Many people associate the need for pest control services with the spring and summer months, but the cooler weather prompts different pest problems that also need attention.  Just like humans, annoying pests spend more time inside during the fall and winter months.  And guess where they go?  Inside your warm, cozy home.

According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), when temperatures begin to fall, an estimated 21 million rodents head inside to escape the cold weather and find new sources of food. Other pests have the same idea, including spiders, ants and cockroaches.

These pests are more than a nuisance.  They can trigger allergies and asthma attacks, spread diseases, transmit bacteria and contaminate food. They can also compromise the value of a home by gnawing through electrical wires that can create fire hazards, as well as chewing through support beams and drywall, risking structural stability.

Pests find ways into homes by hitching rides on the items brought in, such as firewood, packages and even on family pets. They also gain entry through small cracks and crevices in the structure’s exterior.  Luckily, there are many ways you can prevent these unwanted guests through effective pest proofing measures.

• Install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.

• Screen vents and openings to chimneys.

• Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter the home, using caulk, steel wool or a combination of both.  

• Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.

• Keep attics, basements and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.

• Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.

• Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains, which provide the perfect breeding site for pests.

• Inspect items such as boxes, grocery bags and other packages brought into the home.

• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and keep shrubbery trimmed and cut back from the house.

Schendel’s Premium Care and Premium Care Plus programs will protect your home from the rodents, cockroaches, spiders, ants and other fall pests that are commonly found in Kansas City and throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas that want to make your home theirs.  Our services are guaranteed to protect your home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, regardless of the weather.