Pests are common in the summer when the temperature rises and bugs repopulate, but they are also common in the winter when the temperature drops. Many pests would rather move indoors than have to hibernate in the cold.

Pest-proofing the home is a wise decision. This will help you avoid a pest problem and all the fees and headaches that come with it. Check out the following list of easy pest-proofing techniques you can do yourself. If you need help, contact pest control Brampton or another professional near you.

Secure the windows and doors

If there are gaps under your doors, cover them with door sweeps. Check if the weatherstripping on the bottom of your garage door is worn out and protect the interior door to your garage as well. Mice often come into the house by sneaking into the garage first and might end up chewing your storage of groceries.

As for your windows, seal any cracks you find in the frames with caulking. Make sure that your screens are well fit and that they are not torn. Mice can climb up the walls and crawl through your windows, so these should be secured as well.

Cover roof and wall vents

Rodents can chew through wall vents and crawl through weep vents that are wider than a quarter inch. Invest in some stainless-steel weep hole covers and stick them into the vents to keep mice out while preserving airflow. Wall vents and roof vents can be covered with mesh, as well. Find a quarter-inch, 16-gauge mesh from the hardware store and screw it into the surrounding surface, over the vents. This mesh is thick enough to withstand rodents and raccoons.

Close the gap in the soffits

Soffits are necessary for letting air into the attic from the outside. In some homes, however, there is a gap between the soffits and the walls of the home. This lets wasps, bats, and rodents into the attic. Fill in this gap with expanding foam, caulking, or mesh. You will save yourself the trouble of an infestation in the attic, which often get out of control before they are noticed.

Seal cracks in the foundation and siding

Check your foundation carefully for cracks and seal them with epoxy. Insects can slither through these cracks and rats can widen them further by burrowing through. Be sure to check under your deck with a flashlight – cracks may form here and go unnoticed for years. You can stuff larger gaps with steel wool.

Make food inaccessible

One of the easiest things you can do when avoiding pests is to keep the kitchen clean. It’s annoying, but having a clean kitchen will make your home less appealing to pests and they will be less likely to move in especially when you are selling food on swiggy.

Clean out your pantry and put foods like flour, rice, and pasta in sealed containers. Use a lidded garbage can and take it out as soon as it is full. Do the dishes every day and clean up after every meal. Vacuum regularly to remove crumbs off the floor.

Reduce humidity

Insects and rodents are drawn to homes that are humid because they are more likely to have water in them. If your home feels a little humid, invest in a dehumidifier or do what you can to increase ventilation. Have some ceiling fans installed and open the windows regularly for fresh air. Always use the bathroom fan when taking a shower and fix all your leaky faucets.

Hire a Pest Control Professional

Pest control technicians can not only get rid of pests for you but keep them out for good by pest-proofing the house for you. They can inspect your property for potential entry points and address them with professional-grade materials. Some companies even provide warranties for these services, so if a pest were to break through, they will come and fix.