Why Fall Pest Control Matters

It’s October now, and many of us have already taken care of inspecting and getting rid of pests for the fall season. But some may be wondering why fall pest control is so important.

The truth is, there are several good reasons for fall pest control, and they all revolve around keeping your home safe, healthy, and free from pests.

Let’s talk about why fall pest control is essential and how it can benefit your home and your well-being.

Pest Control Tips

Prevent Pests from Getting Inside

One of the main reasons we do pest control in the fall is to prevent pests like rodents and bugs from entering our homes. This prevention can save us a lot of trouble, time, and money.

When you suspect a pest problem, a pest expert will come to your place and look for signs of pests both inside and outside. If they find signs of pests, they’ll take action to remove them. But if there are no signs of pests yet, they can give you tips on how to keep them from entering your home in the first place.

While you can’t always stop an infestation that’s already happening, you can prevent it from getting worse. In the fall, different pests like rodents, spiders, and stinkbugs can become a problem. With the right prevention measures, you can have a pest-free home sooner rather than later.

Taking Care of the Outside

A big part of fall pest control in Myrtle Beach is taking care of the outside of your home. It’s crucial to make sure there are no easy ways for pests to get in. This is also a good time to seal up any spots in your home that might let in cold air because those can also be entry points for pests.

So, where are these common entry points for pests? They include gaps around windows and doors, holes where cables and utility lines go through, cracks in your foundation, rips or holes in window screens, loose panels on the outside of your home, the attic, and even missing or loose roof shingles.

It’s also important to pay attention to your yard this time of year. Infestations can start in your yard, especially if there’s debris, woodpiles, or excess leaves and sticks lying around.

Clearing away leaves and debris by turning them into compost can reduce hiding spots for bugs and insects. And removing woodpiles is a smart move because rodents like to live and breed in them. When it gets colder, they might look for warmth in your home.

Preventing Infestations

We’ve talked about preventing infestations, but what exactly is an infestation? An infestation means there’s a large number of rodents or bugs inside your home. It could be a whole colony of ants in your walls or dozens of mice or rats in your garage.

Infestations can sometimes sneak up on you. Here are a couple of reasons why you might get infestations in the fall:

Pests are looking for a warm place when the evenings get cool, and if they find easy access into your home, they’ll stay.

Pests are looking for food, and leaving food out in the open or not cleaning up crumbs can attract them. For instance, ants and cockroaches can come running if they find food.

Deteriorating wood can also attract pests like termites. They can be a real problem because you might not notice a termite infestation until it’s too late. They can hide in loose wood panels and create a colony inside your home.

The steps to preventing infestations are what we’ve discussed earlier. Seal off any entry points outside, keep your home clean, and remove clutter. Clutter in places like your garage can make it easy for rats and mice to settle in.

Dealing with Existing Infestations

What if you already have a pest infestation? It depends on the type of infestation and whether it involves insects or rodents.

First, you need to find out if there’s an infestation. If there is, a pest control specialist finds the source of food and water for the pests and assesses how they’re getting in and where they’re nesting.

The actual removal of the infestation can vary. For example, if you have termites, you might need a termite tent to get rid of the colony. Often, chemicals are used to eliminate pests, and during these processes, you and your pets may need to leave your home.

Preventing Home Damage

Pest infestations can do a lot of damage to your home, and repairs can be costly. For example, carpenter ants can chew up your walls, including expensive wood beams. This can compromise your home’s structure.

Rodents like mice and rats can also create a mess and damage things. They have strong jaws and can chew through almost anything, including wires and drywall. Repairing drywall chewed up by rodents can cost hundreds of dollars.

Because mice and rats’ teeth are always growing, they have a natural urge to chew, which can lead to expensive repairs.

Preparing for Winter Infestations

Many homeowners don’t want to deal with pest infestations during the winter either. The colder it gets, the more rodents and bugs want to come inside where it’s warm. By getting a pest inspection in Myrtle Beach, you can identify potential access points that you might not notice on your own. Plus, sealing up those points can save you money on your energy bills.

Winter pest infestations are inconvenient. You might encounter rodents, spiders, ants, cockroaches, and more. Preventing fall pest infestations is a crucial step in avoiding winter problems.