Most homeowners already know that raking leaves, turning off outside faucets, and changing out the summer decor for the fall stuff is a part of getting ready for the cooler days of autumn. What many don’t know, however, is that you should be preparing your home for the pests that come with the fall of the year as well.
Along with the bonfires, tailgating at San Diego Fleet games, and warm hoodies comes the very real possibility that you will have a pest infestation on your hands before the fall seeps into winter. The first thing you want to do, of course, is contact a company like Joshua’s Pest Control, a San Diego area company to come inspect and treat your home as the summer season winds down. There are also a few things you can do yourself as well to keep the pests of fall from knocking on your door.
Most Common Entry Points for Fall Pests
You know that the best way to treat fall pest infestations is by preventing pests from entering your home, to begin with. That means covering any entry points that they can scurry through before the time comes. Below you can find a list of the most common entry points for fall pests.
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Dryer vents
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Exhaust fans
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Windows and door frames
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Siding
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Chimney caps
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Garage doors
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Crawl spaces
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Incoming utilities
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Garage doors
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Gutters
You need to check all of these areas and make sure to plug any access so you can be pest-free when the holiday season rolls around.
Store Firewood Away from the Home
While it may be tempting to store your firewood inside your home by the fireplace, it’s truly not a good idea if you don’t want to bring pests in with you. Firewood is great for keeping cozy and warm during the winter months, but it also brings the possibility of termites, carpenter ants, and other destructive pests moving into your home. Instead, make sure that you store firewood at least 20-feet away from your house and outbuildings and, if possible, keep the stacks of wood elevated as much as possible.
Inspect Your Decorations
One of the best parts of fall is the decorating for many homeowners, and there are many options to choose from. However, you need to check some of those decorations carefully to ensure they aren’t carrying anything more than a fall scent. Some of the most common culprits of decoration infestations include straw piles, firewood, scarecrows, and fall foliage. While you want to bring a bit of fall into your home, you have to be careful that you don’t bring unwanted guests in as well.
Put the Pet Food Up
While it may be tempting to just leave Fido’s dish out so that he can nibble whenever he wants, doing this also leaves an open invitation for fall pests to come nibble as well. Remember, pests don’t discriminate when it comes to eating human or pet food. It’s all the same to them. Roaches, ants, and rodents are infamous for coming to eat and drink your pet’s food and water, and then settling into your home for the winter afterward.
This is just a little bit of what you need to know when it comes to protecting your home from the pests that tend to invade in the autumn of the year. While you want to enjoy the cool air, and the activities that come with this season, don’t forget that protecting your home from pests should be a top priority as well.