How to Avoid an Infestation this Winter

Jim Gaffigan’s quip “if it’s so great outside, why are all the bugs trying to get in my house,” applies with equal force to rodents. While we in Southern California are blessed with mild winters, we still experience a portion of the year where temperatures drop significantly and man and rodent seek warmer accommodations; about 21 million homes experience a rodent infestation every winter.
Ignoring the health implications of a rodent infestation, they can cause serious damage to your property. For example, rats can chew through wiring, increasing the chances of an electrical fire. Rats are also known to chew through drywall, wood, and plastic. Needless to say, keeping your home from becoming a winter wonderland for rodents is an important goal.
Your first goal is to get rid of entry points for rodents around your home; mice and rats are capable of squeezing their bodies through holes the size of small coins, thus you should seal cracks and holes outside of your home. Additionally, consider installing door sweeps and replacing loose mortar.
Uninvited guests are always eating our food, and rodents are no different. Try to discourage them from coming to your home by placing your food in airtight containers and making it a point to take out the trash regularly.
Finally, make it a point to maintain your yard. A rat can’t come into your home through the roof if it can’t get to your roof from a nearby tree; trim your trees back, and you’re reducing the chances of an infestation.
At the Chernov Team we understand that knowledge is power, and knowledge of how to avoid a rodent infestation is powerful knowledge indeed. At the Chernov Team we know that whoever comes to the table most prepared leaves with the most, and the Chernov Team always leaves the table with the most.