With the fall season getting closer, it’s the time bugs are trying to find places to hide from the cold. Here are some fall pest prevention tips that can help with preventing them from staying at your home.

Natural Sources

We understand the importance of feeling comfortable and safe inside your own home. We absolutely enjoy getting asked for natural methods that could help with pest activity, aside from our own regular maintenance treatments.

• Using Essential Oils – Peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus are some scents that can deter pests. Spiders, for example, do not like lavender and will avoid spots that contain it. Many customers will have diffusers in rooms like the living room to help keep bugs out. Another method to use these oils is mixing them with water, and spraying them in corners or hot spots at your home. Always do your research and practice proper safety measures around children and pets. 

• Installing Bat Houses – Bats are actually an important part of our ecosystem, as they help with reducing populations of insects. Many people have the misconception that they are dangerous, but they actually are just a mammal that minds their own business as long as they are undisturbed. Installing a bat house in your yard can be helpful as it will target pests like mosquitoes and moths and keep their activity low.

Exterior Home Maintenance

Even as the summer season is coming to an end, it’s important to continue to keep up with the maintenance outside of your home. Here are some fall pest prevention tips that will help with avoiding keeping the pests in your home!

• Clean up Leaf Debris – With leaves falling from the tree, it’s the time of year to create those leaf piles to clean up (and maybe jump in). While removing the piles around your yard, it eliminates the possibility of insects or rodents hiding in them and establishing their home. Also, disposing of the leaves properly in paper bags is important to make sure nothing is left lying around your yard.

• Outside Lighting – Many people don’t realize the type of lighting you have around your home could be the reason pests are being attracted to your home. Changing those bright white lights to yellow or sodium vapor lights can help with deterring pests like mosquitos! 

Interior Home Maintenance

Like any other time of the year, keeping up with the maintenance inside your home is crucial. This is the time to look for any signs of pest activity and take the appropriate steps to keep them out!

• Inspect and Seal Entry Points – Taking some time to look around your home for any entry points and closing them is important. Having things like ripped window screens or gaps under doors are easy fixes. Sealing up any holes that are found, with weather-appropriate materials is crucial to make sure it’ll hold up during the cold weather like weather-resistant caulk or expanding foam. 

• Inspect Attics and Basements – This is now the time to look in your attics and basements, as well as make sure they are kept decluttered to avoid pests keeping shelter in them. Paying close attention and watching for signs like droppings, gnaw marks, or nests and making sure they get addressed quickly to avoid any infestations from happening. 

These tips can help prevent pest infestations from happening at your home, especially since this is when pests want to seek shelter and warmth. If you are interested in any services we offer or have questions about activity at your home, feel free to reach out to our office at (844) 572-0628.