As the weather gets colder, it’s important to prepare your home for the changing seasons. This may include rearranging things, fixing broken items and appliances, preparing for the colder weather, and keeping out pests that seek warmth in the autumn.
These plans can help you stay healthy, warm, and save on the financial costs of damages caused by lack of preparation. Here are some tips for controlling pests in the autumn.
1. Seal Crevices and Cracks
Cluster flies are not the usual flies you see all year long. They are slightly larger and yellowish. These flies tend to search for warm places to nest in during autumn and are known to leave unsanitary droppings around the house. That’s not something you want getting into your food.
Identify Entry Points
- Inspect: Look around doors, windows, foundations, and utility openings for gaps or cracks.
- Common Areas: Pay special attention to areas where pipes and wires enter your home, as these can be easy access points for pests.
Choose the Right Materials
- Caulk: Use silicone or acrylic caulk for small gaps and cracks (up to ¼ inch).
- Expanding Foam: For larger openings, especially around pipes and ducts, use expanding foam sealant.
- Weather Stripping: Apply weather stripping to doors and windows to reduce gaps.
Apply Sealant
- Preparation: Clean the area to remove dirt and old paint for better adhesion.
- Application: Follow the product instructions for application. For caulk, use a caulking gun and apply in a steady, continuous line. For foam, fill the gap slightly over full, as it will expand.
Check Regularly
- Maintenance: Regularly inspect your home for new cracks or wear in existing seals, especially after winter or heavy weather.
Additional Tips
- Exterior Focus: Don’t forget to check your garage, basement, and attic—common entry points for pests.
- Foundation: Inspect your foundation for any larger cracks that may need professional attention.
2. Use Sticky Traps
The great thing about sticky traps is that they can be placed anywhere; on the wall, the floor, the cabinets, inside the closets, the pantry etc. As long as they are kept well away from areas where children play, they prove very effective in controlling crawling bugs and pests and sometimes, even flying ones. Here are some suggestions in detail.
Choose the Right Type of Trap
- For Rodents: Look for larger, more robust traps designed specifically for mice or rats.
- For Insects: Opt for smaller traps for pests like cockroaches, ants, or spiders. Some traps are pheromone-enhanced to attract specific insects.
Placement
- High Activity Areas: Place traps in areas where you’ve noticed signs of pest activity, such as droppings, gnaw marks, or nests.
- Strategic Locations: Position traps along walls, behind appliances, and in corners, as pests tend to travel along edges.
Use Multiple Traps
- Increase Effectiveness: Setting multiple traps increases your chances of capturing pests. Space them out to cover a larger area.
- Monitor Regularly: Check traps frequently to see if they’ve caught anything. This helps you assess the level of infestation and adjust your strategy if needed.
Replace When Needed
- Full Traps: Replace sticky traps once they’re full or have been in place for several weeks without catching anything. Over time, their adhesive may lose effectiveness.
- Clean Surroundings: Keep the area around traps clean to ensure they remain effective and to reduce other attractants.
Consider Safety
- Placement Around Pets and Children: Ensure traps are placed out of reach of pets and children to prevent accidental contact.
- Avoid Over-Reliance: Sticky traps are great for monitoring, but they should be part of a comprehensive pest control strategy, including sanitation and exclusion methods.
3. Check your foundation
Checking your home’s foundation is also important because pests can get in through there. Pests can get it through cracks as tiny as a pinky finger. Expanding epoxy foam can help you seal all cracks, even the ones you can’t reach while helping you retain heat in your apartment for the increasing cold.
When water stays stagnant near home foundations, creaks can expand when the water freezes exposing homes to pest infestations. Faulty gutter systems can cause water to sit in certain areas of the foundation. It is therefore important to ensure that all gutter systems are cleaned and pass water smoothly before autumn is in full effect. Here are the details which we can do
Visual Inspection
- Look for Cracks: Examine the foundation for visible cracks or gaps. Pay attention to both exterior and interior walls.
- Check for Moisture: Look for signs of water pooling, dampness, or mold, which can attract pests.
- Inspect for Holes: Check for holes or openings that could serve as entry points for rodents and insects.
Identify Problem Areas
- Basement and Crawl Spaces: Focus on these areas, as they are often more susceptible to moisture and pest entry.
- Around Windows and Doors: Check these areas for any signs of wear or gaps.
Repair Cracks and Gaps
- Seal Small Cracks: Use a concrete sealant or caulk to fill in small cracks and gaps.
- Address Larger Cracks: For significant cracks, consider consulting a professional to assess and repair the damage properly.
Install Barriers
- Physical Barriers: Consider installing barriers like steel mesh or hardware cloth around the foundation to prevent pests from burrowing in.
- Moisture Barriers: Ensure that the ground around the foundation is graded away to prevent water pooling, and consider installing a moisture barrier in crawl spaces.
Regular Maintenance
- Routine Checks: Conduct regular inspections, especially after heavy rains or changes in weather.
- Keep Landscaping Tidy: Trim back plants and remove debris from around the foundation to reduce hiding spots for pests.
Monitor for Pests
- Set Traps: Place sticky traps near the foundation to monitor for any signs of pest activity.
- Check for Signs of Infestation: Look for droppings, gnaw marks, or nests that could indicate pests have entered your home.
