Preparing Your Home for Winter: Pest Control Tips

Winter changes the way pests behave. As temperatures drop, the ground cools, vegetation dies back, and outdoor moisture becomes less reliable. Those shifts push many pests indoors, especially rodents, spiders, cockroaches, and certain ant species. They look for spots where heat, humidity, and food remain stable, and homes naturally provide all three. 

To lower the chances of seeing pest activity indoors during the winter months, it’s important to focus on the conditions that make your home attractive to pests in the first place. That includes sealing structural gaps, managing moisture, storing food properly, and reducing clutter in storage areas. 

This guide breaks down where to start, what to look for, and which prevention steps can make the biggest difference when it comes to keeping pests out of your home when winter arrives.

1. Seal Up Entry Points Before Temperatures Drop

When temperatures fall, rodents and insects respond to the change by seeking sheltered spaces with consistent heat. Homes provide an ideal environment not just for warmth, but for the quiet, hidden spaces pests use to shelter and nest. Even small structural openings can be used as access points. For example, mice can squeeze through holes the size of a dime, and insects use cracks so fine they often go unnoticed during routine maintenance.

To prevent this, focus on sealing the exterior of your home before winter conditions become severe. Start with a full perimeter inspection, looking for damage or wear in these common access points:

Doors and Windows

These are common access points because they experience regular movement that gradually wears down seals.

• Check for light or drafts coming through when doors are closed
• Replace worn or missing door sweeps
• Tighten or replace cracked weatherstripping
• Caulk around window and door frames where gaps appear

Securing these areas helps cut off entry routes while also improving energy efficiency.

Foundation and Siding

Over time, materials like concrete, brick, and wood shift slightly, creating small openings around the base of the home.

• Look for cracks in the foundation or gaps where siding meets the foundation or trim
• Seal hairline cracks with high-quality exterior caulk
• For rodent-sized openings, pack steel wool into the gap and cover it with caulk

Steel wool creates a barrier rodents can’t chew through, which makes it an effective choice for long-term exclusion.

Vents, Chimneys, and Utility Lines

These openings connect directly from the outside to the interior and are often overlooked.

• Cover attic, crawlspace, and dryer vents with ¼-inch hardware cloth that allows airflow but blocks animals
• Inspect utility penetrations such as gas, cable, or AC lines, and seal any gaps around them
• Install a properly fitted chimney cap to keep out raccoons, birds, and squirrels while maintaining safe ventilation

2. Reduce Food, Water, and Shelter That Attracts Pests

Pests may enter homes in search of warmth, but they remain where they can find stable sources of food, moisture, and shelter. Removing those conditions takes a combination of cleaning, organizing, and correcting small maintenance issues that allow pests to thrive once inside.

Indoors, focus on these key areas:

• Behind and beneath appliances
  Crumbs and grease behind the stove or refrigerator build up over time and create a food source for cockroaches and rodents. Pull appliances away from the wall and clean the floor and wall surfaces behind and under each one.
• Dry goods and pet food
  Items stored in cardboard or thin plastic bags are easy for pests to access. Transfer pantry staples like cereal, rice, and pet food into rigid containers with tight-fitting lids. This limits access and extends shelf life.
• Moisture-prone areas
  Dripping pipes, sweating plumbing, and damp corners – especially in basements – offer reliable moisture for pests. Address these areas by repairing leaks around sinks and fixtures, insulating cold water pipes to reduce condensation, and running a dehumidifier in the basement or utility areas.
• Storage and clutter
  Rodents and insects prefer quiet, undisturbed places. Cardboard boxes stored for long periods absorb humidity and can be shredded or used as nesting material. Replace cardboard with plastic bins and keep spaces between items for easier inspection.

Here are key steps to consider taking outdoors:

• Remove organic debris
  Rake and discard leaf piles, mulch buildup, and grass clippings near the foundation. Many insects overwinter beneath this debris, and rodents use it for cover as they approach structures.
• Relocate firewood
  Store firewood stacks at least 20 feet from the home and raise them off the ground. 
• Trim vegetation
  Branches, shrubs, and vines that touch the home act as bridges to siding, eaves, and rooflines. Cut back overgrowth to create a physical gap between plants and the structure.
• Secure trash and compost bins
  Use tightly sealed lids on all outdoor bins. Clean them regularly to eliminate lingering odors that attract rodents and insects. Avoid adding meat or grease to open compost piles.

