When temperatures begin falling in Arkansas, homeowners often start thinking about keeping the cold outside. But some of the most important winter problems may be happening in places you rarely see.
Crawl spaces, attics, garages, and other protected areas can provide shelter for mice and rats as outdoor temperatures drop. Crawl spaces can also hold excess moisture that contributes to pest activity and problems with the materials beneath your home.
For homeowners throughout Jonesboro, Searcy, Mountain View, Horseshoe Bend, Wilburn, and surrounding Northeast and North-Central Arkansas communities, winter is a good time to pay attention to what’s happening from the attic to the crawl space.
Why Are Rodents a Problem During Cold Weather?
Mice and rats look for food, water, and protected shelter. When outdoor conditions become less favorable, homes and businesses can provide all three.
Rodents may find their way into:
- Attics
- Crawl spaces
- Garages
- Storage areas
- Wall voids
- Cabinets and pantries
- Other protected areas
Once inside, rodents can remain out of sight, so homeowners may hear or find evidence of them before actually seeing one.
What Are the Signs of Mice or Rats in Your Home?
Possible signs of rodent activity include:
- Scratching or movement in walls or ceilings
- Droppings
- Gnaw marks
- Nesting materials
- Unusual odors
- Damaged food packaging
- Activity around pet food or stored goods
- Evidence of activity in an attic or crawl space
If you notice these signs, an inspection can help determine where rodents may be active and how they may be getting inside.
How Do Rodents Get Into a House?
Rodents can take advantage of gaps and openings around foundations, doors, garages, utility penetrations, vents, rooflines, and other exterior areas.
Finding those potential access points is an important part of rodent control.
Orkin’s approach may include inspection, baiting, exclusion, attic inspections, targeted treatment, prevention, and follow-up based on the conditions found at the property.
The goal isn’t simply to address the rodent you happen to see. It’s to understand the activity and the conditions that may be allowing it to continue.
Why Should Homeowners Pay Attention to Crawl Space Moisture?
A crawl space can affect more than the area directly beneath the home.
Excess moisture may result from damp ground conditions, drainage problems, leaks, condensation, humid air, or a combination of factors. When moisture remains in a crawl space, it can contribute to conditions associated with fungus, mildew, rot, and unwanted pest activity.
Because crawl spaces aren’t areas most homeowners visit regularly, these conditions can go unnoticed.
What Are the Signs of Excess Crawl Space Moisture?
Possible signs include:
- Damp or musty odors
- Visible condensation or moisture
- Standing water
- Damp insulation
- Fungus or mildew
- Signs of rot or deterioration
- Increased pest activity
- Evidence of rodents beneath the home
Not every home will have the same symptoms or require the same solution. An assessment can help determine what’s causing the problem and what should be addressed.
Are Rodent and Moisture Problems Connected?
They can affect many of the same parts of a home.
A crawl space can provide a protected environment for pests while also holding excess moisture. Gaps around the structure may provide pest entry points, while conditions beneath the home can make the area more hospitable to certain pests.
That’s why treating only the pest you see may not provide a complete picture of what’s happening.
Orkin of Northeast Arkansas offers both pest-control services and specialized home services designed to address conditions that can contribute to pest problems.
What Is Crawl Space Encapsulation?
Crawl space encapsulation is designed to create a drier, more controlled space beneath the home.
Orkin of Northeast Arkansas uses vapor barriers and insulation to seal vulnerable crawl-space areas and create a dry zone.
Reducing moisture and separating the crawl space from damp ground conditions can help protect the area beneath the home and create conditions that are less inviting to unwanted pests.
What Is Orkin DryZone® Moisture Control?
Orkin DryZone® Moisture Control Services are designed to help address excess moisture in crawl spaces and other hard-to-reach areas.
The process begins by evaluating moisture conditions around the property. Based on what the assessment finds, Orkin can recommend appropriate solutions designed to help keep the area drier and more balanced throughout the year.
Can Insulation Be Part of Whole Home Pest Protection?
Insulation can play a role in both home comfort and pest protection.
Orkin of Northeast Arkansas offers OrkinTherm® Pest-Control Infused Insulation. Old insulation can be removed and replaced with insulation infused with pest-control treatment designed to deter insects while supporting temperature control and energy efficiency.
Orkin also offers seasonal energy audits to evaluate insulation, airflow, and potential pest entry points and recommend appropriate improvements.
Why Does Orkin Look at the Whole Home?
Because pest problems don’t always begin where you see the pest.
Moisture, entry points, insulation, standing water, crawl-space conditions, and other factors can contribute to what’s happening around a property.
A whole-home approach allows the technician to look for both the immediate pest problem and conditions that may be contributing to it.
Depending on what an inspection finds, recommendations may include traditional pest treatment, rodent control and exclusion, crawl space encapsulation, DryZone® moisture control, OrkinTherm® insulation, or other appropriate services.
Does Orkin Provide Rodent and Moisture Control Outside Jonesboro?
Yes. Orkin of Northeast Arkansas serves homeowners and businesses throughout Northeast and North-Central Arkansas.
The service area includes Jonesboro, Searcy, Mountain View, Horseshoe Bend, Wilburn, and surrounding communities such as Brookland, Walnut Ridge, Paragould, Cherokee Village, Pocahontas, Rose Bud, Calico Rock, Yellville, and other communities throughout the region.
Contact Orkin of Northeast Arkansas if you’re unsure whether your home is within the service area.
Do I Need to Know What’s Wrong Before Scheduling an Inspection?
No.
You may hear scratching in a wall without knowing what’s causing it. You may notice a musty smell without knowing where moisture is coming from. Or you may simply want to know whether your crawl space, attic, or other areas of your home need attention.
An inspection is designed to help identify what’s happening and determine the appropriate next step.
Start With a FREE Whole Home Pest Inspection
Winter pest protection isn’t just about treating what you can see.
Orkin of Northeast Arkansas can look for rodent activity, possible pest entry points, moisture concerns, crawl-space conditions, and other issues around your property.
From traditional pest control to crawl space encapsulation and moisture control, the goal is to recommend solutions based on what your home actually needs.
Call the Jonesboro team at 870.230.1030 or the Mountain View office at 870.857.0060 to request your FREE Whole Home Pest Inspection.