Pest-Proofing Your Home for the Winter

During the cold winter months, pests of all kinds — bugs, birds, mice — search for a warm place to stay. Homeowners need to pest-proof their homes to prevent infestations in the dark of winter. Winter pests like cockroaches, termites, and bed bugs are just a few of the critters that may seek shelter in your cozy home. They’re looking for food sources and hiding spots to ride out the cold weather.

To keep your home pest-free, you need a pest control plan. Sealing cracks, caulking gaps, and installing door sweeps are a few ways to prevent pests from sneaking inside. Some hiding spots for common pests include dirty gutters, piles of firewood, and crawl spaces.

By following preventative measures, you can prevent pests from turning your home into a winter retreat. To avoid serious pest problems, winter pest-proofing should be part of a year-round pest control plan. Whether you handle it yourself or hire a pest control company, acting early saves you from dealing with a full-blown pest infestation later.

In this article, I’ll discuss the common pests that may try to shelter in your home and the steps you need to take to keep them out.

Why Pests Move Inside

Rodents, birds, and bugs want to move inside your home for the winter, primarily to escape the cold weather. As temperatures drop, these pests seek warm places where they can find shelter and safety from the harsh conditions outside. Your home offers the perfect shelter with its consistent warmth, making it an ideal spot for them to nest and hide. Cockroaches and termites are looking for food sources that become scarce outdoors during the winter months. Your home provides desirable food crumbs, pet food, and even paper products to get them through the winter.

Another reason pests are drawn to your home in the winter is available hiding spots and entry points. Cracks in your foundation, gaps around windows and doors, and even unsealed vents provide easy access. Once inside, they hide in cluttered areas, basements, attics, and crawl spaces. This is where they nest and breed. Birds find your attic or chimney a cozy place to roost, while rodents cause damage by gnawing through insulation and wires.

If pests find warmth and food inside your home, they survive and thrive during the winter.

Rodents

Most rodents can build natural burrows to survive the winter months, but choosing your home may be easier. Central heating is a lot nicer than shivering in a dirty hole. Mice and rats pose the biggest threat here. While these species aren’t generally harmful, they have the potential to carry several very harmful diseases. Although raccoons are not technically rodents, they will look for some of the same entry points into your house or under your porch.

Luckily, there are some very simple methods you can use to prevent all of these critters from getting inside. Here are the tools you need:

• Branch Cutters
• Foam Gap-Filler
• Metal Mesh ( for less than 6mm holes)

Use the branch cutters to cut down any branches that get close to your roof. Rodents climb these branches, jump to your roof, and access parts of your house through small gaps, vents, and other structures on your roof. 

With foaming gap fillers, seal up any holes or cracks in your foundation that could allow rodents to slip into your basement. A little goes a long way here, so don’t overdo it. Some Foaming gap filler brands have a pest version that creates a perfect seal around any gap. Deploy this foam around plumbing penetrations, in gaps in your siding, and in any oddly shaped holes that lead into your home.

Finally, use the metal mesh to seal up any air ducts, vents, or other structures that need to maintain airflow. For example, cut a piece to seal up your dryer vent. Then, seal up any access panels or other areas that lead under your porch or into your basement. Be sure to get the metal mesh, as rodents can easily chew and claw their way through a plastic mesh.

Birds

Wings are definitely an advantage for animals trying to find ways into your home. Stop rodents from entering by closing all the holes in the bottom of your home. Birds can be very hard to stop because they will be looking for places to get into your home’s roof. They’re notorious for getting stuck in chimneys, draining vent pipes, and even getting into attics through fans or vents on the roof.

You can prevent most rodents from accessing these areas by cutting down any shrubbery or trees that encroach on your roof. You will need to install metal mesh barriers around these structures to ensure that birds don’t try to set up shop. While drain vents, bathroom fan vents, and fan openings can be covered with any type of mesh, be sure to use a chimney-specific product on your chimney opening. The air coming out of your chimney is hot and reactive — which can melt plastics and ruin certain types of metals. Your local hardware store can point you in the right direction. 

Otherwise, you can protect most of these structures using the same metal mesh that you used on the vents and access points lower on your home. Simply cut the mesh to size and secure it with glue, screws, or a thick rubber band. If you’re looking for something more aesthetically pleasing, most hardware stores sell plastic covers in different sizes that contain screens for this exact purpose.

Bugs

A variety of bugs may try to find their way into your house when it starts getting cold. Spiders, stinkbugs, box elder bugs, scorpions (in certain climates), ants, and many other critters will try to get into your home during the colder months of the year. Fortunately, most of these bugs are harmless — though some spiders and scorpions can cause some serious pain.

Your first line of defense for bugs is the foam gap-filler. This should be deployed around your entire foundation, filling any gaps larger than a pinhead. This will keep out a large majority of the insects trying to access your home. However, unlike birds and rodents, these tiny critters will try to access your home through some more traditional entry points.

For this reason, you should check the weather stripping on your doors and windows. Weather stripping is very easy to replace and is sold in all hardware stores. Simply scrape off the broken strips and apply the new strips. Most weather stripping comes in rolls with an adhesive backside. Simply cut the strips to size, peel off the paper from the adhesive, and stick them in place. A good seal around your doors and on the bottom of your windows is sure to keep the bugs out.

Finally, make sure to check your window screens. If there are any holes in the screens, this is a major way that insects can find their way into your home.

Think Like a Pest

Though it’s impossible to cover every single entry point where a pest may enter your home, put yourself in the mindset of these critters as you walk around your property. Look for the slightest crack, crevice, or hole on the outside of your home, and make sure it’s filled in. This can be a big task, but it can easily be tackled in a weekend with the proper tools. While any capable adult can tackle the groundwork, any work on your roof should be carried out with caution. If you don’t feel comfortable climbing on your roof or if it’s very steep, enlist a professional.

Final Thoughts

Winter pests may find your home appealing, so stay ahead of them. Start by putting a solid plan in place to keep out rodents, birds, and bugs. Get ahead of the cold weather by taking preventative steps now — caulk those gaps, install door sweeps, and seal any crevices where pests might sneak in. Don’t forget to use metal mesh to cover vents and openings. This proactive approach not only keeps pests away but also helps maintain your property’s value.

Keep a close eye on your home and stay on top of home maintenance. Regularly inspect for signs of pest activity, and address any issues right away to prevent larger problems. Pest-proofing might require some effort, but the reward is a safe, warm, and pest-free home during the chilly season.