Winter is nearly upon us, meaning it’s time to begin winterizing your Toronto home, if you haven’t already begun to do so. 

An important step of winterizing any home is preventing the invasion of pests such as insects and rodents, as these unwanted nuisances attempt to escape Canada’s harsh winters by taking up residence in Toronto homes every year. 

To help Toronto residents winterize their homes and protect against potential infestations, we’ve put together a guide covering how to safeguard your home against unwanted winter invaders, and how a comprehensive pest management approach can be helpful.

As Winter Sets In, Pests Invade Toronto Homes

Pests like to be warm and cozy just like us. Some pests invade Toronto homes during winter for shelter and food, while others could actually seek hibernation there. What should you be on the lookout for? 

• Rodents: City rodents take up residence in Toronto homes every winter in search of food and shelter. Rodents can squeeze in through surprisingly small cracks and holes, so they can make their way into your home more easily than you might think.

• Ants: Ants tend to move into and around Toronto homes to hibernate or take up residence, depending on the species. Some ant species, such as carpenter ants, can cause serious structural damage to your home.

• Spiders: Spiders tend to seek shelter and a mate indoors during the winter season. Although most house spiders cannot pierce human skin, their sight is unnerving and a sign of a heavy indoor insect population.

• Cockroaches: During winter, cockroaches invade homes to survive freezing temperatures and find food. They ordinarily nest around the kitchen or bathroom, and the infestation is nearly impossible to eliminate without professional help once it’s established. 

Winterizing Your Toronto Home Against Pests

The best way to fight back against Toronto pests is to keep them from entering your home in the first place. Taking steps to eliminate outdoor pest attractants and prevent pests from entering your home is an essential part of winterizing. 

Eliminate Outdoor Habitats

Pests often inhabit outdoor spaces during the summer months and move in to infest Toronto homes as winter sets in. 

Typically, pests seek areas that offer moisture, food, and shelter. Take the following measures to eliminate outdoor rodent and insect habitats: 

 

• Make sure that gutters and downspouts are clean; debris can house insects or rodents
• Ensure that downspouts direct water away from your home rather than towards the foundation
• Store firewood away from the side of the house
• Eliminate debris near or next to the house, including rock or compost piles, bricks or boards
• Pull mulch back, preventing it from resting against the home’s foundation
• Shift plantings so that they’re not touching the home’s foundation, prune tree limbs that overhang gutters or roof lines, and prune shrubs that come up against a wall, porch, or deck
• Remove autumn leaves collected against the house, porch, or other outdoor structures
• Replace exterior lights with yellow or sodium vapor lights, which do not attract insects, unlike traditional bulbs

Seal Openings Into Your Home

Pests can enter Toronto homes through surprisingly small openings; a young mouse can fit through a hole the size of an ink pen, and insects can slip in through cracks that aren’t even visible on the first inspection. 

To seal openings in your home: 

• Carefully inspect your home’s exterior, sealing any openings that you find. This includes windows, door sweeps, and siding.
• Replace screens with storm windows if available, and if not, make sure screens are tightly fitting without holes or other openings.
• Check the seals around doors that enter into the house from outdoors. Replace weather stripping if necessary.
• Check crawl space openings, and repair holes with caulking if necessary
• Inspect basement windows and repair any holes
• Inspect your foundation, sealing cracks and crevices with caulking and stuffing steel wool into holes
• Ensure that seals are tight on attic vents

Getting Ahead of Winter Infestations

Winterizing your home for pests is an in-depth process, and is also time-consuming. However, missing a small detail or failing to winterize at all can result in an infestation that’s hazardous to your health and damages your home. 

In some cases, it might be best to call in a professional to save time from your busy schedule and ensure that your home is winterized correctly. 

 

A professional is trained to recognize common pest attractants and points of entry, and might notice and fix important details that you would otherwise miss. Pest control professionals also have more expertise in fixing problem areas, ensuring long-term protection from pests. 

Staying ahead of winter pests is an essential part of winter home maintenance. Calling in a professional Toronto pest control company to winterize against pests can ensure that the job is done right and on time, preventing a costly infestation down the road. 

 

About the Author:

Daniel Mackie, co-owner of Greenleaf Pest Control, is a Toronto pest control expert and a regular guest on HGTV. He is renowned in the industry as an innovator of safe, effective pest control solutions. Mackie and business partner Sandy Costa were the first pest control professionals in Canada to use detection dogs and thermal remediation for the successful eradication of bed bugs. In his free time, he is an avid gardener.