As we say goodbye to the height of mosquito season and—for better or worse—hello to pumpkin spice in just about everything, we’re finally heading outdoors. There’s a downside, though: While cooler temperatures turn our thoughts to the tricks, treats, and turkeys ahead, pests are turning toward our cozy houses. To help make sure that unwanted autumn guests don’t make themselves at home, here are some tips from our pest control experts.
Bugs don’t need to look for your front-door welcome mat to find their way inside. Any tiny crack or gap will do as an entry point.
Take advantage of one of our beautiful fall days to get outside and closely inspect your entire house from top to bottom. Keeping in mind that some pests need an opening less than an eighth of an inch to enter, take time to look for even the smallest openings. Depending on where you find them, cracks and crevices can be sealed with various methods:
Even in our mild winters, we have plenty of chances to enjoy our fireplaces and fire pits. If you like to keep a stack of firewood handy for those fire-friendly nights, you may want to make it a little less convenient to grab a few logs to throw onto the fire. There’s a fairly long list of pests who can’t resist the opportunities to eat, shelter, and nest in a nice, dry pile of firewood.
Some firewood-loving pests aren’t a huge concern, such as certain types of beetles who aren’t interested in feasting on your home’s wood framing. Others, though, such as termites, need to be kept as far away as possible from your house. Since it’s not always possible to know which bugs are friends or foes, err on the side of prevention by storing your firewood the right way:
Autumn means more leaves and debris piling up in your gutters and blocking downspouts. And, if we have an unusual amount of rainfall, water and moisture may be a problem as well. To reduce the number of pests that love rooting through piles of organic matter for nesting material, check to make sure your gutter system stays free and clear throughout the season.
Pests may enter your home through gaps between your roof and chimney, or even by coming right down the chimney flue. Because of its large opening, you may be unpleasantly surprised to find that birds or squirrels were able to easily make their way indoors. You can use wire mesh or a chimney cap to keep critters out while still allowing smoke to rise as it should.
Like every other living thing, pests need food, water, and shelter. To make sure you’re not providing any of these necessities, you can:
If you notice pests making themselves at home in your home, we’ll be glad to do a free inspection and give you a free quote on the pest control services you may need. Request your inspection online today!
Ready for expert pest control? Find a Turner Pest Control location near you.