Contrary to popular belief, pests don’t disappear along with the summer heat. Pests are an all-year-round problem if a homeowner doesn’t take preventive measures to keep them out. Like many animals, pests seek shelter from the cold. Unfortunately, our homes offer the warmth they seek and more. Other than being unsightly, pests carry disease, can trigger allergies, and more. If left alone, they can multiply and nest and your home.
Aside from contacting a professional pest control service provider, there are simple yet effective ways to safeguard your home against pests during winter.
Common Pests During Winter
To combat an infestation effectively, you have to know what you’re dealing with.
One of the most common pests is mice and rats. During the cold season, they will seek refuge and warmth, and a house is perfect for that. Additionally, food can become more accessible to them which makes a house more appealing to them. Preventing any means for possible entry is important for your health and your family’s. Rodents can carry a host of diseases, whichcan be transmitted directlyorindirectly.
Another type of pest to keep out is cockroaches. These guys seek small spaces and moisture, which makes a house the perfect place to be. Similar to rodents, it’s convenient for them since food is more accessible to them too. To add, their presence can trigger allergies and asthma attacks. The allergens they emit behave like dust mites. These don’t stay in the air for too long but settle on surfaces around the house, like on fabric and furniture. They stir up while cleaning and can trigger an allergic reaction. Moreover, evidence suggests thatearly exposure to cockroach allergenscan cause preschool-aged children to develop asthma.
Spiders usually keep to themselves, as long as they have a place to spin their webs undisturbed. They can actually be more helpful than harmful. They consume and trap flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs that can pose health threats. Of all the spider species in the United States,black widow and brown recluse spidersare considered to be dangerous to humans.
However, not all pests are active during winter. Female mosquitoes for onebecome dormant and enter hibernation.
Replace Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping for doors and windows is used mostly for better insulation, energy efficiency, and to maximize comfort. As it protects homeowners and their property from exterior elements, they help minimize pests from entering too. Installing or replacing your weatherstripping should be done regularly, especially considering its perks.
Install Door Sweeps
Not all pests that seek shelter are doing it for food. Fleas, termites, and cockroaches need the warmth and moisture of your home. These are a little harder to keep out as they can enter through little holes and cracks. This is where door sweeps come in handy. They’re supplementary to the weatherstripping and can close up the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor. In addition, gaps can expose light and smell from the inside of your home, which can attract these pests.
Seal Any Crack and Holes
As temperatures drop, homeowners look to keep the cold out as much as possible. Don’t start these to-dos at the last minute. The optimal time for repairs for winter should begin in autumn. Repair damaged screens in windows, damaged roof tiles, checking and cracks on wooden doors. For chimneys, install chimney caps to prohibit them from nesting in your chimney.
Get Rid of Clutter
Even in hidden corners of your garage or backyard, get rid of the clutter. Eliminate any possible hidden nesting place as much as possible. Avoid dirty dishes from piling up in the sink, as leftover food and odor may attract them to enter all the more. In the same light, secure and close garbage lids properly.
Trim Tree Branches and Shrubbery Close to the House’s Exterior
As trees and shrubs grow, they can scratch and scrape the exterior-facing walls and windows of the house. This all depends on how close they were planted to the house, but sometimes there’s no real way of knowing until they’ve matured. Aside from the damage they can make, they may be a way for rodents and other pests to enter your home, especially if branches have grown long enough to reach any opening into your home.
These may be simple things to do for your home, but they’re often overlooked and underappreciated. To achieve a pest-free home, it’s important to cover the basics properly and effectively to minimize these little guys from moving in.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.