Winter Pest Control Tips for a Pest-Free Home

As everything slows down during the winter months in Northeast Ohio, you may think that your indoor pest concerns should go into hibernation as well.

However, that’s not always the case, as pests like spiders, ants, stink bugs, and more tend to seek out the warmth and shelter that your home offers. 

Here’s a look at some of the most common pests to look out for, why pests invade your home in the winter, potential entry spots to your home, and how to eliminate winter pests.

Common Winter Pests in Northeast Ohio

Before we get into why pests invade your home in the winter, let’s first talk about what can invade your home in the winter and the signs of each.

Ants

Ants usually gather in damp areas of your home, like your kitchen or bathroom, as they search for water. 

Signs of ant infestation can include visual sightings, damage to wood, and small collections of dirt or wood shavings. 

Centipedes

Like ants, centipedes like damp areas like bathrooms, but they also prefer dark areas such as basements and crawl spaces because they are nocturnal. 

Experts at hiding, they can also be found in floor and wall gaps, debris piles, garbage, and even piles of laundry. 

Spiders

Reclusive insects, spiders tend to hide out in the quieter spots of your home. If you see spider webs or spider droppings or if you or someone in your family has unexplained bites, that might mean you have a spider problem on your hands. 

Stink Bugs

While you may see stink bugs near windows or doors when they first enter your home, they will quickly seek out quieter spots to overwinter such as inside walls, crawl spaces, and attics. 

Even if you don’t see them, you may still have a stink bug problem if you notice a cilantro-like odor, if you see small yellow or brown stains throughout your home, or if you hear the faint sound of them crawling inside your walls. 

Ladybugs

Often, where one ladybug enters, many will follow, so it’s important to address ladybugs entering your home sooner rather than later. 

You may find them in sunny spots near windowsills or hiding in cracks and crevices. They can leave behind a smelly liquid that’s yellow in color and may also emit a musty odor when disturbed. 

Pro Tip: Before ladybugs gain access to your home, you may notice them clustering in groups on the exterior of your home, such as around cracks, siding, or other entry points. 

Why Pests Invade Homes in Winter

There are a few reasons why pests can take up residence in your home during the winter months. A lot of it comes down to meeting their basic needs. 

Warmth

As temperatures in Mentor and surrounding areas become frigid, pests tend to seek out warmer places to live than the outdoors, namely, your home. This can be especially true for insects like ants and spiders that make their home in the soil. As the ground freezes, they scout out areas that aren’t as cold. 

Shelter

In addition to pursuing a warmer place to live, insects can also move into your home in search of shelter from the elements such as wind, snow, sleet, and rain. 

Food

As the landscape becomes more barren outside, potential food sources dwindle, making the food crumbs on your kitchen floor all the more enticing. 

Water

Easy access to water is another reason your home is particularly inviting for pests. This is also why a lot of times, insects can be found in damp places, like your bathroom or the basement. 

Potential Points of Entry For Pests in Wintertime

Because insects are so small, they often enter your home undetected. While open windows or doors may seem like the most obvious points of entry, there are several areas you should be concerned about. 

Foundation Gaps

Cracks or gaps in the foundation are an often overlooked point of entry for pests.  

Cracks in Windows and Doors

Check that the screens in your windows are not broken, and be sure that all of your home’s windows and doors are properly sealed.

Damaged Roofs

Soffit openings, unscreened vents, and impaired shingles can also provide pests easy access to your home.

Utility Lines 

Pests can even crawl in through utility line openings and vents, so it’s important you keep an eye on these areas as well. 

Preventing Winter Pests In Your Home

Now that you know what pests can invade your home, why they invade your home, and where they like to enter your home, let’s talk about how to keep your home pest free in the winter.

Check out these winter pest control tips. 

1. Schedule a Perimeter Pest Control Treatment

When it comes to keeping insects outside where they belong, prevention is key.

That’s where a perimeter pest control treatment can come in handy. 

Typically scheduled in the fall before freezing temperatures take over, perimeter pest applications act as a barrier around your home. The applications are completely safe for your pets and family. 

So, while this preventative treatment won’t have any impact on the pests already inside your home, it will keep your home protected against other insects that may try to invade your house.

It’s also important to note that these treatments have an effect on crawling insects that come into contact with it, but not on other household pests like rodents. 

2. Shore Up Points of Entry

Take a look around your home and make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed and that there are no gaps in your foundation, siding, or roof. 

Pro Tip: Homes that have a brick foundation and siding may be particularly susceptible to gaps. Make sure to thoroughly seal off the points where the brick and siding meet. 

3. Keep Your Home Tidy

It’s also best to immediately clean up potential food sources within your home, like crumbs and spills, and store food in sealed containers.

You may also want to eliminate clutter within your home to take away the potential hiding spots for insects.

4. Keep Debris Away from Your Home

Insects like to harbor in debris like leaf piles and wood piles, so it’s important that you keep these items away from your home. 

5. Prune Trees and Shrubs Near Your Home

Similarly, insects can easily travel from the trees or shrubs touching the exterior of your house to inside your home, especially if cold temperatures are driving them to find a warm, cozy shelter to hunker down over the winter. 

If you do have any ornamental trees and shrubs near your house, trim these back regularly so that they don’t provide an easy walkway for bugs into your home.  

Protect Your Home Against Pests This Winter

Don’t let winter pests settle into your Mentor, Ohio, or surrounding area home. 

Trust Turf Pride for safe, effective pest control to protect your family’s comfort, health, and peace of mind all season long. Call or request a free quote today.