Fall Pest-Proof Checklist: 10 Simple Steps to Keep Pests Out

This fall pest-proof checklist will help protect your home. As the weather cools down and the leaves begin to fall, pests start looking for a warm place to spend the winter and your home is the perfect target. Fall is a critical time to pest-proof your property before unwanted guests like mice, spiders, and cockroaches move in. Creatures begin to store food, pack on calories and look for any place to keep warm during the colder months.

The most effective form of pest control is proper prevention and regular home maintenance. Here is a simple, effective fall pest-proofing checklist to help keep your home safe, comfortable, and pest-free.

✅ 1. Seal Cracks and Gaps

Inspect the exterior of your home for cracks in the foundation, loose siding, or gaps around windows and doors. Even tiny openings can be an invitation for insects and rodents.

🔨 Fix it: Use silicone-based caulk or steel wool for sealing gaps—especially around utility lines, pipes, and vents.

✅ 2. Install or Repair Door Sweeps

Gaps under doors are a common entry point for pests—especially mice, which can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime.

🚪 Fix it: Make sure garage doors, basement doors, and entry doors have snug-fitting door sweeps or weather stripping.

✅ 3. Check Screens and Vents

Torn window screens or uncovered vents are like an open door to insects, birds, and rodents.

🛠️ Fix it: Repair or replace damaged screens and cover attic or crawl space vents with mesh or hardware cloth.

✅ 4. Store Firewood Away from the House

Firewood attracts spiders, ants, and even termite and becomes a bridge straight into your home if stored too close.

🔥 Pro tip: Keep firewood at least 20 feet from the house and elevate it off the ground.

✅ 5. Clean Out Gutters and Downspouts

Clogged gutters not only cause water damage, they also create damp environments that attract pests like mosquitoes and termites. The gutter is close to the attic so even small cracks can let the pest in.

🧹 Fix it: Remove leaves and debris regularly and check for signs of nesting.

✅ 6. Trim Back Trees and Shrubs

Branches that touch your home provide an easy highway for rodents and insects to get inside.

✂️ Fix it: Trim back vegetation at least 18–24 inches from the exterior walls and roofline.

✅ 7. Secure Trash and Compost Bins

Open or overflowing garbage is a feast for raccoons, rodents, and flies.

🚮 Fix it: Use sealed, animal-proof trash cans and clean them regularly. Keep compost away from the house.

✅ 8. Declutter the Basement and Attic

Pests love cluttered, undisturbed areas where they can nest undetected for months.

📦 Fix it: Store items in sealed plastic containers and inspect for droppings or chewed materials.

✅ 9. Inspect for Water Leaks and Moisture

Many pests, especially cockroaches and silverfish, are drawn to damp environments.

💧 Fix it: Repair leaky pipes, unclog drains, and use a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements or crawl spaces.

✅ 10. Schedule a Fall Pest Inspection

Even with all the DIY prevention, some pests still find a way in. A professional inspection can detect hidden issues before they become big problems.

🕵️ Pro tip: Fall is the perfect time to start or renew a seasonal pest control plan.

🛑 Don’t Wait for Pests to Move In

By the time you see a mouse or smell something strange in the attic, you could already have an infestation. Acting early in the fall gives you the best shot at keeping pests outdoors where they belong.

If you’d rather not handle it all yourself, we’re here to help. Martin’s Pest Control offers affordable, effective fall pest control services tailored to your home’s needs.

👉 Call us today for a fall inspection and stay pest-free all season long!