How to Prevent a Pest Infestation in the Fall

Last updated: 10/15/2023
Estimated read time: 3 minutes

Rodents and insects have the same general idea as you: with the weather getting cooler, it’s time to spend more time indoors. As pests in our area become frustrated with their cold homes, they search for any tiny cracks that will allow them into a new, warm home. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for these pests to get cozy, invite their friends and family, and begin having families of their own. Within a matter of days, you can have an entire infestation, all because of a small hole that these clever critters could find. Here are some valuable tips on how to pest-proof your home, so you’ll be pest-free during the fall and winter months.

Evaluate Your Foundation

Mice are one of the most common pests during the winter. They can fit into a hole the size of a dime, so no crack in your foundation should go untreated. Walk around the perimeter of your home at night, and try to see if you notice any light spilling through a crack or if you can feel any warm air escaping into the chilly evening. Stuff these cracks with steel wool or copper mesh, and then apply caulk or foam to hold this in place. The copper mesh or steel wool will stop any rodents that can chew through the foam or caulk.

Check Windows and Doors

Most insects can get through a tiny hole in a screen. So inspect all of your screens in windows and doors and either buy repair kits for any gaps that you may find or replace the screens completely. Door sweeps and weather-stripping are suitable preventive measures, so use them anywhere you can. It also helps to look around your window and door frames to see any holes that you can seal up to keep the bugs out.

Fix Leaky Faucets

Like us, insects need water to survive, and the most common source of water in your home for these pests is a dripping faucet. Unfortunately, spiders, rodents, and roaches all love hanging around a leaky faucet you might not even be aware of.

Clean Regularly

Although this may not be the most luxurious part of your day, you should take a few minutes every day to clean. Take out the garbage, wipe down counters, sweep, put food away, and make sure there’s no pet food lying around. Not only are these sources of odor, but they can attract unwanted pests.

Keep in mind that there are also measures you can take outside to protect your home better. You should also try to maintain a clean yard, as bugs like to congregate below:

• grass clippings
• compost piles
• decaying leaves

Cleaning up these items can keep pests from nesting in your yard, which will make it more difficult for them to find a way into your house.

Attract Natural Predators

Not only does owning a pet, such as a cat or a dog, discourage pests from entering your home, but you could also take measures to attract natural predators outside of your home. For example, having a bat house in your backyard is an easy way to cut down on the population of wasps, flies, spiders, and mosquitoes. These bat houses are inexpensive, and because bats are active at night, you’ll hardly ever notice them.