3. Watch for Early Signs of Winter Rodent Activity

Rodent activity often increases during winter as cold weather reduces access to food and shelter outdoors. Once inside, rodents target enclosed areas like attics, crawlspaces, wall voids, and storage rooms—places that stay quiet and insulated. Spotting the signs early can limit how far they spread and how quickly they reproduce.

What to Look For

Several indicators can help you detect rodent activity before it becomes widespread:

• Droppings: These are often the first visible sign. Fresh droppings are dark, moist, and soft in texture. Older droppings dry out and turn gray. If you find them in multiple rooms or across different areas, it likely means the rodents are moving throughout the home rather than sticking to a single path.
• Gnaw marks: Look for chewed edges on food packaging, wires, or wood framing. Rodents chew to access food and to keep their teeth from overgrowing.
• Noises: Scratching, scurrying, or rustling sounds, especially at night, can indicate rodents nesting behind walls or inside ceilings.

How to Respond

Rodents only need small openings to gain access. Mice can squeeze through a gap the size of a quarter inch, and rats through a gap about half an inch wide.

• Inspect areas where utility lines enter the home, around garage doors, vents, and attic access points.
• Seal any gaps using chew-resistant materials like steel wool, metal mesh, or flashing. Avoid using foam alone, as it offers no resistance to gnawing.
• Clean droppings by first spraying them with disinfectant or a diluted bleach solution. Wipe them up with disposable towels and seal the waste in a plastic bag before disposal.

4. Prevent Insect and Spider Intrusions

During winter, many insects enter homes not to feed or reproduce, but simply to shelter from the cold. Lady beetles, stink bugs, and other occasional invaders often slip inside when outdoor temperatures drop quickly. Entry points include cracks around windows, attic vents, and gaps in siding.

Take these steps to reduce winter insect activity indoors:

• Vacuum first: This is the most effective initial step. It removes insects without spreading residue or odors. After vacuuming, empty the vacuum outdoors into a sealed trash container to prevent reentry.
• Use sticky monitors: Place these near doors, baseboards, and utility areas to help track insect movement. If monitors consistently catch insects in one area, that location likely has a structural gap that needs sealing.
• Apply treatments carefully: Insecticides should always match the pest and the location. Roach baits only work when placed along known pathways. Sprays for cracks and crevices should be used exactly as labeled, in targeted spots where insects hide or travel. Keep all products away from pets, children, and food preparation areas.

5. Sync Winter Weatherization with Pest Prevention

Winter weatherization not only improves the energy efficiency of your home, it also helps limit indoor pest activity. Many of the same gaps that let heat escape also give pests a way inside. Sealing those areas reduces both energy loss and pest pressure during colder months.

Key weatherization tasks to consider:

• Seal utility openings: Gaps around pipes, wiring, and ductwork are often left unsealed or loosely fitted. Use caulk or expanding foam to close these openings and block common pest entry points.
• Inspect attic and crawlspace vents: Screens can loosen or tear over time, especially in exposed areas. Replace damaged vent screens with durable mesh to allow ventilation while keeping pests out.
• Add insulation to vulnerable areas: Attics, basements, and crawlspaces often experience condensation due to temperature swings. Improved insulation reduces these fluctuations and helps prevent moisture buildup, which pests rely on to stay active.

How Moxie Pest Control Can Help

At Moxie, our year-round pest control services are designed to interrupt activity at every stage and reduce the conditions that allow pests to settle indoors. We take the time to inspect your home thoroughly, identify where pests are entering and hiding, and apply targeted treatments where they’ll have the most impact. Here’s what you can expect from our team:

• Detailed inspections that identify entry points, hiding places, and activity both inside and around your home
• Targeted treatments that focus on cracks, crevices, voids, and other areas where pests live and breed
• Family and pet-friendly treatments applied with care and with your household’s well-being in mind
• Year-round maintenance service with treatments that adapt to seasonal pest activity
• Unlimited warranty reservice between scheduled visits for year-round plan customers
• Field Experts who receive daily training on pest behavior, treatment practices, and product performance
• Service built around your comfort, confidence, and peace of mind

Customers also appreciate our convenient scheduling and the friendly, neighborly service they receive from our team.

Check our pest control locations to find a branch near you. For additional seasonal tips, visit our pest control information hub. Ready to get started? Reach out and schedule a visit with your local Moxie team.