How to Prevent Pests from Getting Inside this Winter

Did you know that pests can find their way into our homes through entry points which may be so tiny or hidden from our sight that we may not even know they exist?

As an example, a rodent such as a mouse may need just a quarter of an inch to enter a home. For most homeowners home security is one of the highest priorities, but keeping your home safe from unwanted guests means you have to think beyond just locks and alarm systems. Whether you live in Washington, DC, Virginia or Maryland suburbs, a variety of wildlife and common pests are waiting to make your home their own during the winter season.

The best way to help prevent these pest problems is to arm yourself with the right information. By understanding the conditions, common entry points and resources these pests utilize and correct these factors, you can better protect your home and prevent such seasonal pest problems.

The following tips are provided to help you prevent pests from entering your home this Winter:

• Inspect and assure all exterior doors and windows are well-sealed. If light can be seen around or under a closed door or window, it is a possible pest entry area.
• Torn screens should be repaired, as screens are a prime entry point for pests. Inspect and seal around soffits and gable vents.
• Assure these vents are properly screened to prevent rodent and insect pests from getting inside the roof or attic space.
• Inspect and suitably seal around all utility penetrations to prevent pest entry in these areas.
• Inspect gutters to assure they are clean and properly pitched to drain water away from your home such that rain or melted snow is kept away from your home to reduce moisture build-up adjacent to your home.
• Remove excess leaves from the roof and rain gutter to keeps ants and other insects from breeding under the build-up and prevent rain water from backing up beyond roof flashing due to the formation of “ice dams” which may cause damaging water intrusion.
• Caulk all cracks and crevices.
• Assure all windows and doors seal properly and install new seals as needed to keep both the cold air and unwanted pests from entering.
• Keep trash cans clean and lids sealed, to prevent problems with both inspect pests such as flies and roaches as well as vertebrate pests such as raccoons and rodents.
• Keep the garage door closed and ensure weather stripping is in good condition. This is one of the most common avenues that pests use to enter your home.
• Prune excess vegetation away from your home.
• Remove wood debris and keep woodpiles (such as firewood) away from your home’s foundation and stored off the soil. This helps prevent rodent nesting or insect colonization next to your home.

As you can see from the above tips, there are a number of things you can do to help reduce the likelihood of pests entering your home this winter. If you have problem, even after doing your best to take preventative measures, call us at Alexandria Pest Services so we can help you with an inspection in and around your home. Alexandria Pest Services will identify and eliminate pest entry points during our visits. Call Alexandria Pest Services at 703-923-0925 to schedule a professional evaluation. We can help you get rid of these invaders in your home or office!