How to Make Your Home Less Prone to Pest Infestation During Winter

Warning Signs to Look Out For  

If you see droppings around the perimeter of your home, in the basement, crawl space, or garage, you can be pretty certain you have a pest problem. Animals and insects leave droppings behind them anywhere they go. Unfortunately, a bad odor follows. What they leave behind can vary in size, but the smell will always be bad enough that you won’t be able to avoid it. 

However, droppings aren’t the only warning sign when it comes to pest infestation. Aside from an increased number of spiders, you should keep your eyes open for damage to soft furnishings, wooden beams, and electrical wiring. 

If you’re wondering about how spiders can be a warning sign of pest infestation, consider the fact that they eat insects. So, if there’s suddenly a bunch of them lurking around your home, it probably means you have insects too. From cockroaches to termites, their kind can vary, but the harm to your home will be almost equally bad.

If you see any of the previous signs, you should contact professional help immediately. This means calling your local pest control service, plumbers for broken pipes, and electricians for damaged power lines. Only then will you be able to prepare your home for similar scenarios in the future. Here are some of them.

Tips to Prevent Pest Infestation During Winter 

To prevent pests from roaming around your home, you should always make sure your home is as clean as possible. It’s not enough to simply know where they can hide and what they leave behind them. That’s just one part of prevention. That’s why it’s important to keep your home tidy and free of any kind of debris that could attract rodents and insects. 

Keeping an Eye out for Infestation Hotspots 

Some places around your home are more attractive to pests than others. These hotspots are dark and warm areas that have any kind of food lying around. The obvious answers are basements, garages, and crawl spaces. Since you use them less than your living space, they will provide peace and quiet for pests to nest, breed, and live. 

Yet, they’re not the only ones. You can find pests behind large appliances such as water heaters and stoves. Also, they can lurk around your garbage or even be inside the walls. This will mostly depend on what kind of pests you’re having trouble with. Some will find damp and moist areas more attractive, while others will look for surroundings that are dry and devoid of humidity. 

Clearing out Junk and Debris

Debris and junk in your crawl space, basement, or garage are an open invitation for pests. In addition, damaged insulation and mold growth will attract all sorts of critters throughout the year, not just in the winter. If your home has a crawl space, your local crawl space repair expert can ensure that this area doesn’t contain potential food sources or nesting places for pests. Furthermore, they can inspect your foundation and determine whether there are any large cracks and holes that can serve as entry points. 

Sealing the Gaps

An obvious entry point for all pests is your home’s perimeter. Gaps and cracks in walls, windows, and door frames will allow them to come inside your home if you don’t keep them in order. We suggest that you inspect the perimeter of your home before winter comes. Keep extra attention on utility penetration points as they often lie around without proper sealing.

If you find any of the above, you should contact professional help. Our experts will provide you with great solutions such as waterproofing, encapsulation, and insulation for both basements and crawl spaces. With these solutions, your home can become much more comfortable for you and your loved ones. Crawl space professionals also can install sturdy vent covers to seal off your crawl space vents since these fixtures usually remain open to the detriment of your home.

Taking Sanitization Seriously

Regular sanitization plays an important role in keeping your home inhospitable to pests. Even if you have never had a problem with a pest invasion, it is best to keep your cards open for any scenario. Therefore, make sure you set a sanitization schedule. To make the most of it, contact professionals in your area. Don’t take it lightly as this is as important as any of the previous tips we’ve listed before. 

If your home has any damage from pest infestation, you can contact Indiana Foundation Service. Our team in Indianapolis, IN, can thoroughly inspect your basement or crawl space and recommend the best ways to fix and protect your home. With their help, you’ll no longer fear pests come winter. Contact us today to schedule your free inspection. 

Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for almost 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.