🐝 Keep Winter Pests Out: 5 Fall Home Maintenance Tips from Queen Bee CLT

As the leaves turn gold and the air grows crisp in Charlotte, winter isn’t far off. And while the chill brings cozy sweaters, it also brings pests looking for warm places to crash. Here are five home-maintenance tasks to do this fall to make sure you are the only royalty in your castle this winter.

1. Seal Cracks & Crevices

unsealed utility openings give bugs easy access

Why it matters: Tiny gaps—around windows, doors, plumbing pipes, foundation joints—are like royal welcome mats for mice, ants, spiders, and other uninvited guests.

What to do:

• Walk around your home inside and out, especially where utilities enter.

• Use exterior-grade caulk or expanding foam on bigger spaces.

• For metal or wood, use steel wool or mesh before sealing to block rodents.

2. Repair or Replace Crawlspace Vents

unsealed vent and broken screens allow bugs and rodents easy entry

Why it matters: Crawlspaces are hidden sanctuaries for moisture lovers and critters. Broken or loose vents let rodents, damp, and pests sneak in.

What to do:

• Inspect each vent; fix warped or missing covers.

• Ensure vents close properly or are sealed if allowed by code.

• Consider installing screens or vent covers to keep out larger pests.

3. Clear Leaf Debris & Wood Piles Away from the House

decaying organic matter against your house provides shelter and food for bugs

Why it matters: Piles of leaves, firewood, and mulch up against your siding are like a five-star hotel for insects, spiders, and rodents.

What to do:

• Rake leaves and compost or bag them; don’t let them accumulate near foundations.

• Store firewood elevated and at least several feet away from the house.

• Keep mulch or landscaping materials pulled back from siding and vents.

4. Replace Door Sweeps & Weatherstripping

door sweeps seal entryways so bugs can’t walk in

Why it matters: Even when the door is closed, worn sweeps and old weather strips leave small gaps that cold air and pests love.

What to do:

• Check bottom of doors—garage doors, exterior doors—for daylight underneath.

• Replace sweeps if they’re frayed or broken.

• Inspect weatherstripping around windows and doors; replace where gaps are visible.

5. Trim Branches & Shrubs

Branches on the roof are a bug bridge onto your home

Why it matters: Branches act like bridges for squirrels, raccoons, rats—any critter looking to get close. Shrubs too close to the home trap moisture and provide cover.

What to do:

• Trim branches that touch the roof or are within 3–4 feet of siding.

• Keep shrubs cut back, leaving airflow between plantings and house walls.

• Remove any climbing vines creeping up walls—they’re pest superhighways.

👑 Bonus Royal Tip: Check Your Roof & Gutters

While you’re doing all this queenly prep, pop up and inspect gutters and rooflines. Clogged gutters create standing water, wood rot, and can lead to leaks—plus, insects love stagnant water. Fixing those helps you stay pest-free and keeps your castle solid.

🐝 Wrap-Up

Doing these five (plus bonus) maintenance tasks now is like putting up the royal drawbridge—winter pests might try to storm, but you’ve got the fortifications in place.

Need help making sure your home is pest-proofed for winter? Give Queen Bee CLT a buzz and we’ll send our trusted worker bees for a full inspection.

Book Your Fall Inspection Now