One of the most critical and often overlooked tasks for homeowners is to winterize their homes properly. These fall and early winter months are vital to keeping pests and nuisance wildlife from looking to make your home their winter get-a-way.
What pests should you winterize your home against?
The most common pests are:
- Bats– Bats do not enter a house on purpose but often following drafts of cool air on a warm fall night. Since they are nocturnal, you may not notice them entering your attic or eves via spaces as small as a quarter.
- Squirrels– Squirrels enter your home and often via chewed holes in vents and soffits to widen entry. Inspection is the key to prevention.
- Chipmunks- Chipmunks are burrowing animals and may seek shelter under a crawlspace or in an area where they can store food and have easy in and out access.
- Mice– Mice are very industrious and own the top spot in the list of extermination requests.
Consider these tips to winterize your home
Let’s take a walk!
Walk around your home on a sunny afternoon and take the time to look closely at your home. For example, examine the structure for a broken attic window, a gap in the garage door seal, or signs of an infestation from pests. It only takes a few minutes and can save you time and expense eradicating these pests and wildlife.
Store firewood safely
Always store your firewood in a dry area away from your home! Before bringing it inside, take the time to examine your firewood to ensure no pests have hijacked a ride in between the logs.
Seal gaps in siding, doors, and windows
Taking the time to seal gaps eliminates access for pests to enter your home and keeps your home from losing heat.
Insulate your pipes
Insulating pipes and other areas in your home adds a barrier layer between you and the pests! It will also save you money by keeping your home warmer and reducing the costs of your energy bills.
Clean out the gutters
Clogged gutters may create an environment for bugs, mice, and birds to create a home. To take this one step further, standing water is collected if your gutters are blocked from heavy rain and the water cannot freely run off your roof and away from your home. Here mosquitoes, ants, and other flying insects lay eggs to breed. So as the weather changes, you could be facing an infestation. In addition, these pests look for cracks and breaks in the siding, windows, and soffits to gain entry into your home, attic, and walls.
Trim bushes and tree branches away from your home
Overhanging trees that drape onto your roof are a welcome sight to squirrels and other pests such as carpenter ants, stink bugs, cluster flies, and ladybugs. Tree branches, overgrown bushes, and plants serve as a ladder to these pests and nuisance wildlife. Once on your roof, they have a bird’s eye view and access to your eaves, soffits, windows, and screens. They do not need a lot of space to wiggle indoors.
Keep your garage door closed!
It is easier to get into your garage and then into your home than directly trying to inside your home. An open garage door is a welcome sign to critters and pests that a warm and sheltered place awaits them.
Are you ready to winterize your home? AccuShield can help!
Removing unwanted pests and wildlife in your home is often only a temporary solution. We want to provide you with a permanent solution. Sealing up all entry points is key to successful eradication.
Accurate Pest Control and Nuisance Wildlife have kept residential and commercial structures pest-free and healthy throughout the Capital Region. We have developed a series of exclusion systems based on your pest or wildlife problems. Contact us for a free inspection this fall and be ready for the winter months!
Happy Fall.
