How to Keep Your Home Pest-Free Through Every Season

Photo: Claybanks

You may not think much until you see pests. And that’s all you think about. Whether it’s ants in the pantry or something like rustling behind a wall at night, pest issues have a way to let you know yourself at the worst possible time.

In Toronto, it’s even more likely thanks to our wide temperature fluctuations and older residential stocks. One season is carpenter ants, and the next is mouse. Unchecked, a small problem can turn into a full-fledged intrusion before you know it. Proactive measures can be implemented before any issues arise. This article provides clear and practical steps to keep pests away from home until every season before they become an issue.

Spring: Calls insects and rodents

As the cold grip in winter loosens and temperatures steadily rise, different types of pests emerge from inactive, once again becoming more prominent. This shift increases the activity of creatures such as ants, spiders, hornets, and rodents, and everyone begins to actively search for important resources such as food, water, and shelters.

A very effective first step to prevent pests from entering your home is to seal the gaps around windows, doors and utility lines. Even the smallest openings can become entry points. Indoors, clean areas often overlooked, such as behind appliances, inside cupboards, and underground corners.

Summer: Season of activity

Summer brings sunlight, but also leads to a surge in pest activity. Expect an increase in populations of flies, mosquitoes, ants and hornets. If you enjoy spending time outdoors or baking in your backyard, pests are sure to crash your party.

Doors and windows are closed and screened appropriately to prevent entry. Even the small tears on the screen invite mosquitoes. Empty water standing in flower pots, bird baths and buckets. It is where mosquitoes lay their eggs.

Take great care in the kitchen inside the house. Wipe the surface regularly and do not exclude pet food for too long. Store pantry items in airtight containers.

Autumn: Time to seal things off

When the temperature drops or drops, the pests begin preparing for winter. Often, they try to enter the house. Autumn is an important season for prevention. Take a leisurely walk around the house to look for signs of damage. Mortar gaps, missing shingles on the roof, or loose siding can create simple access points for creatures such as mice and spiders. Repairs will be made before the cold begins.

Check the utility line and vents around the vents. These areas are often overlooked, but can have small gaps that allow rodents to squeeze. Block these spaces using steel wool or pest device mesh. This is also a great opportunity to set up traps and surveillance devices in your basement, garage or attic. Pests may not be visible, but signs such as feces, bite marks, and nesting materials can give them.

Winter: Close the cold and pests too

Keep the fire from the ground and a sufficient distance from the house. Many pests live in woodpile and can easily get into your living space without being careful. Also, do not leave your pet’s door open or use draft stoppers on doors with large gaps. A mouse can slip through holes of the size of the given 10. The key is focusing on specific things.

The final thought…

Keeping pests free of charge in your home is not one big thing. It’s about doing something trivial consistently. Each season poses its own challenges, but if you are one step ahead, you don’t have to deal with the stress and health risks posed by pests.