While it varies from house to house as to who’s copying who, pets and pet owners alike spend lots of time outdoors during the warm weather months, and not as much when outdoor temperatures start to dip. And that’s all natural, cozy, and wonderful – until, that is, you realize that humans and pets aren’t the only ones who tend to hibernate during the winter. So do pests. The not so cute variety.
Here are 6 handy and effective tips for minimizing – if not downright eliminating – your winter time indoor pest population.
Proper Wood Storage – While a pile of logs might add ambience to your living room, it can also play host to a significant population of bugs. So hold off on bringing firewood indoors until just before you plan to use it, and store seasoned firewood raised off the ground and at least 20 feet away from your home.
Put Food Away – Pests love leftovers, so be sure to wipe and sweep up any crumbs off household surfaces, including scattered pet food.
Schedule an Energy Audit – An energy audit can uncover cracks and gaps that are allowing warm air – and your hard earned money – to escape while giving bugs unrestrained access into your home.
Fix Leaks – A variety of pests and bugs thrive in warm damp areas, such as a cabinet or wall with a leaky fixture. So take care of those leaks sooner rather than later.
Trim Back Trees and Shrubs – Keep a buffer zone between your landscaping and your home so that pests and rodents don’t use tree limbs or shrubs to get a boost inside.
Inspect the Dryer Vent – On a cold winter’s night, the warm air that your dryer vent exhausts can be quite tempting for shelter-seeking pests. To prevent critters from finding their way into your home, routinely make sure the dryer vent damper is not damaged or stuck open.
Have a water leak right now that needs tending to? Then contact Norhio Plumbing now for exactly the right plumbing solution. Just as we provide for all your other home plumbing needs.