Essential Winter Pest Control Strategies for a Pest-Free Home

It’s normal for people to pause their pest control services when winter rolls around. Many of us think that because many animals hibernate for winter, so do pests. And while that is sort of true, there’s much more to the story.

In this blog, we will uncover what pests do and where they go each winter to help you understand why winter pest control is still important for your home.

Understanding Winter Pests and Cold Weather

Winter pests like rodents and insects decrease in activity as temperatures drop. Their metabolic rate takes a dip, which leads to less movement and a bit of a pause in reproduction. This tends to look like a bug-free winter for most people.

And while it’s true you may not see pests roaming around your home, that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

Many pests enter a phase called diapause, which is a hibernation-like state that limits how much people see them wandering around. However, pests can remain somewhat active if they find warm places to stay for the duration of the winter months.

Their motivation to find a place to live increases with every degree that temperatures drop, so it’s more than likely that you’ll have some creepy crawlers finding comfort in secluded areas of your home, like crawl spaces, attics, and even vacant guest rooms and wall voids.

So, while it may be true that you don’t see pests as much, they are still very much a problem for homeowners during the winter because now they are all centralized in your home. Come spring, you are likely to see an infestation bloom quickly unless you keep up with winter pest control measures.

Preparing Your Home for Winter

Now that we know a little more about what pests do and where they go each winter, it’s time to start preparing.

Here’s a basic checklist of things you can do to get yourself prepared as the weather gets colder:

• Seal any cracks or crevices to prevent pests from entering your home.
• Install door sweeps and weatherstripping to seal gaps under doors.
• Keep your home clean and tidy to reduce the likelihood of pests.
• Use preventative, professional pest control services to keep your home pest-free.
• Keep your yard clean and free of debris to reduce the likelihood of pests entering your home.
• Insulate exposed piping to prevent pests from entering your home through tiny crevices.
• Check your roof and gutters for cracks and crevices that pests can use to enter your home.

Once you’ve checked all of these things off the list, you should have a strong base for avoiding pests overwintering in your home.

The Most Common Winter Pests

What kind of pests might you expect to come knocking when it starts to get especially cold? Across the nation, we see plenty of rodents and cockroaches, but San Diego doesn’t get as cold as other parts of the country, which means that there are more pest issues here than in many other places.

You might run into more:

• Spiders
• Fleas
• Ticks
• Ants
• Clothes and Pantry Moths
• Crickets

From a rodent infestation to flying insects, we are almost never surprised to hear that San Diego homes are experiencing an influx of pests in the colder months.

Common Winter Pest Control Mistakes

Ignoring winter pests can lead to bigger issues, such as infestations and property damage. We see people do this all too often, only to find that spring and summer pests are abundant as the weather changes.

We see plenty of problems when people forget to:

• Seal cracks and crevices
• Leave spaces dirty, cluttered, or littered with food sources (which includes crumbs)
• Schedule their winter pest control services

These steps are key to avoiding pest infestations.

The Importance of Professional Winter Pest Control Services

Preparing your home and choosing winter pest control is the best way to get ahead of pests. It might seem like a great time to pull back and put your quarterly visits on pause, but it’s actually one of the most effective times to get your pest control done.

Because pests are more dormant in the winter, they are often centralized. This means that pest control typically goes a lot further. When all the pests are clustered together instead of hiding all over the place, it’s much easier to target them. At Mission Pest Control, our experienced exterminators perform thorough inspections to treat current pests and prevent a pest explosion in the spring.

Targeted Pest Solutions

When it comes to pest control, it’s important to work with a company that offers a targeted approach, especially when winter rolls around. Instead of needlessly saturating your property in chemicals, choose experts who seek out pest activity and areas of potential activity. This allows for a more effective approach.

DIY Winter Pest Proofing vs. Professional Services

Many people wonder if it’s just as easy for them to do their own pest control when winter sets in since pests are more centralized anyway. While in theory, this makes sense, in practice, it can have brutal repercussions.

DIY pest control methods are often not strong enough to eliminate pest problems completely. Using store-bought products often leads pests to adapt and overcome the chemicals used, which means if you ever use that product again, they could be immune to it.

Professional pest control methods offer a more comprehensive and effective solution to pest problems. Paired with your own strategies, like sealing cracks and gaps that you see, you’re sure to have an incredibly effective way of preventing and treating pests this winter!

Partner with Mission Pest Control

Pest control isn’t just about treating pests; it’s about preventing future infestations. At Mission, we do everything we can to help you avoid seasonal pests. From helping you find ways to reduce excess moisture to identifying areas for potential entries, we do everything we can to prevent pests from being able to gain access to your home during every part of the year—from colder to warmer months.

Keep your home pest-free year-round with our comprehensive pest control services, and get back to enjoying the comforts of your home without the fear of having to share it with pests!