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If you did not have a home and were stuck outside as the temperatures dropped during the fall, it is likely that you would do anything to find a place to stay warm. We say this to help you understand one of the biggest reasons overwintering pests invade area homes. As we head towards winter here in Salt Lake City, your living areas will start to look more and more inviting to invasive creatures like stink bugs, rodents, and cockroaches. Our goal is to help you make sure these pests stay outside where they belong. To prevent overwintering pests from invading your home, here is what you need to know.

Make Sure Your Home’s Exterior Is Sealed

One great way to prevent pests from getting into your Salt Lake City home is to seal off entry points. This is done in a few different ways.

Purchase a caulking gun, silicone caulk, and some steel wool. Seal in small gaps and cracks using the caulking gun and some silicone caulk. For larger gaps and holes fill them in with steel wool before sealing them over with caulk.
Thoroughly inspect your home’s door screens, weatherstripping, and door sweeps. Make sure they are in good working condition.
Repair more severe damage to your home’s siding, roofline, and chimney.
Keep unscreened doors and windows, including second-and third-story windows, closed when they are not being used.
Install fine metal screens over unprotected ventilation and out spouts that lead out of your home.

Thoroughly Clean Your Living Areas

Many pests thrive in dirty areas. To make surviving indoors more difficult for overwintering pests, keep your living areas as clean as possible. This includes regularly washing off countertops and floors, dusting, and cleaning beneath kitchen appliances and other hard-to-reach areas. Another great thing to do is to organize your storage areas and keep clutter in and around your home to a minimum.

Address Attractants That Draw Pests In

There are three factors that attract pests to properties: food, water, and shelter. Address food sources by storing leftovers, pantry items, and pet food inside airtight containers, and make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids. Address moisture problems by eliminating water build-up, repairing leaks, making sure your gutters are working properly, and using a dehumidifier indoors. Finally, address pest harborage opportunities by cleaning up clutter and debris from your yard, storing woodpiles at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior, and keeping your living areas clean and tidy.

The Difficulty In Eliminating Pests

Once pests find their way indoors, getting them out is difficult. Many overwintering creatures will hide deep inside wall voids and in other hard-to-reach areas. Other pests are resilient to over-the-counter pest control products or are adept at avoiding danger. Some rodents are even smart enough to trigger traps and will eat the bait without being caught. Our hope is that you do not stress yourself out trying to remove unwanted guests from your home.

Invest In Extra Protection

To save you from losing your sanity, trying to handle pest problems on your own, let our experts at Pestmaster® Services help you out. We make controlling overwintering pests easy for our community by offering detailed service options, reliable inspections, and long-term abatement strategies. Let us evaluate your home and property for pest pressures. We will identify existing problems and suggest some protective services to ensure your living areas stay pest-free through the winter months.

Give our team a call today to discuss your home pest control options with one of our friendly service representatives. We will make sure you are well taken care of and will help you schedule your Salt Lake City home for a visit.