If you are reading this, it is quite likely that you are considering having professional pest control services administered in and/or around your home. The truth of the matter is, though, you have no idea – with the severe decline in temperature and the uptick of ice, snow, and sleet if the winter months in Indiana are a good time to have professional pest control done. The good news is, it is actually a great time! Continue reading to learn more!
Prevention is Key
According to those in the pest control industry, preventative treatments should be at the core of all of the treatments done in the winter. Many pests such as rodents, spiders, cockroaches, and stink bugs will attempt to overwinter indoors so that they may return to full activity in the spring. When doing winter pest control, look for and seal any type of entry points in and/or around the home. This is a strategic method for long-term pest control. By taking these steps, many pests will die off, others will move on when attempting to find warm areas to take shelter. Remember to seal off cracks and treat both the interior and exterior of your home. By getting ahead of spring infestations you will be able to prevent them.
Why is it Ideal to Do Pest Control in the Winter in Indiana?
There are many good reasons to do pest control in the winter months in the State of Indiana. The following outline the top reasons:
- Indoor Pest Migration – When it starts to get cold outside, many different pests such as rodents, spiders, and roaches push towards the interior of a home, garage, barn, and other structures because of warmth and protection from outdoor elements.
- Prevention Measures – Many pest control companies offer several services such as the sealing of entry points – like gaps and cracks – as well as the application of exterior barriers. Additionally, they target any pests that are found in the interior of a home before spring arrives so that the pests do not turn into an infestation when spring arrives.
- Allergen Reduction – If certain pests that trigger allergens are targeted in the winter, suffering from allergies, asthma, and other health-related issues are kept to a minimum during hay season and the summer months.
- The Proactive Approach – By taking the steps to treat pests in the winter months, you will be taking the steps necessary to prevent a large population of the pests to arrive during the spring months.
Should You Get Pest Control in the Winter?
Yes, it is ideal to get pest control during the winter because many of the pests that you do not want to have issues with actually seek shelter and the warmth that is present in your home during the winter months. So, if you have pest control done in the winter, you will be – essentially – preventing infestations from developing in the spring months. Pests that you may observe in the winter months include cockroaches, rodents, silverfish, spiders, and various other creatures that have the capability of causing structural damage and negatively impact your health and others that share the home with you.
What are the Top Tips to Pest-Proofing Your Home in the Winter?
If you want to pest-proof your home in the winter, you should start by doing the following steps:
- Seal Points of Entry – The first step you should take is to caulk and to seal up any gaps, cracks, and other type of openings that may be used by pests to gain access to the interior of your home. Be sure to check the foundation, the walls, and the pipes, and all of the windows, and vents.
- Eliminate Moisture – You should do a thorough inspection of your home to determine if you have any leaks or there is an area that has a large amount of moisture. If there are leaks, fix them immediately. If there are any damp environments, do what you have to do to dry up those areas. Not only can extremely moist area cause structural damage, the insects and pests that are attracted to moist areas – such as cockroaches, rodents, and silverfish are capable of causing damage to your home as well as your health.
- Declutter Your Home – We all have – at least a little – clutter in or around our home. Whether it be stacked boxes full of belongings or stacks of logs for your wood heater and/or fireplace, you should know that when these are left lying around that they will attract pests.
- Cleanliness is Key – You should make certain that both your yard and the interior of your home are kept as clean as possible. When storing food, sugar, cereal, and similar items, be sure to keep it in airtight containers. It is especially important that you store pet food in airtight containers. If possible, do not leave water bowls out. If you must, it is best to get an automatic water bowl to limit the amount of water that is left out.
What is the Peak Season for Pests?
Summer is typically considered the peak pest season because there is an increased amount of activity from ants, wasps, mosquitoes, and other types of pests that prefer warm weather. It is during the summer months that more people spend more time outdoors. Being that pests are more active during this time, encounters occur more frequently and infestations happen more regularly.
Which are Considered the Winter Months in the State of Indiana?
Typically, winter runs from December to the Month of February in the State of Indiana.
What are the Most Common Pests in Indiana and What Do They Behave Like?
The following outlines the most troublesome pests that occur in Indiana during the winter months:
- Cockroaches – These insects are known for seeking areas that are both warm and moist. They prefer crawl spaces, attics, and locations that are similar in nature.
- Rodents – These include mice and rats. These creatures are known for attempting to get indoors so that they are able to gain access to warmth, food, and shelter. Rodents are capable of entering into a home through holes the size of dimes.
- Cluster Flies – These are known for invading homes. They gain access the windows and the eaves of the home.
- Spiders – Spiders – particularly the black widow and the brown recluse – overwinter in many areas including the attic, the garage, and even in any type of clutter that is in or around the home.
Treatment Options – Professional and DIY
If you elect to have pest control done at your home during the winter months, you may choose professional pest control services or you may choose DIY pest control. In most instances, the winter pest control activities focus on prevention, exclusion, and targeted treatments that are designed to target pests that commonly overwinter, such as roaches and stink bugs.
If you elect to do the pest control yourself, you may use barrier sprays, bait stations for different types of pests, traps, and insecticide dust products. Because many of the over-the-counter pesticides and pest control treatments are associated with various types of health-related issues, it is much safer to skip over the over-the-counter DIY methods and go ahead and opt for professional pest control.
Professional pest control companies offer highly comprehensive barrier treatments. They also offer dust products, rodent control, and other items that help in sealing up the home and/or deterring the pests from going towards openings where they may gain access to the interior of the home. If you are in the market for both preventative pest control and for a full pest control service that will leave your home and lawn pest-free, we would like to assist you. Simply keep reading and below, we will provide you with our direct phone number so that you can get the quickest service possible!
Contact Us Today
We here at All Pest are full-service experts. We offer full home inspections, complete pest control services. Heat treatments for bed bug infestations, and all other types of treatments. We have been servicing the Richmond, Indiana area since the year of 1995. We have a small business pride, but with big business, high quality products. We look at each customer as being our only customer – ensuring top-rated customer serve for each.
In addition to pest control, we also offer pre-inspections, and full home inspections. We offer a convenient pay online portal. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive blog that will allow you to learn all you ever wanted to learn in terms of pests and effectively controlling those pests. If you would like to learn more or are in need of immediate service, we encourage you to get in touch with us today. You may go to our website and schedule an appointment or you may contact us directly by calling us at the following phone number: 765-965-2171
