Just when it seems like the bees, flies and gnats you battled all summer are finally gone with the onset of cooler temperatures, now the spiders, cockroaches and rodents are trying to find a way to get somewhere warm for the winter. While you want the outside of your house to look as welcoming as possible for friends and family arriving for holiday celebrations and gatherings, your home should NOT be welcoming to pests! Here’s how to keep them out.
Look for cracks and holes outside your house, especially around where cables and pipes enter. Make sure they are sealed, mice and rats can fit their bodies through surprisingly small holes!
While you’re checking around those pipes, make sure there are no leaks or clogged drains. Pests need water to survive, don’t provide it for them!
Screen the vent to your chimney, if you have one and keep your basement, garage, and any other storage areas clean and dry.
Check basement window and foundation and fix any loose weather stripping or mortar.
Install door sweeps and fix those screens. Check weather stripping around all doors and windows.