Fall has arrived in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and homeowners everywhere are excited to enjoy lower energy bills, high school football, and cool nights outdoors. Of course, you’re not the only living creature trying to take advantage of the cooling temperatures. As food and water sources outside become scarce, common household pests try to find warm places to settle indoors during the winter months.
You can prevent fall pest infestations from taking root inside your home by taking precautions now. Waiting until insects and rodents have already nested inside your walls puts you at risk for property damage, food contamination, and pest-induced health hazards during winter months.
What Causes Pests to Enter Homes in the Fall?
Once temperatures cool and overhead sun dissipates, common insects and wildlife change their behaviors. Many types of animals and bugs that infiltrate your home during the fall are looking for one or more of these things:
- Heat: Cool weather causes outdoor pests to look for properties that will provide shelter from dropping temperatures.
- Food: Harvest season is over. Once outdoor vegetation dies off, many pests try to invade your home in search of food.
- Water: Fall is also the season many insects look for water sources to nest near. Pests that come inside during the autumn months typically need access to moisture-rich areas.
Learn how to prevent pests in the fall before these problems become major in your home.
How Do I Prevent Fall Pests?
Many kinds of pests invade Texas homes every autumn. Let’s review which pests to look out for and how to deter them.
Rodents
Nibbling rodents like mice and rats will stop at nothing to find warm openings into your home where they can nest their young. Seal up any openings leading to your attic or wall voids.
Cockroaches
Roaches love warm, dark spaces that are near water. Look for gaps along siding, weep holes, and other openings near crawl spaces.
Spiders
Spiders follow their food sources inside. Look for gaps underneath windows and doors to prevent spiders from making your house their home.
Ants
Sugar and protein make ants invade your home. These insects will create trails along windows and doors.
Stink Bugs
Love warm weather? So do stink bugs. These pests will often crawl into your attic through soffit vents in sunlit areas of your home.
Winter Pests to Expect
As temperatures continue to drop across Texas, expect the following pests to make your house their new home.
Wasps
Yes, even wasps try to make it through winter by coming indoors. These insects will create nests in wall voids and under eaves.
Silverfish
These insects feed on wallpaper and ceilings. Sealing up gaps and openings is the first step to preventing silverfish.
Fall Checklist
Prevent pests from invading your home this fall by following this helpful checklist.
Seal your home
Check your home for any openings that could allow pests to come inside. Pay special attention to:
- Windows/doors
- Roof vents
- Utility pipes
- Foundation openings
Cleanliness is next to pest-free
Repair any water leaks or damaged areas of your home. Common problem areas for pests include:
- Yard debris
- Gutters
- Under bushes or trees
- Bird baths or pet bowls
Storage is key
Firewood should be stored neatly and away from exterior walls of your home. Stored firewood is the number one place pests look to make their nest. Be sure to:
- Stack wood 20 feet away from home
- Lift wood 6 inches off the ground
Cut them off!
Did you know pests can use branches as a “bridge” to your home? Trim back any branches that are hanging too close to your house.
Roof rats
Cut back bushes to give squirrels fewer access points into your attic.
Water, water everywhere
Mosquitoes and flies lay eggs in pools of standing water. Drain any areas around your house that could potentially fill with water.
Are You Ready for Fall? Call the GOATs!
Done with fall prevention? For a full home inspection and treatment, call Pest GOATS Pest Control.
Why choose us? Pest GOATS Pest Control offers seasonal protection that will prevent pests from becoming a problem in your home. Let our Licensed Professional inspect your property and determine what your home needs to keep it pest-free throughout the year.
Fall Pest Prevention starts with a clean and maintained property. Trust our DFW pest control company to provide the fall protection your home needs to rest easy through the winter months. We service the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Satisfied customers and their families are why our customers continue to call Pest G.O.A.T.S. Pest Control their preferred choice in North Texas.
FAQ
Q. Why do pests come into houses in the fall?
A: Outside temperatures cool, and insects will try to find food, water, and heat sources. Climate-controlled homes make the perfect place for pests to take shelter during winter.
Q. How do you keep pests out of your house in the fall?
A: Maintain the exterior of your home by checking windows/doors, foundation openings, roof vents, and around bushes/trees. Inside your home, repair areas that may have water damage.
Q. When should homeowners apply fall prevention?
A: Late summer and early fall are the best time to maintain your home to prepare for fall and winter. Once you’ve addressed these maintenance areas, fall pest control is the next step.