expose your home to these disease carriers, threatening your health and your home.
Here are a few tips to avoid the gang of menaces intruding your sacred haven.
• Sweep your chimney
It is essential to have your fireplace and chimney cleaned before the winter months, as pests often enter these areas to nest. It is an alluring hiding place for squirrels, rodents, birds and raccoons.
Shut the flue when the fireplace is not in use as pests will find their way inside. It opens a vent in the fireplace for the igniting gasses to be released outside and air to be circulated while the fire is going.
Install a chimney cap to avoid these pests from entering. It also prevents debris from accumulating inside.
• Store firewood at a distance and check before taking it inside
The most common hiding place for insects, whether stored inside or out, are in firewood. We recommend storing the wood at a distance from your home and raised off the ground. Examine each piece individually and knock it against the floor to release any burrowed creatures from travelling into your home. Only use the wood when necessary and place it directly into the fireplace to ignite.
• Store pet food away
Pet food is an attraction for any pest. To avoid contaminated food for your pests, do not leave any food out in the bowls during the day or overnight. Remove any leftover food, clean the bowls and pack straight away. Store pet food in a container with a tight-fitting lid. This also prevents creepy crawlies from getting inside and pets ingesting the spoiled food. Sweep the floor and make sure the area has no leftover crumbs lying around.
• Fix leaky faucets and clogged drains
Pests thrive in wet and damp areas, which harbors mold and bacteria. Repair all plumbing problems immediately, before a pest infestation sets in.
• Trim trees
Cut back any creepers and shrubs growing too close to your home, as rodents particularly use this as an overpass to enter your roof and other openings. Remove all infected and dead branches from your garden. Separate your house from the rest of the surrounded landscape by using panes. This will act as a barrier to safeguard your home from unwanted pests.
• Find pest openings with an energy audit
These inspections will help identify all the openings where warm air is exiting (and cool air entering) your home. Pests are attracted to the warm air and enter this way is ideal for them.
It is a challenging task to find all these openings. It would be a smarter choice for a professional pest control technician to come in, as he will know what to look for. Pest entry points will be found and sealed or repaired with advanced materials and tools, which lasts for years.
This will keep the pests and the cool air out.
• Check your dryer vent
Dryers have vents on the outside where heat escapes from, a significant guidepost for all kinds of pests. When the vents are broken or damaged, they gnaw through the tubing of an appliance, entering your home through the perfect oasis.
Make sure the hood of the vent is in good working condition to prevent pests from crawling in.
Seal all cracks, crevasses and gashes between the vent and the wall area.
• Repair Storm damages
When a storm has damaged areas of your home, it is essential to restore it with repairs. Make sure all windows, doors, screens, floors and roof have no damage and are installed properly after the destruction. Seal all openings and cracks in the walls and foundation to keep pests like rodents out and away from your home.
• Why pest control is necessary during winter
We often assume that winter is a time to dismiss pest control services. However, it allows us time to prepare for the warmer summer months. Our advanced technicians pride themselves in their professional service by sealing off entry points and creating a barricade for your home by using the correct treatment and pesticide. Heat and light are less factors during the colder season and break down pesticides, therefor the best time to create this barrier is during winter.
Further Reading
What pests should I look out for in winter?
Rain, Hail, Windstorms & Pest Control
It’s raining, its pouring, your pest control is cancelled
