Winter Pest Control Problems

As the temperatures drop and we start piling on the jumpers, scarves, coats and gloves many insects and other pests also are trying to find a winter retreat where they can keep warm and dry. Unfortunately the best place they often think of is our homes.

With the changing environment rodents in particular such as rats and house mice invade homes usually bringing the rest of their family with them. If offered a warm and sheltered place to live with plenty of food available it’s no wonder they make the most of the open invitation into our homes. They can however cause serious property damage by tearing insulation, chewing electrical wires, contaminating food and leaving unpleasant odours.

You may think your house is pest-proof but a house mouse can squeeze through a space as small as a 5 pence piece making it easy for them to make their way into homes through cracks and crevices. There are some pest control hints and tips to keep your house rodent free this winter.

Firstly a good idea is to seal up any cracks and holes on the outside of your home including areas where pipes and utilities enter your home. This is the most common entry point for pests and using any suitable sealant such as cement, expandable foam or steel wool will do the trick nicely. Screening vents and chimneys or capping them where possible is also another good idea and making sure that there is no loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.

Gaps under doors welcome pests into the home so install door sweeps or rubber seals to block entry. The best way to check is to look as to whether there is any light filtering through and if you can fit a pencil in the gap that means that a mouse would be able to squeeze through.

By tidying up your garden you can also reduce the risk of rodents entering your house: keep tree branches and shrubbery away from the house and well-trimmed, store firewood 20 feet away from the house and keep it off the ground and repair any rotting wood.

If you follow these hints and tips you are less likely to have a rodent family taking over your house but if you are unlucky you may need to call in a pest control expert to take care of the problem. The best way to detect rodents is to look for signs of droppings, use an UV pen to find traces of urine, gnaw marks or trails.

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