Winter Pest Control Checklist

Make the List, Check It Twice

Now that the days are getting shorter and the wind is getting colder, it’s time to get on the ball and prepare your business and home for the onslaught of winter. Like it or not, insects and rodents are dead-set on infiltrating your space this time of year. Luckily, you have an expert advisor in this fight at Hopper Termite & Pest. We operate from years of experience, hours of on-the-job training, and know-how and when to treat your home, business, property.

This blog addresses many things you can do to prepare for winter. This isn’t a complete list by any means, AND we strongly recommend employing our services to seal the deal to treat and/or prevent pest infestation. Hopefully, these suggestions will go a long way to help you get ready for the months ahead.home in your house.

Naughty Or Nice

The first thing to realize when it comes to pests is that none of them are nice. At different times of the year many pests tend to focus on the outdoors, especially when it’s warm. This is when you may feel they have eased up and jumped on the “nice” list. However, when the cold temps arrive and things begin to freeze up, you will see more activity as they seek the shelter and warmer temps inside. This is when they become naughty little critters!

Outside

We’ll start outside and work our way in. Deterring pests before they even get inside is the ideal pest control strategy.

Trim Hedges

Keep about five feet of clear space between the edges of your home and the nearest plant. Pests can use nearby plants as cover and shelter. Late fall is the perfect time to trim branches short because they won’t grow until spring.

Groom the Lawn

Along with mowing your lawn, clear dead leaves, fallen twigs and branches, and other lawn debris to keep them from piling up, providing cover for opportunistic pests. You should keep doing this after snow covers your lawn, too.

Move Firewood

Insects and rodents commonly use firewood piles as shelter, building nests between logs and returning repeatedly with food for their young. Store your firewood 15-20 feet away from your home, and–if possible–keep it on an elevated shelf or platform at least 5 feet off the ground.

Seal Up the Cracks

Walk the perimeter of your home. Look for loose mortar, cracks, gaps between screens, and openings around utility lines. Thoroughly patch up these gaps to keep pests from using them to get inside.

Install Vent Screens

Pests that get onto your roof can easily use chimneys or shafts to crawl into your home. Installing a simple mesh screen will prevent this. Get a professional to help you install these screens; working on a roof can be dangerous.

Clear Out Gutters and Drainage

Proper drainage is vitally important for preventing water accumulation. Check roof gutters and clear out leaves and debris. Make sure your sump pump drains properly, and your downspouts carry water far enough away. If your drainage system has any problems, the displaced moisture could attract pests.

Inside

You’re halfway done! Obviously, once we’ve shored up our outer defenses, we have to look inward. Any pests stubborn enough not to be deterred by our first line will break on our indoor defenses. Here’s how to make that happen:

Keep Food in Airtight Containers

No cardboard, no Ziploc bags–we’re talking hard plastic. Store all the food you keep outside of your refrigerator in a secure container that no pest could penetrate. Every pest that gets into your home wants food, so keeping them away from yours is paramount.

Clean Up the Basement

Basements are a pest paradise. Clean yours by organizing boxes and other clutter, vacuuming and dusting, and ensuring the humidity isn’t out of control. Even if your basement doesn’t appeal to pests, chances are they’ll get the message and leave you be.

Organize Clutter

Pests are shy, and they thrive in environments where they can flee into cover easily and frequently. Pests are also small, so for them, cover means just about anything they can get under. Clear out and organize anything that would constitute pest cover to force your fiendish foes out into the light.

Repair Leaks

Plumbing leaks are a shockingly common source of excess moisture. Check the pipes in your basement and under your plumbing fixtures for leaks, dripping, or condensation. No matter how small a leak is, it will attract pests, so deal with it ASAP.

Dehumidify

Winter is the driest season, but humid parts of your home still attract pests looking for a comfortable environment. First, address sources of moisture like drafts, leaks, and puddling. If you’re still struggling with the moisture problem, consider investing in a dehumidifier.

Replace Old Weather Stripping

Weatherstripping is your home’s final defense against pests. It makes up the threshold between your home and the pests outside. Over time, wear and tear may make weatherstripping ineffective. Check out the stripping on each door and window and replace any that looks even a little ragged.

These steps may seem like a lot now, but you’d be surprised how fast you can get them all done. If you get all your pest prevention chores done thoroughly before the snow starts falling, you won’t be surprised by any pests this winter. Trust us! We’ve seen quite a few winters, and plans like this never let us down. Need some hands-on help with your winter prep plan? Want to make doubly sure you don’t have pests and won’t invite them this winter? Give Hopper Termite & Pest a call today. Together, we’ll throw the pest invaders back where they belong.