Children tend to embrace the winter months, given that it’s the time of year for snowball fights, sledding, and occasional school cancellations. Nevertheless, as we age, our outlook takes a shift of gears.
But with some good fortune, you never do become blinded to what can make this season so magical that feel of freshly fallen snow beneath your feet, or the glimpse of sunlight as it shines on a lowly hanging icicle.
All the same, together with the onset of winter, there are a host of hazards of a worrisome nature.
There are the frozen pipes and the ice dams to contend with. The downed power lines and trees. And as the sky begins to darken, these are the sort of problems that the majority of homeowners will likely dread the most.
But there’s something else to add to the list of issues to be dreaded. A warm home that is fully stocked up with food makes for an irresistible draw for rodents and numerous species of insects. So don’t be offering them any form of open invitation.
It?s true that rats and mice, spiders and cockroaches, make for relentless intruders, frequently fully capable of breaching merely a hairline crack within the home’s exterior. With a little foresight and some care, it’s possible to go a distance in barring those unwanted house guests. And it’s well worthy of the effort, since household pests are more than capable of inducing extensive and expensive damage.
Upon gaining entry into your home, rodents and insects will gnaw their way through wires, wood, and drywall, ever so gradually but inevitably leaving a sizable amount of destruction as they go. Even their nesting will typically result in mold growth and rotting wood, both of which will work effectively in undermining the integrity as well as the longevity of your home.
However, this is a singular silver lining here. Those measures that are necessary in order to minimize any likelihood of infestation are the same measures you ought to take as by way of maximizing your home’s energy efficiency.
So, with a single swoop, you can then pest-proof your home while simultaneously lowering your monthly utility bills.
There is a caveat, though, which is that even when you think your home is well defended against pests and drafts, it might not remain this way through the winter months. Those freezing rains, the falling snow, and the whipping winds that serve to characterize any winter storm create the type of vulnerabilities that will see pests capitalize on. And, if not repaired, any weakened spots can be an invitation to pests.
You might not be having to deal with any form of infestation at the moment, but do recognize that the pest infestation risk never truly evaporates, and more so in wintertime than otherwise. Thus, think about taking action in the following ways for pest prevention:
– Declutter the attic, utility rooms, and basement to eliminate a potential for nesting areas.
– Trim the trees back from the exterior of your home to halt any rodents in their tracks from gaining easy access to the roof overhang’s underside.
– Replace any worn weather stripping and loose mortar that has appeared around doors and windows.
– Along the roof line, make an examination of the fascia boards and replace areas that have rotted.
– Seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior using caulk with a silicone base.
– Keep crumbs from falling on the floor and store as much food as possible within sealed containers.- Avoid ice dams by dissipating what could turn out to be problematic snow accumulation.
– Store firewood off the ground and covered, at least 20 feet distant from your home.
– Have the stack cleaned by hiring a professional sweep. Whilst there, he (or she) can install a chimney cap if need be and inspect the flue.
There are various telltale signs that would suggest any presence of ongoing infestation, piles of sawdust that you’d not have expected to encounter, say, or chewed box corners. However, do remember that many of us who do suffer some pest damage in our homes simply don’t realize there to be a problem until it’s very late in the day.
That said, if you have concerns over rodents or insects in your property, do not hesitate to get in touch with a professional who maintains a membership with the National Pest Management Association.