As the hot summer months finally come to an end we can start to enjoy cooler weathers and cozy up next to the fireplace or furnace in our homes. This tends to be a favorite time of year for many Mississauga residents as the transition from blistering hot weather to the cold of winter begins to occur, but with mild temperatures that still allow us to enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately, this transition to colder weather also creates a survival response in many common household pests to find a warm place to live during the cold winter months. As a result, many critters like squirrels, mice, rats, cockroaches, ants, spiders and several others will try their hardest to seek cover in the warmest place they can find; inside your home.
If they do manage to find a way into your home, this can cause several problems and should be dealt with by a professional pest control company right away. For example, mice, rats and cockroaches can contaminate your food while ants and spiders can give nasty bites to you and your family members if startled. Knowing that pests are on the lookout for a warm place to spend the winter, it is best to be proactive in your approach to limiting any potential entrance points and eliminating ideal living spaces for them. Below are some tips from Pestend Pest Control Mississauga and the National Pest Management Association to help you in pest proofing your home for the winter.
Tips For Pest Proofing Your Home
The best form of pest control in Mississauga is to prevent them from entering your home in the first place. By taking the right precautions you can significantly reduce the chance of common household pests from infesting your home, saving you the high cost of hiring a pest exterminator in the long run.
Here is a list of just some of the things you can do to prevent pests from entering your home this fall:
- Eliminate any easy access points – first and foremost, if you can eliminate their easy access points, they will not be able to get into your home. Thoroughly inspect the exterior of your home looking for any cracks that they may be able to squeeze through. Pay special attention to areas where pipes and wire enter the home and seal any cracks you find with silicone caulk.
- Repair broken screens – small insect pests often get into homes by crawling in through broken window screens. Repair or replace any damaged window screens in your home.
- Install door sweeps – many pests also get into homes easily by squeezing under doors. By placing door sweeps under every external door you can eliminate these entrance points.
- Place screens in areas that are exposed to the outdoors – some of these areas include vents, chimneys and mail slots. If there is no barrier preventing pests from using these as gateways into your home, they will eventually discover it and take full advantage.
- Use steel wool to fill large gaps in your home – if there is a gap too large to be filled with caulking, simply stuff steel wool into it. Most pests will be deterred by the roughness of steel wool, especially mice and rats who will not be able to chew their way through it.