Pests are a problem year-round, no matter where you live! Those in urban areas and apartment buildings often have to keep away pests like mice and roaches. But even those homeowners that are miles away from anyone have pests to watch out for — termites, wasps, ants, and more. Statistically, you’re likely to see an increase in pests inside your home in the winter months. That’s because during the fall, many small critters begin to find their way indoors, where it’s warm and there’s food.

So in autumn, or even in late summer, it’s a good idea to begin preparing your home against fall pests. Here are a few steps you can take to try and avoid an infestation during the winter months.

Seal Off Your Home

If you own your home, it’s a great time to start inspecting it from the outside for any holes or cracks. Check near doors and windows especially. If there are cracks in the foundation or other openings, you must seal them off as soon as possible. Insects and even mice can crawl through the smallest of holes, and the easiest way to prevent an infestation is to keep the pests from coming inside.

If you live in an apartment, or shared family home, you have to be mindful of any cracks or holes in the walls. If there is space between the wall and floor, it needs to be sealed. Also, check for cracks around your windows and around any heating units. Unfortunately, pests like mice and roaches live in the walls and crawl into your apartment through small holes.

Remove Any Open Food or Water

Pests come inside looking for warmth and nourishment, which is food and water! So if you have open water sources on your property, that may be inviting for critters, and you’ll likely have to be very vigilant. If you eat out on your porch or in the backyard in the warmer months, it’s vital to routinely clean up and not leave any food outside.

Inside the home, the smell of food is inviting to all sorts of pests, from rats to ants. It’s best not to keep any food out, including fruit bowls or even pet food. If you’re particularly prone to pests and you have an animal that requires food left out, you may want to train it to eat at certain hours and store its bowls in the fridge overnight.

It’s also a good idea to store foods like rice, flour, sugar, teas, and other loose ingredients in glass Tupperware or sealable containers. This will help stop roaches, mice, moths, and ants during all seasons.

Keep Your Home and Property Clean

If you’re outside and have a large yard or outdoor space, you do have to keep it maintained. Leaving debris, leaves, firewood, tools, or other messes around the property provides plenty of space for pests to hide out. Mice and bugs love piles of dead leaves and debris, while any branches or wood will attract termites — the ultimate nightmare for homeowners.

As it’s important to keep the outside clean, it’s also important to keep the inside clean too. Insects are attracted to clutter because they provide hiding spaces. Roaches will happily nest in paper, books, bathrooms, under sinks, and even in vents. Keep these spaces clean and free of food.

Call a Professional for an Infestation

A few pests can quickly lead to a larger problem that requires a professional solution. At Spence’s Pest Control, our trained experts can find the source of the infestation and treat it at the source or apply a pest treatment plan to keep bugs away year-round. Don’t let pests at home stress you out, call us at 804-794-7738 or contact us online for a free inspection.