A Chill In The Air Drives Pests Indoors
NPMA StaffFriday, December 9, 2011
By NPMA Staff
During the colder months, homeowners may be unaware
that they are sharing their warm, cozy abode with
some unsuspected squatters-pests. Indian
meal moths, ants, mice, spiders and termites may all be nesting
indoors. According to the National Pest Management
Association (NPMA), when temperatures begin to fall, an
estimated 21 million pests head inside every year
because their food sources are less accessible and they
cannot adapt to the cooler weather.
More than a nuisance, these household pests 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 Fido.
They also gain entry through small cracks and crevices in
the structure's exterior. Luckily, there are many ways
homeowners can prevent these unwanted guests through
effective pest-proofing measures.
NPMA offers the following tips on pest-proofing the
home:
- 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 and/or steel wool.
- 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 that 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.