When temperatures dip down, some animals get the idea that living inside our Greater Kansas City homes is a pretty good idea. (By animals, we're also referring to insects and invertebrates.) Some of the pests you can expect to see more of in your home during the late fall, early winter, and spring are mice, rats, Asian ladybugs, cluster flies, boxelder bugs, and stink bugs. If you're thinking, "No thanks!" we're with ya. Here is a quick guide to show you how you can keep your Greater Kansas City home free of common overwintering pests this winter.
Overwintering Pest Prevention
The first step in keeping overwintering pests out is to seal potential entry points. Insects, like Asian ladybugs, cluster flies, boxelder bugs, and stink bugs don't need much of a hole to gain entry into your home. Rodents don't need a hole at all. They have strong teeth that can chew through wood timbers. Fortunately, mice and rats don't know that you have food and warmth inside your home if you don't broadcast it. One of the ways you can keep the secret to yourself is by sealing exterior doors and common entry points:
- Inspect weatherstripping and door sweeps on your exterior doors. If there is any damage, or you notice gaps, replace these protective materials. These keep the scent of food and warm air from leaking out and catching the attention of rodents.
- Inspect your exterior door frames. Use a caulking gun to seal any gaps you find.
- If you have any holes or rotted areas in your door frames, fill them in or repair them.
- If you have double doors, make sure they have a good seal all the way around. If not, you should have them realigned by a contractor.
- Fix screens and make sure all your screen frames fit snugly on windows and doors.
- Inspect your utilities and make sure there are no gaps around your plumbing and wire conduits.
- Inspect your foundation. If you have cracks, a foundation repair kit may be able to seal those cracks properly.
- Repair damaged mortar.
- If your home has weep holes, make sure you have weep hole protectors.
Pest Control
Once you've taken the time to seal the exterior of your home, there is little more you can do when it comes to overwintering pests. While some attractants and conditions will lure these pests to your Kansas City Metro Area home, cold temperatures are the driving force that pushes these pests inside on cold fall days. The only way to stop this is to invest in a quality pest control program. Professional pest control provides exterior treatments and pest maintenance that repels and knocks down potential pests before they get inside.
Get Your Fall Pest Protection In Place
Are you In the Greater Kansas City Area? If so, you're in our service area. Reach out to Augustine Exterminators for guidance in choosing a quality pest control program for your home. It all begins with an inspection of your property. Based on their findings, your technician will outline what control services will benefit you most. When it comes to pest control in the Greater Kansas City Area, you can trust the service team here at Augustine Exterminators. We have an A+ rating on Angie's List and with the Better Business Bureau. Our team is QuailtyPro And Green Pro Certified and we have a board-certified entomologist on staff. (That's a bug scientist.) You'll be in good hands with our team.