3 Reasons to Continue Pest Control Treatments in the Wintertime
Thanks to all of the ice and snow that Utah has had this winter, pest control may not be on your mind. You may think that the pests have frozen and died or that they have already found warm homes for the season and they are leaving, however, don’t be tricked by the cold temperatures. Pests such as black widows, spiders, ants, cockroaches, termites, bed bugs, fleas, rats and mice, may slow down in the winter months, but they do not go away.
During the winter, pests continue to eat, grow and reproduce. Unfortunately, many people either consider or do cut back on their pest control services in the wintertime as a way to save money or because they think it isn’t necessary. Here are a few of the reasons why you should continue your pest control services during the winter months.
Pests That Are Already Inside Your Home Are NOT Affected by the Outside Cold
During the winter months, you may think that its ok to cut back on your pest control services, as it’s unlikely pests are trying to enter your home. However, what you may not realize is that pests may already be living in your home. There are many different types of pests that may be burrowed inside of your home that you can’t see. Unfortunately, when you fail to treat your home during the winter months, these pests quickly increase in number without you even realizing it. Termites, carpenter ants, cockroaches, and earwigs can all thrive indoors during the wintertime and you may not even realize it as they may be hidden in dark places. Other pests, such as wasps and spiders, may be living in your attic to escape the cold.
In order to keep your home free of pests and our services affordable, we offer quarterly maintenance plans starting at just $69.99. During these services, we perform a thorough interior and exterior inspection of your home, ensuring there are no pest-related issues at the time of the inspection and identifying any conditions that could potentially increase pest problems in the future.
Rodents Can Find Their Way Inside If Entry Points Are Not Sealed Off
Another reason not to cease pest control services in the winter is because rodents are always looking for a home to inhabit, even during the coldest months of the year. The last thing you want is to settle in for a good night’s sleep, only to be awoken by strange noises. When you go to investigate, you may find mice, rats or other rodents living in your attic, garage or crawl space.
Not only can rodents disrupt your sleep at night, but they can also disrupt insulation, gnaw on wood and prepare nests for their spring babies. They find small holes or cracks in your wood fascia, soffits, siding or roof and enter your space. These pests also pose a threat to humans. They can spread diseases through their feces, saliva and urine, including but not limited to salmonella and hantavirus. They can also contaminate your food if they touch the food. They also carry in other pests, like fleas and lice.
By continuing on with your pest control services, you are allowing us to inspect your home and look for rodents. If we find any, we will remove them while also finding and blocking off the places they are entering your space through. This helps provide a long-lasting solution to an awful problem.
Ways to Prevent Pests from Coming Indoors
In addition to hiring and using a pest control service year round, there are steps a homeowner can take to help prevent pests from coming indoors. Here are some of the ways you can prevent this:
- Sealing all of the cracks and holes on the outside of the home so pests can’t enter.
- Storing items in garages, basements and attics in sealed plastic containers. Cardboard boxes give rodents a place to nest, so you want to avoid them. It is recommended to store items in your garage in plastic totes instead of cardboard boxes.
- Trimming branches and shrubs so that they are kept away from home openings, like windows and doors.
- Storing firewood away from the home to prevent wood eating pests, like termites, from moving from the wood pile to your home. Ideally, store it 20 feet from your home and five feet off the ground.
- Installing exterior door sweeps and replacing damaged screens to prevent pests from entering through these tiny cracks and holes.
- Placing screens over vents and chimney openings to keep pests out.
- Disposing of your garbage regularly.
- Storing food in airtight containers the minimize the scent of the food and prevent pests from gaining access.
Contact Legacy Pest Control for Year-Round Utah Pest Control Services
If you suspect an infestation, contact Legacy Pest Control is Utah. We have over 20 years of pest control experience, providing homeowners and businesses safe and effective services in Utah at affordable prices. We guarantee our work, are locally owned, friendly and knowledgeable. We also offer pest control coupons and military family discounts, helping to keep our prices affordable. For more information or to find a professional Utah pest control company, contact Legacy Pest Control via our web form or give us a call at 801-779-3131.
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