It’s not unusual for bugs or other much bigger pests to invade your house in the winter to escape the cold. It takes additional care to keep your house free of pests, increasingly so as the winter weather grows more cold. From our experienced perspective, it is the empty space underneath your home that is the greatest contributor to pests entering into your home.
Crawl spaces are in the lead for causing communication with the outside elements. Some have vents that expose the inside to air from the outside (and more!) Walls to both crawl spaces and basements can leave gaps for water as well as other pests to move on in. In both cases, some proper encapsulation or waterproofing solutions will seal them off from the elements and keep your home more protected from outdoor pests.
Listed below are some of the ways our professional services can keep your home secure from pests from these common intrusion points.
Make Sure Your Crawl Space and Basement Are Sealed
Sealing all access points is one of the greatest methods to pest-proof your house for the winter. There are more visible entrance points that most people are aware of, such as gaps beneath doors or tiny cracks in untreated windows. However, there are less commonly seen sites, including foundation fractures, crawl space vents, and exposed pipelines that could exist beneath your house.
We strongly advise homeowners to commence crawl space encapsulation or basement waterproofing before winter sets in. This is primarily because it can be quite the uphill task if you decide to do it yourself, not to mention the further damage that can be done or complications created if the project is done incorrectly.
Maintain A Moisture Free Interior
Most rodents and insects seek damp environments to avoid the bitter cold. Because of this (and many other negative effects), it’s crucial to ensure that your home doesn’t contain too much dampness. Pests frequently hunt for water sources inside your house during the winter because outdoor water supplies are frequently frozen. Any internal leaks are yet another feature attracting pests into your living spaces.
To avoid these situations, you must be sure to fix any leaky pipes and get rid of any standing water underneath your house. Once you have received a professional encapsulation, a dehumidifier will be installed to lower the moisture content. This will significantly decrease the symptoms of having had bug issues for a long time.
These protective strategies are an excellent place to start if you want to pest-proof the underside of your house this winter. We at Smoky Mountain Crawlspace Systems guarantee that the encapsulation or waterproofing system benefits will last your home for many years into the future. You won’t have to stress about pests joining your family in the winter fun of sipping hot chocolate in front of a warm fire.
Give us a call today at (865) 299-2315 to schedule a free evaluation for an expert plan to prevent both moisture and pests from entering your crawl space or basement.
