Rising Temperatures Are Driving Pests Back Into Your Home. How To Stop Them—and Fast

As outside temperatures climb, pests are no longer looking for warmth.

Instead, they prefer the opposite: cool air, moisture, and shade. And your house provides all three of these.

“Most pests like ants, mosquitoes, termites, and roaches are programmed to become active and start breeding when conditions are right, and rising temperatures for them are a clear sign that it’s time to come out, find food, and reproduce,” says Nicole Carpenter, president at Black Pest Prevention in Charlotte, NC. 

If you want to actually enjoy your home this spring and summer, it’s important to be mindful of this shift in pest behavior and take the proper steps to protect your home and sanity. 

How to keep pests out

Fortunately, you can stop pests from hanging out in your home during the warmer months. 

The most important step is sealing your property. Ensure it’s free of cracks and holes so pests don’t even consider it in the first place.

“Gaps around pipes, utility lines, weep holes in brick, and deteriorating door sweeps are the most common entry points we find. A mouse needs less than a quarter-inch to get in,” says Kyle Turner, president and CEO at Pro Active Pest Control in El Dorado Hills, CA.

Carpenter recommends a two-step approach to sealing. First, pack the gap with steel wool or copper mesh, then seal it over with caulk or spray foam. 

“Do so on all holes and cracks bigger than about 1/4 inch,” advises Carpenter. 

For gaps under doors, use a door sweep with a metal reinforcement strip to prevent rodents from chewing through and squeezing inside.

Prioritize exterior sealing and then work your way indoors. And don’t overlook your garage. 

“Rodents love to enter a house through a garage because oftentimes there are gaps on either side. Plus most people keep their trash bins in the garage, and your vehicle engine makes a great warm nesting place,” warns Blair Calder, founder and CEO at Automatic Trap Company, Inc. in Sonoma, CA.

Rodents can do thousands of dollars of damage to your vehicle by chewing on the wiring, so make sure your garage gaps are top of mind.

“It’s important to have a handyman fix any gaps seen around a garage door when it is down,” Calder explains.

If you’ve already noticed some pests in your home, use baits and sprays to help kill the active ones and reduce the risk of colony formation. 

Once your home is sealed and treated, focus on moisture control as it matters more than you might think. 

“A damp crawl space or a slow drip under a sink is more attractive to pests than anything in your pantry. Fix drainage issues, run a dehumidifier in problem areas, and make sure gutters are moving water away from the foundation,” Turner says.

When it’s safe to DIY—and when it’s not

DIY products and measures are usually fine for light pest activity. However, when you're seeing pests consistently despite your own efforts, that's your sign to call a pro.

“At that point, there's either an established colony, a moisture or structural issue driving them in, or both,” says Turner.

Carpenter suggests you start with sealing the exterior, and then use baits or targeted treatments inside to eliminate the pests who are already there. If you don’t see results right away, don’t automatically assume your DIY approach didn’t work.

“With most pests, you need to keep treating them for several weeks or even a couple of months—hire a pest control company if pests keep appearing,” Carpenter adds.

What to watch for this year

According to Carpenter, common pests like ants, mosquitoes, termites, and roaches as well as garden pests, such as aphids, caterpillars, and beetles are going to start showing up and reproducing two to four weeks earlier than usual this year.

Also, in many parts of the country, mosquitos are expected to spike. Fire ants may also become more active. 

That’s why it’s vital to be proactive. Make sure your home is treated with preventive pest control products and seal all the gaps around your home now. 

Timing is key because if you wait to treat when you already see pests, you miss the window to stop the colony before it even begins forming.

“This year, it’s best to start inspections and apply baits or barrier treatments in early spring—late March through April,” explains Carpenter.