Winter is a great time to be indoors enjoying the warmth of your home. But with so much time spent indoors comes a greater risk of pest infestation.
Pests like mice, rats, spiders, and more can make their way into your home and cause damage to property as well as spread diseases to humans.
While the cold temperatures outside might keep some pests at bay, it's still vital that you take steps now to prevent infestations.
Here are 5 tips for keeping pests at bay during the cold months:
Seal up any entry points.
Seal up small gaps or holes in the house. Using caulk, seal cracks and crevices around windows and doors, chimneys, vents, siding, and trim. You can also use weather stripping to help keep pests out of your home.
If you have a crawl space under your house, cover the area with wire mesh to prevent mice from getting in (and entering your living space).
Keep things clean and tidy.
Throw out old food and drinks.
Take out the trash.
Keep your house tidy, inside and out.
Clear snow off your roof, gutters, windowsills, and other places where bugs could hide during winter months— if you have access to ladders or scaffolding you can use them to reach higher areas safely.
Make sure all vents are clear of debris so they don't become blocked by ice buildup while freezing temperatures persist outside (especially important if you live in an older home).
Don't underestimate the heat.
You might think that pests are inactive in the winter, but they're not. Even though it may feel like you've been living in a frozen wasteland for months, pests can still be active and cause damage to your home during this time of year. In fact, if you think about it logically, there are many reasons why pests might be more active during the winter months than any other time of year:
It's cold outside—so they need to find ways to keep warm!
There's less sunlight—so they need to find food sources that don't require them to venture outside!
The wind is blowing—this could mean an open window or door to sneak through! Pests are always looking for easy ways to get into your home. If there's an open door or window, they will try to find it—and once inside, they can cause a lot of damage.
Store firewood away from your home.
During the winter months, firewood is a great way to keep your home warm. But if you have firewood stacked outside your home, it's an open invitation for pests like mice and rats to come inside. Store your firewood at least 10 feet away from the house—or even better, bring it indoors until you need it.
Get rid of any standing water.
In addition to being a breeding ground for pests, standing water can also lead to mold and mildew in your home. If you have puddles on your property, it's best to use a bucket or hose to get rid of them as soon as possible. You can also use a sponge or towel to soak up excess water if you don't have access to any other equipment.
And that's all there is to it! With these tips, you should be able to keep your home pest-free and enjoy the winter months.
If you have any questions or concerns about how to go about implementing them, we’re here for you. Just give us a call at (501) 941-3378. At Bug Pro, we have the expertise to help you get rid of pests and keep them from coming back. We’re always more than happy to answer any questions you may have about our services or pest control in general.