Whether you’re a fan of winter or not, there’s seldom anything better than cozying up in your warm home on a cold winter day. That warm feeling isn’t only inviting to us, but it also screams “come on in!” to pests. Though it may seem scary, don’t let the potential for a high volume of pests heading indoors frighten you. With these helpful and easy tips in hand, you can keep your home pest-free all winter long!

While the summer months are typically more insect-ridden, you may be surprised to know that more pests are more likely to enter your home during the winter months. In the summertime, flying, winged insects abound, whereas, in the wintertime, insects and pests that spend their lives down on the ground are the ones that seek shelter inside your home. While summertime pests are seasonal, the pests that invade your home during cooler months are usually around all year long and therefore need to seek shelter to weather the wintertime.

Inside

In order to keep pests away, you’ll need to do some prep around the inside of your home to make sure it’s not the perfect place for pests to call home. There are numerous things that you can do within your home to help protect you from pests this winter.

• Store all pantry food in glass containers: One of the main reasons rodents invade your home is because of the immense food supply in your kitchen. For a rodent like a small house mouse, your pantry can become a smorgasbord. Rodents have an impeccable sense of smell and can find their way to even the smallest amount of food within your home. That’s why it’s important to keep all of your food in sealed containers. This way you can ensure the there are no rodents tampering with your food while also ensuring that there is no food available to feed a rodent population within your home. Rodents can carry dangerous illnesses like Hantavirus or Salmonella, so it is crucial to keep them out of your food supply.
• Inspect for point of entry: A mouse can fit through a hole that is about the diameter of a dime. That’s why it’s important to inspect your home for holes and cracks in the junctions of walls and floors, around mantle pieces and fireplaces, near doors and windows and near outlets or air conditioning vents. If you find any cracks or holes around your home, you can seal them with caulk to ensure that there are no pathways available for rodents or other pests to enter your home.
• Eliminate moisture: If there’s one place in your home that’s sure to attract creepy-crawlies, it’s your basement. That’s often because the basement is where moisture tends to collect in the home. It also typically has direct access to the outside and the crawlspace of your home. As moisture attracts pests like centipedes and crickets, they often find easy entry into your home through the doorway or crawlspace. By taking steps to eliminate moisture in your basement like using a dehumidifier or by fixing the source of the moisture, you can avoid a pest problem this winter and for years to come.

Outside

While there’s a great deal you can do inside of your home to help avoid a pest problem this winter, the bulk of your preparation can be done outside your home to keep pests from entering in the first place.

• Seal all doors, windows, and holes:  This may be one of the most important steps you can take in preventing any winter pest invasion. It’s important to inspect the doors and windows of your home and seal any potential points of entry. You’ll also want to check the areas where utilities and pipes enter the home and have all of those sealed tightly as well.
• Rid your yard of clutter: Rodents and other pests can take shelter in clutter around or near the home, making them one step closer to gaining entry into your home. If you have clutter on your porch, in your driveway, or in the space surrounding your home, you should clean it up immediately. By ridding your yard of this excess clutter, you’ll lessen your chances of a rodent problem this winter.
• Be careful with firewood: If you have a wood-burning stove or fireplace, you may be bringing pests inside with your firewood. It’s important to store all firewood away from your home. You should also store your firewood off of the ground and away from bushes and trees so it is harder for pests to access it and take shelter within the wood. Finally, be mindful of where your firewood came from as transporting firewood from another area can introduce potentially harmful pests to your area.

While these tips are great for preventing a pest problem, we understand that sometimes unwanted pests can be persistent, especially if they have found their way into your home already. If you’re concerned about a pest control issue in your home, contact Spence’s Pest Control at (804) 794-7738 to schedule an inspection today. Our courteous and knowledgeable staff will keep your home pest-free all winter long. We’re the ones to call for the best pest control Richmond has to offer!