Your home is your haven, a secure refuge from the rest of the world. It provides comfort throughout the year, from the rainy days of spring to the cold winter months.
However, the changing seasons can cause a significant transformation in the activities of various pests that may invade your home if not well guarded.
To keep your home pest-free throughout the seasons, follow this seasonal pest control home maintenance checklist, which will help ensure that your home stays free and clear of unwanted critters all year round.
Understanding Seasonal Pest Activity
When it comes to protecting your home, a top Salt Lake pest control company mentions that understanding the kind of pests that invade homes during different seasons is essential.
The pests you’ll encounter during the spring and summer seasons differ significantly from those you will meet in the fall and winter.
Knowing what you’re up against in each season will help you develop a robust prevention strategy that will safeguard your home all year round.
Spring Pest Control
Your first step in keeping pests at bay during spring is some general outdoor spring cleaning. Clear out any piled debris, and clean up your yard.
Pests such as flies, ants, and termites are often looking for new homes in the spring, and are attracted by clutter and messes.
As temperatures rise, ensure that your home is well-ventilated to avoid providing a thriving environment for roaches and bedbugs too.
Inspect your home thoroughly for any cracks and crevices that may provide an easy entry for pests. Seal these with caulk or foam to ensure insects don’t get in.
You should also fix damaged screens and repair any breaks on your windows or doors.
Consider seeking advice from experienced exterminators if you are unsure of how to protect your home properly.
Summer Pest Control
Summer heat and moisture draw out a variety of potentially harmful insects, including mosquitos, wasps, ants, and termites.
Regularly check your exterior water spouts and adjust your sprinkler system to avoid creating damp spots that bugs might love.
Additionally, keep your lawn mowed and your garden pruned to deter pests from camping in the overgrowth.
Ensure that food is stored correctly and your kitchen and dining area are free from crumbs or leftover food.
Pests such as ants, roaches and rodents are incredibly attracted to food sources, and may invade your house if they find an easy-to-access food supply.
Fall Pest Control
As the temperature drops, pests will be seeking warm spots to take shelter. Ensuring that your home is not one of those spots should be an essential part of your home maintenance routine.
Rodents, cockroaches, spiders, and fleas tend to be more of a problem at this time of year.
Look for gaps in windows, doors, and walls that critters could use to find their way in. Seal these gaps using foam or weather stripping.
Also, do a thorough cleaning of your gutters, as they may provide breeding grounds for pests.
Regularly declutter your garage, attic and basement to not give pests a chance to nest, and consider spraying the exterior of your home with an insecticide.
Winter Pest Control
Similar to fall, pests will be seeking warm shelter during winter. Rodents and roaches are often the most common invader during winter.
Conduct a thorough inspection of your home for potential entry points, as rodents and other pests can squeeze through surprisingly small spaces.
Regularly inspect the attic and crawl spaces for any signs of pests. Using insulation can be a great way to deter rodents from these areas.
If you do spot any signs of nesting animals, set out traps to help eliminate the problem before it becomes more severe.
While it’s hard to completely guarantee a pest-free home throughout all seasons, a proactive approach can significantly reduce the number of pests you encounter.
That’s why making sure seasonal pest control is part of your home maintenance checklist is so important.
While some pest problems may require professional pest control, many can be eliminated at home, as long as they’re discovered promptly.
A little initial effort can go a long way in ensuring small pests don’t cause a big problem in your home!