But what if there were ways to prevent this common problem? What if there were things that could be done to prepare your home for the deluge of winter pest problems? Fortunately, help is on the way. The following list will provide you with a variety of methods for preventing pests from entering your home during the upcoming winter season. 

Store Your Food Products In Sealed Containers

There are few things worse than heading to the kitchen to pour yourself a bowl of cereal in the morning and finding pests inside of the box. If you would like to keep your pantry safe from the onset of winter pests, then be sure to store your foods properly. Don’t leave them in boxes that could be opened or chewed through easily. Cardboard boxes must be avoided at all costs and your best course of action is to purchase sealed plastic containers, so that you can keep your food and your domicile safe.

Dispose Of Your Garbage In A Timely Fashion

So, you have placed all of your food in airtight containers and ensured that your supper will not be ruined by the presence of uninvited guests. The next step is to make sure that you are disposing of your garbage in a timely fashion. Raccoons and other rodents love hiding away in your garbage cans and can easily subsist off of what you are tossing out. Do not place leftovers and food related items in your garbage for days at a time, as this might as well be a neon sign that says ALL PESTS WELCOME.

Place Screens Over Your Openings

Winter pests know no bounds and they see nothing wrong with exploiting every possible crack and crevice to make their way into your home. Whether it’s your chimney vent or any other natural opening of the house, pests will find a way to squeeze through. Examine your home and place screens over any areas that seem susceptible to pest attacks. Even the tiniest crevice is essentially an open door policy for rodents and insects.

Seal Holes Where Your Pipes And Utilities Are Located

Pipes and utility are another common hiding spot for winter pests. If you do not investigate these areas thoroughly and seal them with caulk, pests will reside there for as long as possible and may even decide to remain through the summer. A home’s exterior has all sorts of tiny holes and openings that you probably never considered, so take a moment to look around at your pipes, utilities and other areas where small holes could leave you vulnerable to a pest outbreak.

Fix Basement Foundations And Windows

Weather stripping and mortar have a way of coming loose when you least expect them to, allowing pests to seek shelter inside of your home. Even if you have already installed weather stripping and mortar, fix any issues that may compromise their integrity. Pests love homeowners who do not regularly check their windows and basement foundations, so seal any holes and fix loose mortar and weather stripping to avoid this problem entirely.

Install Gutters To Divert Water 

Winter pests love finding dirty water to make their home in. If you already have gutters installed, clean them and make sure that no pests have already decided to hole up there for the winter. If you do not have gutters installed, be sure to do so, so that you can divert rain water and other runoff from your home. Keeping water away from your home is one of the best choices you can make during the winter season.

Don’t Keep Firewood Inside Of The Home

Firewood is another popular hiding spot for winter pests and while it is more convenient to keep it inside of the home, you could be providing winter pests with a readymade place to spend the colder months. It is recommended that you store your firewood at least twenty feet away from the domicile at all times and make sure that it is kept in an area where it will remain dry, at least five feet off of the ground.

Look For Gnaw Marks

Pests love to chew on anything that they can get their furry little hands on. Go through your entire house and inspect your walls, your wires and your insulation for signs of gnawing. If you should happen to discover teeth and claw marks in these areas, this is usually a sure sign of a pest infestation. At this time, it is best to contact a pest control professional, so that they can provide the help you need to make this problem a thing of the past.

Be On The Lookout For Rodent Feces 

Discovering rodent feces and hearing the repeated sounds of scurrying sounds inside of the home’s walls are two of the surest signs that your home’s security parameters have been breached by winter pests. If you observe either of these behaviors or you begin to notice other glaringly obvious signs that your home is experiencing a pest infestation, then it is in your best interests to contact a professional pest control expert immediately. 

Alliance Pest Services is your NJ pest control expert for all pest problems.  Call for a free inspection today.