Winter Pest-Proofing in Somerset KY
Pest Instructor Hadassah Hess, 11/12/2024
As the winter weather blows in, we aren’t the only ones who notice that chill in the air… pests, whether it be insects, arachnids, rodents, or something else, are also aware. The cool temperatures lead these pests to warmer areas, and often, these warmer areas are your home. If pests can detect the warmth from your home, they will seek it out and quickly move in. However, there are some ways of winter-proofing your home in Somerset KY, to stop pests from getting in this winter.
What Pests Can I Expect If I Don’t Pest-Proof My Home For The Winter?
If you don’t pest-proof your home for the winter, many pests could move in. Rodents and spiders are two of the main pests to see during the winter. While in the wild, rodents look for warm shelter over winter, and while they remain active all year, they would bother virtually no one. Similarly, spiders would seek out warm places under rocks, behind tree bark, and other similar areas. Once protected, they would enter a state known as diapause and may not be seen again until spring. However, when these pests can find a way into your home, what is normal gets thrown out of balance, and soon you may find yourself with a bigger problem than you imagined possible.
Indoors, rodents may make themselves known throughout the winter, whether they are scurrying across the floor in the early morning or scratching around in the walls and attic while you try to sleep. Rodents are especially dangerous because of the many diseases they may carry, they can often go unnoticed in attics, and the potential that they might chew through wires or plumbing, potentially causing serious damage to your home.
On the other hand, while spiders may not be capable of creating house fires or floods, they are indeed quite skilled in causing panic! Although they are usually harmless, many people do not see them as such. Webbing found in basements, unused portions of the home, and in the upper and lower corners of rooms can be unsightly and collect dust and other insects. Additionally, egg sacs may be present in webs, signifying the ongoing nature of the problem. Once those eggs hatch, you could be in for quite a surprise!
Other pests you might want to pest-proof your home against include:
- Asian Lady Beetles
- Cockroaches
- Cluster Flies
- Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs
- Wasps
- Silverfish
- Raccoons
- Squirrels
- Bedbugs
- and others.
Each of these pests poses their own unique problems, from serious damage and potential disease transference to minor problems like unsightly fecal deposits. Either way, you won’t want any of them residing in your home come winter or summer!
What Can I Do to Keep the Pests Out?
Now that you know what pests you can expect, you probably want to know what you can do about them! It’s always a good idea to check the perimeter of your home for any cracks, crevices, or gaps.
Good places to inspect include:
- Foundations
- Doors
- Windows
- Chimneys
- Plumbing or electrical penetrations
- And more
If any of these areas have gaps, cracks, or crevices, they should be properly closed up with gaskets, sealant, or other applicable methods to exclude pest entry.
These very elementary drawings illustrate the simplicity of what pest-proofing accomplishes. No matter where the crack, crevice, or gap is, pests will enter if it means they can find at least one of their three required things: food, water, or shelter.
Eliminating these areas stops potential pest entry and provides a much more pest-free existence. Pest-proofing is good for the entire family!
Preparing for winter should also include trimming back any trees, bushes, or plants around your home. Pests, especially rodents, can use these to reach your home and get in through the attic and other areas. You can also place screens over your vents and chimneys to prevent pest entry from those areas.
Inside your home, there are some key steps to take as well:
- Keep food in properly sealed containers
- Take out the garbage regularly
- Repair leaky plumbing
- Seal any gaps and cracks along windows and doors
Taking these few steps can help prevent a pest infestation before it occurs.
While these methods aren’t foolproof, they will certainly aid in a pest-free home. However, if you still experience pest problems, the professionals here at Four Seasons Pest Solutions are only a phone call away!
How Four Seasons Pest Solutions Can Help Pest-Proof Your Somerset KY Home
Our team of highly trained experts can not only kill pests that are present inside or outside your home, but with the right program, we can actually prevent them from accessing your property to begin with. Pest control, pest exclusion, and wildlife control are our specialties! Plus, if you’re looking for someone to Pest-Proof Your Somerset KY Home (or any KY home) before winter, we’ve got you covered!
Simply give our offices a call at 1-877-999-2849 and speak to one of our live representatives. You’ll soon see why everybody says it’s good to have Four Seasons on your side!
