Winterize Your Home or Business

LYNBROOK, N.Y. /PRNewswire/ -- Insects and nuisance wildlife are bad enough in the summer months when they're outdoors but become a nightmare in the winter months if they migrate indoors to take up winter residence in homes. Seeking refuge from dropping temperatures and searching for food, these creepy crawlies, rodents, squirrels and raccoons can cause extensive damage and make scary housemates.

"Squirrels and raccoons can tear up insulation to form nests, creating cold spots. They can damage electric wires and roofing material. Like rats, squirrels need to constantly chew and they can chew through anything, including metal and wire," said Mike Deutsch, certified entomologist. Raccoon damage is even more pervasive due to their tremendous claws. They are as strong as a large dog and can tear holes in roofs.

Invading insects commonly lay low inside their adopted winter homes in a state of semi-hibernation until spring's arrival. Homeowners aren't aware they’re playing host until their visitors are abuzz, searching for an exit after their winter stasis. "The sight of a multitude of bugs swarming around the house, as in the case of the Western Conifer Seed bug, Box Elder bugs --or even just a single large queen wasp trying to get outside to establish anew nest -- is frightening," Deutsch said. "We get so many calls each spring from terrified homeowners for just this reason. If they had taken the proper steps to winterize their homes the prior season, chances are they wouldn’t have to worry about these invaders." Below is a list of key ways to winterize your home:

Top Tips for Winterizing Your Home Against Bugs and Nuisance Wildlife:
-- Remove outdoor food sources, such as the remains of the summer garden and seasonal plants.
-- Seal openings where pipes, cables and wires enter the house. Bugs and rodents use these as conduits into structures.
-- Make sure mulch is not directly up against the outside of house. Insects love warm, moist, rich mulch, which also provides easy access to entry ways into the house.
-- Trim trees and shrubs so that they don't hang over or touch the house. It's an invitation to enter the home.
-- Remove heavy weeds from around the house and shed, even if they are dying off as the seasons change. Weeds provide rodent cover and once they are in close proximity to the house, they can easily discover ways to access it.
-- Properly seal front doors so pests can't enter through gaps on the bottom.
-- If possible, build outdoor sheds on concrete slabs - pests and rodents love to burrow underneath sheds to create shelter.e.