As you welcome friends and family into your home for winter gatherings or curl up with your furry friends on the couch, uninvited guests will take your open door as an opportunity to seek out a new home for themselves as well. It’s a common misconception that once cold weather hits, pests become dormant and protection isn’t needed until they begin to emerge in spring. However, this belief is false and by letting your guard down you can risk opening your home to an infestation. Pests make their way into houses in search of food, water, and warmth to make a comfortable living until they head back outdoors. Winter pest control is an essential part of keeping your home pest free throughout the year, especially in times the threat doesn’t make itself obvious. What Pests Are Active in Winter? The type of pest you’re dealing with and their activity level can vary depending on where you live. If you’re in an area with mild weather year-round, the pests you deal with in the winter are likely the same pesky problems you face in warmer months. However, those living in states with changing seasons including Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, face a variety of pest problems that vary from one season to the next. In the winter months, you may find yourself dealing with rodents, cockroaches, spiders, and fleas, just to name a few. Rodents Mice and rats won’t hesitate to move into your home uninvited as they search for protection from the cold and elements that come with the winter season. You may be surprised at how little space it takes for them to get inside. In addition to replacing damaged roof tiles and keeping your kitchen and space clear of crumbs, seal any space around pipes using expanding foam or caulk. Cockroaches Not only should you check pipes for extra space that allows in rodents, be sure to repair any leaks as excess water has the potential to attract cockroaches to your home. These pests make their way indoors during the colder months in search of food and water so be sure to keep food, including pet food, tightly sealed in plastic containers and off the floor. Spiders These creepy crawlers unfortunately have no off-season and like to hide in areas of your home that are seldom used including storage spaces, eaves, and light fixtures. While spiders aren’t attracted to light, they feed off other insects that are. Sealing cracks and holes and regularly sweeping and vacuuming will also help to fight off these invaders. Fleas Even if you don’t have pets, fleas have the potential to make their way into your home by hitching a ride on mice and rats, or on bedding and clothing that you bring in from another infested home. Check your bedding, carpet, and upholstered furniture if you suspect you may have a flea problem. It’s also recommended to regularly vacuum and empty the vacuum each time you’re done. Benefits of Winter Pest Control While taking steps to keep your home and property clean, the addition of a year-round pest control program provides you with peace of mind and protection against unwanted guests. Once pests break into your home, they can be tough to get rid of without the help of professionals. Preventative maintenance protects your home and property from invaders to keep you, your family, and your pets protected during summer and winter days alike. Treatments Are Customized For Each Season Just as the approach we take for each pest is different, so is the plan we develop for each season. No matter where you live, each season comes with its own pest problem as insects and rodents try to make their way into your home and onto your property. At Greenix, we understand that just as the weather changes, the pest control used needs to change with the seasons as well. Anticipating seasonal changes allow us to adjust our approach and update which pests in upcoming seasons. If you’re located in an area with mild climate year-round, utilizing pest control throughout the year is even more important as the existence of bugs never really stops. It Can Save Money You may be asking yourself, how would I save money on pest control for a problem that doesn’t yet exist? Once an infestation has taken over, ridding your home of pests can be expensive and most pest problems require repeat treatments to ensure that the problem is gone and will not return. Taking a preventative approach utilizes a plan customized for your space that will keep pests out before they have a chance to take over. You may have also considered taking a DIY approach but in most instances, attempting to address a problem on your own takes a lot of time and money without a guaranteed solution. Instead of risking your health, call in a team of knowledgeable and experienced experts for backup. Creates a Protective Barrier in and Around Your Home When pests breach the entrance of your home, they do it in search of food, water, and shelter from unfavorable outdoor conditions. With year-round pest control efforts, your home and property will be protected with an insect barrier that is updated with each treatment to stay effective throughout the year. These barriers send pests away from your home and if you’re without one, you become a target as pests are pushed away from your neighbor’s property. Secure Year Round Pest Control Solutions With Greenix Just because some pests are hard to spot in colder months, that doesn’t mean they aren’t causing harm to you and your property. Preventative year-round pest control is less costly than a reactive approach of trying to clear out an infestation after it has already taken over. Before pests become a problem, contact the team at Greenix Pest Control for the backup you need, when you need it. Our service professionals are trained to identify problem areas in your home and put preventative measures in place to ensure pests don’t have a chance to take over, no matter the time of year.