A pest is any living organism (plant or animal) that is usually considered troublesome to humans and the environment. They are generally very distractive and can be harmful to your health. Most homes are usually at a high risk of pest infestation, especially during the winter. In winter, most pests try to find their way into homes because they escape the cold outside. Other than the cold weather, extreme weather conditions also drive most problems indoors. For this reason, pest control is essential during winter because it helps deter pest infestations. Below are some tips for avoiding pest infestation in winter
1. Seal of possible entryways for pests
The first thing you should do is find all possible entryways for pests and seal them. The passages could be cracks in the walls, the gutters, doors, and other small spaces. Note that even if the crack looks very small, it may still be an issue because it can pave the way for tiny pests like ants and roaches. Therefore, you can use silicone sealants to seal the cracks and spaces completely. Additionally, make sure that the weather stripping around all your doors seals tightly when the doors are shut. Doing so will deter the pests from seeking shelter inside your home.
2. Inspect your home and property
The next move you should embark on after sealing all passages is inspecting your home or property. Doing so will help you discover if there are any existing infestations that you need to handle. If you find out that some pests have already entered your home, you may want to reevaluate the previous step. Check to see if you missed any spaces when sealing entryways. When inspecting your home, you also need to look for anything that could attract pests. For instance, if there is any untreated wood, it could attract termites. This means that you need to make sure all wood items in your home are adequately treated.
Afterward, you also need to scrutinize your property. If you have any tree branches hanging near the roof of your house or gutters, you should consider having them trimmed. If you keep firewood, make sure it is stored at least 20 feet away from your property. Doing this will make sure that pests hosted in the firewood do not get into your home. Also, make sure all garbage bins are correctly sealed. Doing so will deter pests like Racoons from invading your property and causing a mess rummaging through the garbage.
If you have any stagnant water around your property, you may also want to look for a way to manage it. This will help prevent pests like mosquitoes from invading your home. Always be on the lookout for potential invasions. You can do this by contacting relevant authorities to find out about common pests in your home. This will help you prepare early and prevent any invasion.
3. Practice proper waste and house management
Improper waste management in the home could increase the likelihood of insect and pest invasion. Therefore, if you want to prevent pest infestations, you may want to remove trash from your home daily. Doing this will significantly reduce pest problems or keep them from cropping up. While it may be convenient to drop the trash or trash bins just outside your home, it may not be a good move. Doing so makes it suitable for pests to stage an invasion of your property and home.
Also, note that a dirty home can trigger pest infestations. For instance, leaving dirty dishes in the sink for a long time could attract pests like cockroaches and rats. Therefore, make sure you keep your home as clean and tidy as you can. Also, make sure you always store food properly so that pests do not have something to eat. Do not leave any food lying around your home.
Common types of pests during the winter season
Cockroaches
In winter, cockroach infestations are very common. During this time, you may find that the number of roaches in your home increases significantly. If there were no roaches, then you will notice them popping up. Such an infestation can be a nuisance and very unhealthy. Cockroaches carry germs and all sorts of nasty items from the gutters, sewers, and other dirty places to your food and home. This can result in a lot of illnesses.
Rats and mice
Rodents are also prevalent in homes during winter. This is because they escape the cold weather outside and seek shelter in homes and businesses. Rats and mice usually look for the last places you would expect so that they can get into your house. They may use the gutters, cracks within the walls, and other entryways. Once they have found their way into your home, getting rid of them can be very challenging.
Raccoons and other large animals
Raccoons are also known to search for shelter from the cold in homes and businesses during the winter season. They also invade homes when getting food becomes a problem as food sources become scarce in the cold weather. Some of these large animals may try to get into your home as they search for shelter and food. However, since they are large and comfortable to discover, they will not enter your premises most of the time. Instead, they will rummage through the trash and make a mess in your compound. Managing such pests can be difficult because they are smart. Therefore, they know how to escape and hide so that they cannot be found.
Conclusion
Note that having pests in your home can cause a lot of harm to you and your property. For instance, termites tend to damage any wooden property like floors, walls, and furniture. On the other hand, pests like rodents and cockroaches tend to introduce germs into your home. They can transfer the germs to your food and surfaces hence putting you at high risk of diseases. Also, mosquitoes and other biting pests are harmful since they transmit illnesses like malaria. Therefore, if you find pest control to be challenging, you may want to hire professional pest services like Excel Pest Services.
