Living in California has many benefits, and if you ask any of the residents in your area, they’ll most likely have one answer in common: the weather. Even in the winter, when the weather is supposed to cool down, the difference in temperature tends to be much more subtle than in other places in the country. However, just because you can still get away with wearing your favorite pair of shorts on certain December weekends, doesn’t mean that the life cycles of pests change. As is the case with many animals, bugs have certain “routines” that they follow, depending on the time of year it is. The bugs that come around during winter will come around regardless of what your plans are. What really matters is whether or not they’ll be able to make their way inside. That depends on how prepared you are for their invasion attempts. In order to keep winter pests away from your home, follow a few easy prep tips to keep your place infestation free.
Close All Entrances Off
One of the best things you can do to keep unwanted intruders out of your house is closing off any entryways that they might use to get in. First, check your doors and windows to make sure that they’re actually closed whenever you close them. If there are spaces between the frame and door or window, bugs can use them to get in whether or not you remember to close it. Use weather stripping to secure them, and consider replacing them if they’re ill fitting.
You should also check your walls for holes or cracks as well. Fill in any gaps you find with caulking.
Trim Back Landscape
One aspect that people often overlook when it comes to pest control is the effect your landscaping can have on how easy it is for bugs to make their way inside. When you have bushes close to the walls of your house, bugs that make their hiding spots in the bushes can easily move into your home. Control this by keeping your landscape neatly trimmed and managed, and by planting new bushes further away from your home, so that branches don’t touch the walls of your home.
Reduce The Amount Of Accessible Food
If there’s one thing that attracts pests more than anything, it’s food. Food items that are left out on the counter are always going to make your house more inviting to bugs, and cause them to work harder to get inside. Keep all food in air tight containers, or in the refrigerator.
Make sure that your trash isn’t accessible either. If your trash can doesn’t have a lid, consider switching to one that does. Take the trash out at least once a day, but sooner if it’s filled with food that might bring pests in.
All of these tips will help prevent pests from coming into your home, but if you’re already dealing with an infestation, the best way to rid your home of it is by calling in a professional. Call a local pest control company to come by and you’ll be free of your pest issues quickly and efficiently.