Seal Entry Points Before Cold Weather Hits

When the temperatures start to dip in Johnson City, TN, pests like mice, rats, and cockroaches instinctively seek out warmth, food, and shelter. Unfortunately, even the smallest gap around your home’s exterior can serve as a welcome mat. A thorough inspection and sealing process now can save you from a full-blown infestation during the holidays.

Action Steps to Secure Your Home:

1. Inspect Doors and Windows Thoroughly

• Examine all exterior door frames and window casings for visible cracks, gaps, or signs of wear.

• Check weather stripping closely—if it’s brittle, cracked, or missing, it’s no longer effective.

• At night, look for light shining through gaps around doors or windows; if light passes through, pests can enter.

2. Replace and Reinforce Seals

• Replace worn-out or damaged weather stripping with new, high-quality materials designed for insulation and pest-proofing.

• Install durable door sweeps on every exterior entry, including side and garage doors, to block gaps under thresholds.

• Double-check sliding glass doors; these often have small but vulnerable spaces along the track.

3. Seal Utility Penetrations

• Carefully inspect areas where utilities enter your home—plumbing lines, gas connections, HVAC pipes, and cable wires.

• Apply weatherproof caulk or expandable foam insulation to fill even the smallest gaps around these penetrations.

• Don’t forget attic and crawlspace vents—pests often squeeze in through these overlooked areas.

4. Reinforce Attic, Crawlspaces, and Basements

• Inspect vent screens, attic gable vents, and foundation openings. Replace torn or missing screens immediately.

• Cover large gaps with wire mesh or hardware cloth before sealing with caulk or foam for added strength.

• Pay special attention to basements and crawlspaces, which provide easy, hidden access for rodents.

5. Maintain Regular Follow-Ups

• After sealing, do a seasonal re-check to ensure no new gaps have appeared from settling or weather changes.

• Combine sealing with ongoing cleaning and moisture control to create a complete barrier against pest entry.

Keep Kitchens Holiday-Ready

The kitchen is the heart of holiday celebrations—filled with the smells of baked pies, roasted meats, and seasonal treats. Unfortunately, those same aromas are magnets for pests like rodents, roaches, and ants, all of which are eager to find food and warmth during colder months. By staying proactive, you can ensure your kitchen remains inviting for family and guests—not for pests.

Action Steps to Protect Your Kitchen:

1. Store Food Securely

• Use airtight containers for pantry items such as flour, sugar, cereal, and pet food. Thin bags or cardboard boxes are easy for pests to chew through.

• Keep leftovers in sealed containers in the refrigerator rather than leaving them out on counters.

• Avoid leaving fruit or baked goods exposed; cover them with lids or store them inside sealed bins.

2. Maintain a Clean Cooking Space

• Wipe counters, stovetops, and dining tables after every meal to remove crumbs and food residue.

• Pay special attention to hidden areas such as under the stove, refrigerator, and microwave where crumbs tend to collect.

• Sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor daily, especially during high-traffic holiday gatherings.

3. Manage Trash Effectively

• Use lidded garbage bins inside your home to block easy access for pests.

• Empty trash frequently, especially after cooking large meals, instead of letting it sit overnight.

• Place outdoor trash cans away from entry points and ensure lids close tightly to deter rodents and raccoons.

4. Don’t Forget Pet Food

• If you have pets, don’t leave bowls of food sitting out overnight.

• Store pet food in sealed containers just like human food.

• Clean pet feeding areas regularly to prevent ants or roaches from being attracted to leftover crumbs.

5. Check Drains and Plumbing

• Food particles often collect in sink drains, attracting pests like fruit flies and roaches.

• Use a safe drain cleaner or boiling water flush to clear debris weekly.

Tidy Storage Areas and Basements

While kitchens attract pests with food, storage spaces such as attics, garages, and basements often provide the perfect hiding and nesting spots. These areas are usually quiet, dark, and cluttered—conditions that rodents, spiders, and insects find irresistible. Cardboard boxes, old clothing, and stacks of unused items make it easy for pests to settle in unnoticed. By organizing these spaces before the holidays, you can dramatically reduce the risk of infestation.

Action Steps to Pest-Proof Your Storage Spaces:

1. Replace Cardboard with Plastic Bins

• Use sturdy plastic bins with tight-fitting lids to store decorations, clothing, and seasonal items.

• Cardboard boxes are easily chewed through by rodents and insects, and they also absorb moisture, creating an attractive environment for pests.

• Clearly label bins so you can find items quickly without unnecessary digging, which keeps clutter to a minimum.

2. Elevate and Space Out Stored Items

• Keep all stored items at least 6 inches off the ground using shelving, pallets, or storage racks.

• Maintain a 6–12 inch gap between items and walls to allow air circulation and easy inspection.

• Elevated storage not only reduces pest access but also protects belongings from potential moisture damage.

3. Declutter and Organize

• Regularly sort through stored belongings and donate, discard, or recycle items you no longer need.

• Avoid creating piles of fabric, paper, or cardboard, which pests like rodents and silverfish use for nesting.

• The less cluttered your storage space is, the fewer hiding spots pests will have.

4. Clean Regularly

• Sweep and vacuum floors, especially along baseboards, corners, and under shelving units where cobwebs and dust accumulate.

• Dust shelves, ledges, and the tops of stored containers to prevent buildup that attracts spiders.

• Pay special attention to areas behind large objects, which are often overlooked but favored by pests.

5. Monitor for Early Warning Signs

• Look for droppings, gnaw marks, or shredded material that may indicate rodents are present.

• Check for spider webs or insect casings in dark corners.

• Use sticky traps in strategic spots to detect activity before it becomes a larger problem.

Don’t let pests steal your joy this November. Contact Shield Pest Appalachia today to schedule your preventative inspection and treatments.

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