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One thing I love about winter is the quiet. Do you ever go out onto your street in the middle of the night, after it’s been raining all day? Try it next time there’s a downpour. The world is wet and quiet and there’s hardly a car to be seen. Or listen carefully the next time there’s a foggy morning. You’ll feel like you’re in a Twilight Zone episode, it’s so eerily silent.
It’s also a pretty quiet time for pest problems, which is a great thing for homeowners. Pests get cold, too, and they’d rather spend this time hiding out somewhere instead of trying to infiltrate your home. However, it’s not all gravy during this time of year. There are still pest problems to be encountered, and it’s an excellent time to prepare for impending pest incursions down the road.
Check the basement and the attic right now
Just because you haven’t seen a mouse in the kitchen doesn’t mean your home is safe. Although pest invasions in mid-January weather are less common, there’s always a chance a pest slipped into your home before the frigid temperatures. That means a mouse could have settled into your basement in early December, and if it was pregnant? Or if a few mice slipped in? Oh, boy.
If such a thing had happened, you’d probably have noticed by now. But just to be safe, check the house thoroughly now for signs of hidden pests. Especially in those dark and secluded basements and attics.
Drain any standing water on the property
First of all, there shouldn’t be any standing water because we’re in a drought. But I’m not Jerry Brown, so I don’t care about your water usage. However, standing water is a great target for mosquitoes, because they need water for their eggs. So if you have a pool or birdbath on your property, next summer’s mosquitoes could be waiting in there already. Drain the water and save yourself some bites later.
Add some weather stripping
Now is also an excellent time to check the seals on windows and doors. These are areas that can be exploited by pests trying to enter your home, so shore them up with additional weather stripping. And as an added bonus, you’ll reduce the cold air coming in through those weak seals, saving you money on energy costs.
