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Many people think of winter as the season when they can take a break from thinking about pests. The logic goes that colder weather means less pest activity, which means pests are less likely to be a problem. On the surface, that makes sense, but when you dig a little deeper, you discover that pests can be even more of a problem for Tennessee homes in the winter months.
When the weather gets cold, pests look for a warm place to live. Although there may be more pests running around in the summer, most of them can easily survive outside. Once winter hits, the pests that can stay active all year often move indoors, leading to an increase in infestations. Understanding winter pests and what it takes to protect Tennessee homes from them is something that the technicians at All-American Pest Control specialize in. We spoke with one of our techs to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how we help keep your home pest-free in the winter.
Who’s Behind the Winter Barrier?
Bryan Graham has been with All-American for seven years. He took the job on the recommendation of a friend who was already working here and has never looked back. He enjoys winter pest control because it allows him to take a break from the misting treatments that are so prevalent in the summer and focus on termite control and prevention.
What Makes Winter Pest Work Unique?
Winter pest work is much different from summer pest work. Instead of dealing with ants, stinging insects, and mosquitoes, Bryan finds himself being called out most often for stink bugs, Asian lady beetles, and rodents. Stink bugs and Asian lady beetles get into homes in the fall and overwinter in your walls, but on warm winter days, they may come out of hiding, leaving you wondering why you have a sudden influx of pests in your house. Rodents stay active through the winter, wreaking havoc around your home every day they’re allowed to remain inside.
Winter is also the season when Bryan does the majority of his termite inspections. Although many homeowners don’t think about termites being a problem in the winter, it’s truly the ideal season to get ahead of a termite infestation. Termites survive through the winter by either moving deeper underground or by moving into climate-controlled homes. By performing termite inspections and implementing termite control protocol in the winter, you can avoid an infestation in the spring when termites reproduce and colonies expand.
Winter Gear and Go-To Tools
Bryan’s most-used winter tools are the ones he uses to check the Sentricon termite bait stations. These stations are filled with bait that termites find in their travels and take back to their colonies. The active ingredient prevents the termites from molting, which eventually eliminates the entire colony. During these checks, Bryan not only can refill stations that need more bait but can also get an idea of how active termites have been on the property, providing him with valuable information he can use while performing a termite inspection.
One of Bryan’s most used winter products is All-American’s winter granules. While our spring, summer, and fall services include a misting treatment to reduce mosquitoes, our winter treatment includes the application of a winter granule band. The granules are placed in the mulch around the perimeter of your house. Bryan explains, “It's a slower release, and they sink into the mulch to better get to the pests under the mulch.”
How They Protect a Home from the Outside In
When you have All-American’s home pest control, you have year-round protection from pests. Our treatments change with each season to target the pests that are most likely to be a problem at different times of year, but our consistent service and commitment to excellence always remain a staple of our service.
A typical winter service starts with an inspection. We’ll check for and remove webs around the exterior of your house. We’ll then treat around your windows and hardscape. The next step in our winter service is the application of the winter granules. If needed, we’ll inspect your crawlspace, basement, or the interior of your house next. Finally, if you have a termite protection plan with us, we’ll check your termite bait stations.
Keeping Families Informed and Comfortable
At All-American, we see pest control as a team effort. Our work will be most successful when you take preventative measures too, but we don’t expect you to instinctively know what to do. Part of our work is keeping you informed and showing you ways to ensure your comfort. For Bryan, this means preaching about the importance of DIY exclusion work.
He recommends caulking cracks, checking and replacing door trim if needed, and identifying and filling holes to prevent pests from getting inside. The fewer entry points pests can find, the better.
Don’t forget the spots you might not think to check! Bryan had one experience that he’s very glad happened in the winter. “I had a customer who said she had wasps around her fireplace inside. I opened the flue, and about 75 wasps fell out of the flue. I'm glad it was cold, so they didn't fly.”
Why They Stick With It
For Bryan, sticking with pest control as his career has been an easy choice. There’s just something about helping people solve their pest problems that is uniquely satisfying. In fact, it’s his favorite part of the job.
Pest control may not always be glamorous- just ask him when he’s opening up a rodent box only to discover snakes inside- but nothing beats knowing you’ve made a positive difference in your customers’ lives.
Schedule Winter Service with All-American Pest Control
If you’ve been living under the assumption that pest control isn’t necessary in the winter, it’s time to change your thinking. Winter pest control stops the pests that are active and looking for warm shelter throughout the winter, and it gives you a head start on stopping spring pests that will be active before you know it!
Get in touch with All-American Pest Control today to schedule your free home evaluation and to discuss your winter pest control options. Whether Bryan or one of our other expert technicians shows up to treat your home, we’re positive you’ll be happy with the results.
Your Trusted Nashville, TN Pest Control Experts in Nashville, TN & Nearby Neighborhoods
Since 1961, All-American Pest Control has been your go-to team of trusted pest experts for homes, businesses, and home builders throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Our expert team offers termite treatments, mosquito reduction, rodent removal, ant and spider control, and wasp nest removal—keeping your property protected year-round. As a local, family-owned company, we take pride in offering reliable, professional pest solutions with outstanding customer service.
We proudly serve: Antioch, Oak Hill, Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Nashville, Old Hickory, Joelton, Madison, Green Hills Estates, Haynes, Kemper Heights, Metro Center, Northwest Nashville, Rivergate, Talbot's Corner, Bakers, Bellshire Estates, Blair Heights, Bordeaux, Cane Ridge, Germantown, and the entire Davidson County and Greater Nashville areas.
For trusted pest control in Nashville, TN, and these surrounding communities, contact All-American Pest Control today! Call (615) 824-8814 or Schedule a Free Consultation online.