Keep Fall Pests Outside: Simple Ways to Protect Your Home
When temperatures begin to drop, unwanted guests may start looking for somewhere warm and comfortable. Your home can look especially appealing if there are easy entry points.
Fall is a good time to inspect your home's exterior and close those openings.
Look for These Common Entry Points
Check around:
- Doors and windows
- Garage doors
- Plumbing and electrical penetrations
- Dryer vents
- Foundation cracks
- Areas where pipes or cables enter the house
Replace damaged weather-stripping and seal appropriate gaps around the exterior.
Don't forget the attic and crawl space. Look for signs of pest activity, moisture or damaged insulation.
Make Your Yard Less Inviting
Keep firewood, leaves and other debris away from the home's exterior. Trim vegetation that touches the house, and address drainage or moisture problems around the foundation.
You don't need to turn your home into a fortress. The goal is simply to make it harder for pests to find food, water and shelter.
Homeowner tip: If you find evidence of an active infestation, skip the DIY guessing game and contact a qualified pest-control professional to identify the problem and recommend the appropriate treatment.
