As the cold weather comes (and for some it has already arrived), there are plenty of things you can do to keep your home safe and warm. You could look for ways to lock up securely to prevent thieves from taking an opportunity or ensure that nasty draught doesn’t ruin every evening once the temperatures plummet.
These are not the only reasons why you may want to make your home more secure, though. As the cold weather comes, so too do critters looking for refuge. While many might seem cute, they bring with them the risk of disease and they could even cause significant structural damage to your property. If you want to avoid these and more, consider these seven tips to keep curious critters out this winter.
Keep Your Garden Tidy
Overgrown gardens are one of the most common causes of pest infestations. Since you allow your garden to grow and grow, you cannot see what nests the pest has created over the season. This can encourage them to feel comfortable and search further afar. Eventually, they may get closer to your house and look for a way to get inside. Therefore, keeping your garden tidy will offer several benefits. It makes your garden usable all year and prevents potentially unhygienic infestations.
Cap Your Chimney
However, a tidy garden is not the only way to prevent pests. Animals looking for refuge will try anything to get inside, and there’s a chance that your chimney could be an attractive entrance option for critters. But, capping your chimney brings many other positives. It also improves your home’s comfort by preventing down draughts that can cause discomfort, especially for kids or the elderly. While many new properties do not have fireplaces or chimneys, those who live in old homes could benefit significantly.
Netting
Apartment living is not as susceptible to critters but it can still happen. Your balcony can seem like an attractive spot for birds, such as pigeons, to make nests. While this may seem cute at first, you don’t want to be responsible for cleaning up after them, and you never know what type of diseases some pigeons may carry. Installing a pigeon net can prevent this problem and even make your balcony safe for any pets you have.
Secure Your Garbage
Loose garbage can create a hotbed for critters, and the more they come to rely on your open garbage containers or bags, the more they will frequent your property. If you’re not careful, this can become too much, and you may need to call in SWAT Wildlife raccoon removal to solve the problem. For any food waste garbage bins, the city or council should provide receptacles with locks to prevent critters from gaining access.
Cover and Secure Gaps In the House
As the years go by, your home will experience wear and tear, especially if you live somewhere prone to various conditions and elements that could batter your house. Experts recommend getting your roof and the surrounding areas checked at least once a year and even more after a heavy storm. You may discover gaps that many critters would love to squeeze through and make nests in your roof. These gaps can also affect warmth and energy efficiency, so you should fix them as soon as possible.
Use Motion Sensors
A motion sensor light can deter animals when they get too close to your property, but it’s important that you only use motion-activated systems. Otherwise, the continuous presence of light outside your home will lose its effect. You can set these lights up in your garden, down the side of your house, and near any areas where critters may be happy to set up somewhere to stay. Lights can also deter thieves, making them doubly useful for protecting your home.
Put Your Pet On Guard
Teaching pets to look out for pests and alert you when they get close can remind you to close windows and doors when your pet barks or comes to see you. It may also be worth letting nearby critters know that an animal is living in your home already. Since many animals are territorial, these critters are likely to be unwilling to invade your property, because they don’t want to mess with the dog or cat that’s already made it home.
Critters
While critters may seem cute and cuddly, they can also put your home at risk. Whether they are small and furry, spindly, or scaly, these tips should keep them out of your home to prevent infestations and let you and your family relax.
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