winter pests | IMEL PEST CONTROL
Pest Control Tips for Winter Weather in the Granite City, IL area
Keep pests from cozying up indoors with you!
It’s still February in Granite City, IL, which means you’re probably huddled up inside, enjoying the radiant warmth of your home’s heating system and keeping yourself out of blustery winter conditions. However, it’s not just you that’s enjoying your warm home. More often than not, pests are also using your home as a refuge from the wet and the cold during this season. While the idea of sharing your Winter retreat with a bunch of insects may be unbearable, there are things that you can do to limit the infestation of pests, rodents and other bugs this winter. Read below for realistic tips that you can use to keep your home pest-free!
Keep Food Sealed
There are two main reasons that pests come into your home during the Winter months: food and warmth. By keeping food in sealed storage containers, you’ll make it hard for pests to smell the food and to access to food if they find it. If they can’t find a source of food, there’s no reason for them to be there.
Seal Cracks & Holes
While you may not think about it, there are probably quite a few cracks and holes in the exterior of your home for pests and rodents to fit into. Whether it’s spaces around plumbing fixtures and pipes, small cracks that have appeared over time or even your chimney, it’s important to do an inspection, find and seal any openings on the structure of your home.
Organize Clutter
One of the easiest steps that you can take to keep your home pest-free is by organizing your clutter. Rodents, in particular, love cluttered messes of junk, debris, garbage, brush, etc. It gives them a place to hang out and stay safe while allowing them to access the warmth of the house. By clearing clutter, you’re giving potential pests fewer places to base their operations.
Proper Firewood Storage
Many families in the Granite City, IL area rely on the use of a fireplace to keep their home’s warm and their heating bills down. However, it’s important to ensure that you’re using the right storage techniques and practices. Like brush piles or piles of clutter, firewood provides a great environment for pests to hide in with easy access to your home. They can even hitch a fast ride inside when you bring some into place on the fire.
The best practice is to keep a pile of wood outside, covered from the weather and far enough away that pests won’t have access to your home. Also, bring wood inside as you need it to limit the unwanted guests that find their way inside.
Clean Gutters
While you’re rushing around to clean the clutter in your garage or around your home, you may be missing one important place that could harbor all sorts of pests and rodents. We’re talking about your gutters, of course. If your gutters are filled with leaves and other debris, this provides an optimal environment for pests during the winter, and it gives them easy roof access.
Do an Inspection
The best tip that we can give you is to do an inspection yourself. Use the tips that we have provided to evaluate your home and find places where your pest protection is lacking. The more you look, the more you’ll find potential points of entry and ways to keep pests out of your home!
Call a Professional
Worried that pests have too much access to your home? Especially for rural homes, even pest prevention tips may not help keep all the pests out. Don’t hesitate to call a local pest professional for the help you need to keep your home pest-free!
Watch for these winter pests at your Edwardsville, IL home or business
Common Winter Pests in the Edwardsville, IL Area
When it comes to the winter season, we look forward to snuggling by the fire, enjoying the holiday season and even some snow days – if you’re lucky enough to be a child still. However, one thing we do not look forward to are the pests who seek to find shelter in our homes when it gets cold outside. Unfortunately, insects and animals like to be warm too, and they’d love to find a winter home inside your walls, basement, or even your kitchen cupboard. Here are the top pests you should look out for this winter, and how to avoid them.
Mice & Rats
These furry little creatures may look cute, but they make plenty of people scream in terror when they infiltrate their homes. Additionally, they have the ability to fit in small spaces and make nests throughout your home including inside your walls and HVAC ducts. To prevent these creatures be sure to clean and never leave any food laying out that could attract them. Furthermore, remove piles of logs, brush, or rubbish from the side of your home that may attract them.
Roaches
A roach may not find its way into your home by itself, however, they do like to hitch rides anyway they can get them. Be sure you know what’s coming into your home and squash any roaches you see before they can lay their eggs. However, if you notice this problem, it may already be too late. Cockroaches can spread bacteria and disease on food and surfaces that they touch. Be sure you have the number of a trusted pest control company to eliminate this threat!
Stink Bugs
Stink bugs are more prevalent in the spring and summer months. However, even bugs need a place to take a long winter’s nap and lay eggs for the next season. If you’re facing an infestation of stink bugs, it’s best to call a professional. Squashing them will only emit a nasty smell that lingers around.
Spiders
Count spiders as another creature that likes to take refuge in a warm comfy home for the winter months. More importantly, brown recluse spiders have a dangerous bite that could even be fatal. While these spiders usually hide from humans in dark corners, you may come into contact with one when you’re cleaning out a closet. Protect yourself with pest control treatments.
In the Edwardsville, IL Area, there’s no doubt the Imel is the one to call for all your needs. Don’t live in a home infested by pests – call Imel for the treatments you need!
What winter pests call O’Fallon, IL their home?
Watch out for these pests this winter!
Finding a pest indoors is a nightmare scenario for some. Furthermore, some people believe that during winter, they’re safe from pests. However, this is not true. Some pests even prefer the winter months indoors because they don’t hibernate like some insect species. Unfortunately, you still may need pest treatments, even when there’s snow on the ground. Take a look at the following pests that could still be active in this area, even after the last leaf falls!
Rodents
Two pests that love to take refuge inside of warm homes are mice and rats. Rodents have long, flexible bodies that can fit underneath doors, in between walls, in your HVAC system and almost anywhere else. Furthermore, they sneak out at night to feed on crumbs and other food they can get to. Fortunately, you can prevent mice and rats by cleaning up after yourself – give them nothing to eat and nowhere to stay!
Roaches
The roach is another insect that you may find seeking a warm, dry area inside of your home. There are many species of roaches, but not all of them like the same conditions. You may find roaches in your pantry, bathroom, around your drains and other places. Call a pest professional if you have an infestation.
Bed Bugs
Considering they live most of their lives on the inside of homes, bed bugs can thrive in winter conditions. Additionally, you may carry them from a hotel to your home without ever even noticing it. Make sure to check your bed and hotel room carefully for bed bugs, and make sure you get any problems taken care of right away!
Spiders
Spiders love to spend the winter in attics and basements where they can get away from the cold, damp conditions. This means be careful when sticking your nose into dark, hidden places where spiders like to hang out. You may get more than you bargained for!
Pest problems? Call Imel for a home that’s pest-free for the holidays!
