Fall can be a beautiful season. Temperatures are starting to turn cooler and the leaves are changing colour. It's a busy season for wildlife as they find and store food and look for a nice cozy home in preparation for winter.
Pests are no different.
Rodents, squirrels, roaches, and other insect pests tend to move closer to homes when the temperatures start to drop. Preventing these pests from getting into your home is actually very simple so long as you prepare properly.
Preventing Pests this Fall
There are many ways to prevent pests from accessing your home this fall. You may be surprised that all of these tips are easy enough to implement on your own.
- Inspect outside for any openings in areas around your vent covers, exhaust fans, pipes, windows and doors. If needed, repair screens and consider using caulk or copper mesh to seal any holes or gaps.
- If you don't have a chimney cap, consider putting one on. This will help keep squirrels, rats, raccoons and birds from moving in. Remember, these pests can often carry insects into your home.
- Replace any weather stripping if needed. This helps to not only keep pests out, but also keeps the warmth in!
- Cockroaches are attracted to moisture. Leaky pipes, faucets, drains and appliances are a very common attractant.
- Landscaping is especially important in fall. Keep all shrubs and branches trimmed back so that pests do not use them as an access point to your home.
- Store any firewood away from the home. Consider placing wood in a shed if you can in order to reduce pest harborage areas.
- Always keep kitchen spaces neat and tidy. Dispose of any garbage regularly as this is a major attraction to any pest scrounging for food.
- Try to not leave pet food outdoors. Insects and other pests love to feast on anything readily available such as cat or dog food. Inspect the pet food prior to bringing it back inside to ensure there are no hitchhikers.
- Fall and winter is a very popular time for bed bugs as people do a lot of travelling over the holidays. Remember to check all luggage and other baggage for bed bugs prior to entering your home.
Electrical and Home Damage
Pests can cause serious damage to your home. Mice, rats and squirrels are known for chomping down on electrical wires which puts you at risk of fire. If you notice lights starting to flicker, it could be a sign of a loose connection or bad wiring. If the flicker happens often, it's time to check for signs of wiring problems that have been caused by rodents. If you smell burning coming from in and around any electrical equipment or outlets - it's time to call in an electrician. It is possible that the burning is being caused by a mouse or rat chewing on wiring. Rodents can shock themselves to death after chewing wires. When this happens, you may start to notice a bad smell of a decaying carcass. Unfortunately, its usually quite difficult to remove carcasses when they are within the walls. The smell typically goes away within 10 days. Using an odour bag will help in absorbing the smell.
Its very easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to keeping your home pest-free, but there is no need to worry. Now is the perfect time to start taking precautions to help ensure that you are in the clear!
Read More:
How to Get Rid of Mice and Rats
How do you get rid of bed bugs?
