How to Keep Pests Out of Your Home in the Fall

​Even though it's getting colder, getting rid of pests should still be a top priority. Even though some bugs and rodents are more common in the summer, pest control should be done all year long. In New Jersey, there are many bugs, like bed bugs and termites, that could come into your home in the fall and winter. 

Of course, this could make your home environment uncomfortable. Some pests can also be dangerous, so keeping them away or getting rid of them can keep your family safe. Here are some good reasons to get rid of pests in the winter and some easy ways to do it.

What Are the Common Fall Pests?

Termites are a common problem in the fall. Most people see these bugs in the spring and summer. But some types of termites are active in the fall and lay eggs that hatch in the winter. Subterranean termites often attack homes in New Jersey. They have clear wings and yellow backs. Termites eat wood and can do a lot of damage to the foundation of your home. Repairs for this can cost a lot of money.

As the weather gets cooler, cockroaches can move into your home. In the fall and winter, these bugs look for food and warmth. Most of the time, they are in the kitchen and dining room. Roaches can also make their homes in warm, dark places inside the house. Inspect these areas of your property to make sure roaches are not infesting your property.

Watch out for bed bugs if you travel in the fall or winter. You can find them in airports and hotels. Because they are so small, you might not even realize they are on your sheets or clothes.

Why Do Pests Invade My Home in the Fall?

When it gets cold, bugs come inside to find food, water, and a place to stay. Many people think that summer is the most bug-filled time of year. But did you know that when summer ends and temperatures drop in the fall, annoying animals love to move into your house? Like people, bugs want to be warm, eat, and drink, and they will do almost anything to get what they need.

When fall comes, bugs and rodents come into our homes looking for food and warmth. These pests are not only annoying, but they also cause damage to our homes and pets and pose serious health risks to our loved ones.

Taking the steps to protect and fortify your home against bugs will help keep it clean and give you peace of mind, just in time for cozy nights in front of the fireplace. Read on to find out how to keep them from finding what they need in your home or business this fall.

How to Prevent Pests Coming Into Your Home in Fall

If you find there are bed bugs in your home, calling a professional right away is the best method you could do. Without an exterminator, it can be hard to get rid of certain pests. While they are on their way, consider doing the following tips listed below to prevent the same incident from happening again:

Consider Buying New Things for Your Home

Do the vents that run outside from your attic, dryer, or gable end seem to be old, broken, or deformed from the outside of your home? There has never been a better time to get new ones than right now. It is not difficult for rodents such as mice and squirrels to gnaw their way through vents in order to gain access to your home or attic.

Stop Hanging Bird Feeders

Bird feeders are a common source of food for rodents like mice and squirrels. One of the squirrels' favorite things to do is climb up into bird feeders and grab the food that the birds have left for them. Squirrels are really good climbers. Other creatures, such as birds, will continue to use your bird feeders even if squirrels avoid them.

​When birds eat, they fling the seeds everywhere, and they sometimes even leave them in piles on the ground after they have finished eating them. It's possible that mice and rats may swarm on your property because of the abundance of food that's so easily accessible to them.

Close Up Gaps Around Your House

Walk around the outside of your property to get some fresh air. Conduct a thorough inspection of the area to look for cracks and openings that might be patched with foam or steel wool. Due to the fact that mice are unable to nibble through steel wool, it is crucial to get this stage right from the start.

​Mice are able to squeeze through spaces that are just 14 inches wide because their bodies can fold in on themselves and become much smaller. Once mice have entered your home, their preferred sites to nest are the cracks and crevices between the floors, the insulation, the attic, the refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and the holes in the walls. After finding these holes in the earth, it is in everyone's best interest to act as quickly as humanly possible.

Do Not Use Essential Oils to Get Rid of Pests

They are not effective. If it were as simple as that, there would be no need for businesses that specialize in removing unwanted pests. You need to plug the opening that rodents like mice or squirrels are exploiting to enter your home if you find evidence that they have done so. Think about it in this light. Should you repair the window if a bird continues coming into your home via a broken window, or should you spray essential oils over the hole?

Keep Everything As Clean As Possible

Make it a habit to frequently sweep up crumbs within your house. Be sure to give particular attention to areas that are difficult to access and simple to overlook, such as the space beneath the stove and the dishwasher. The grass seed and bird seed should be transferred from garages into Tupperware or other containers with secure locks as soon as possible.

Store Your Pet Food Properly

It won't take much for mice that have invaded your house to find their way to the pet food for your dogs and cats. The food for your pet should not be left out overnight; rather, it should be thrown away at the end of each day.

Do Not Forget About the Garage

The entrance and exit to a home may be quickly and easily accessed via the garage. There may be entry points into your garage in the form of small fractures around the base of your property as well as openings beneath the garage doors. It's not too difficult for mice to make their way through a garage and into the basement of a house. Seeing feces in your basement? It's possible that the trouble lies with your connected garage.

Hire a Professional to Cover Your Gutter

You may prevent rodents like mice and squirrels from entering your attic by covering your gutters, repairing or replacing any damaged gutters, and then covering the repaired gutters. Mosquitoes and other pests that prefer to spawn in stagnant water have a difficult time doing so when gutters get blocked or when maintenance is neglected.

Avoid Trapping & Releasing Pests

Although it would seem like a humane approach to get rid of squirrels without harming them, this strategy actually causes more problems than it solves. It is quite probable that a squirrel will perish if you attempt to transfer it. If you relocate the squirrel to a location that it is unfamiliar with, it will have a very difficult time locating sources of water, food, or shelter.

​Squirrels are very territorial animals; thus, if they were to be driven from the region, they would be put in a vulnerable position and have nowhere else to go. You may also be separating squirrels from their young offspring without realizing it, which will result in the young being left unattended and vulnerable.

Always Be on the Lookout

Examine the outside of your home by taking a stroll around the perimeter. Check the areas surrounding the pipes that transport utilities into your basement to see if there are any holes that you could have overlooked. If you see cracks in the foundation of your house, follow the line to determine the possible locations of any holes.

Do you have any trees on your property that provide fruit for you to eat? Throw away any fruit that has fallen to the ground, and be sure to secure the lids of the garbage cans so that squirrels can't get in. Grabbing a flashlight, I headed down into the basement of your home.

Look closely at any cracks that you locate to check whether or not you can see through them to the outside. If you are able to see through it, then a mouse probably could as well. Put a stop to the infestation by blocking off all of these potential entry points. Not sure if the mice or squirrels in your house are the problems? 

Making an appointment with an exterminator is often all it takes to make sure your home is free of fall pests. In addition to insects, rodents can also get into your home. Ask your pest control person to look for rats and mice in the walls and other openings in your home. 

You can also have a professional look at any rodent droppings you find on your property. NJ Pest Control has the tools and supplies to get rid of and keep pests out of your home during the winter. NJ Pest Control can help if you've seen bugs on or near your property or if you want to keep them away. Contact Jersey City Exterminator, for helpful tips and to set up an appointment.