Homeowners in Hinsdale take great pride in their properties; however, some parts of their homes may be rolling out the welcome mat for unwanted guests. A heated garage designed to keep your vehicles shielded from Illinois’ cold winter elements makes the ideal sanctuary for some pests looking to escape the elements.
That comfy 50-degree space where you tuck away holiday decorations and lawn equipment also becomes prime real estate for mice, spiders, and insects. The issue is exacerbated when outdoor temperatures plummet during Hinsdale’s fierce cold snaps, and pests go in search of warm hosts.
Given the village’s median home value of $1.2 million, it is wise to protect your most significant investment from pest damage. If you have seen droppings near your storage boxes or heard scratching and scurrying noises you cannot explain, you need to call pointepestcontrol.net before minor issues become expensive repairs.
Why Heated Garages Attract Pests Year-Round?
Garages are temperature-controlled, which solves one issue but ignores another. Our heated garage becomes a five-star rodent and insect hotel when Hinsdale winters have an average low in January of 15°. They provide three things that pests cannot resist: a constant supply of warmth, safety from predators, and proximity to food sources, such as pet food left out or grass seed stored in a bin.
Garages are not the living spaces of your other rooms; the doors often have gaps, there are cracks in the walls, and any utility penetration is also just a perfect entrance. Your garage is simply a more appealing option than anyplace outside for finding shelter and food in proximity. When they discover conditions so optimal, instead of hibernating, pests proliferate year-round.
Common Mistakes Hinsdale Homeowners Make
- Storing items directly on the floor – Even cardboard boxes on the floor can provide a nice highway for mice to travel and a source of nesting material, which they love to shred.
- Leaving garage doors open for ventilation – those 10-minute air-outs provide a welcome mat for all critters, including rats, to dart right in.
- Ignoring small cracks and gaps – A mouse needs only a quarter inch, and with the Hare code updates in 2010, most Hinsdale garages have numerous ways to enter and gain access to the garage.
- Keeping pet food or birdseed in unsealed containers – flimsy plastic bags are nothing to a determined rodent that can smell food from surprising distances.
How You Can Protect Your Heated Garage From Pests
1. Seal Entry Points Properly
Go around the perimeter of your garage and inspect where the walls meet the foundation. Small gaps require a combination of steel wool and caulk; mice cannot chew through steel wool. Focus on where the pipes and electrical lines go in; those are the weak spots.
2. Maintain Strategic Storage Practices
Use metal shelving to raise everything at least 6 inches off the floor. Instead of cardboard boxes, use sealed plastic containers that mice cannot chew through. Pest management data indicate that residents who use sealed storage containers have 60% less rodent entry than those with cardboard furniture.
3. Create an Inspection Routine
Look for signs of activity in your garage each month: droppings, gnawing, or grease rub marks on the walls. Research shows that detection can save up to 40% on pest management costs that would otherwise be incurred if the infestation has already been established.
When Professional Help Makes Sense
Pointe Pest Control targets not only the problem at hand but also future problems, which is ideal for Hinsdale residents. They are familiar with the local pest pressures in DuPage County and the types of housing that expose homeowners to specific vulnerabilities. Their specialists can identify entry points you may overlook while providing treatments that are safe for children and pets but aggressive against bugs.