Why Do Bugs Get Into My House During The Fall?

Many homeowners mistakenly think that bugs will go away during the fall. While many bugs are dormant during the fall, they often find their way into people’s houses, and that can be quite annoying. So, why do bugs get into my house during the fall?

Bugs get into your house during the fall because they want food, water, and warmth. More bugs will get inside if your house is moist, the gaps beneath your door are big, or if there is lots of clutter. Inspect packages before you bring them inside and install weatherstripping beneath your doors to keep bugs out of your house during the fall.

Hire an exterminator to spray your house for bugs during the fall so bugs are less likely to enter. Follow along as we explore why bugs get into your house during the fall and see what you can do to keep them out.

What Bugs Come Inside In The Fall?

Stink bugs, bees, wasps, ladybugs, and silverfish often get into the house during the fall. They don’t necessarily mean to get trapped in your house, but it happens when they seek shelter. The plummeting temperatures and lack of water sources force bugs to look for resources wherever they can.

Because of that, bugs often crawl under the cracks in your doors and windows and get into your house. Bugs seek warmth as the soil gets colder and they can no longer burrow deeper into the dirt. While it can be scary when bugs like bees and wasps enter your home, they are often quite weak.

You may notice that many of the bugs that get into your house during fall are low on energy. That’s because their food sources dwindle during the fall, and the cold weather depletes their energy. They also conserve as much energy as possible in cold weather, so they are often dormant in your house compared to outside.

How Do I Keep Bugs Out Of My House In The Fall?

Install Weatherstripping Under Your Doors

The gaps beneath your doors are the perfect entry point for bugs to get into your house during the fall. Bugs can easily crawl under your door and get into your house if you don’t have weatherstripping. Install weatherstripping to keep bugs out of your house during the fall.

You can find weatherstripping made of felt, vinyl, rubber, foam, and even plastic. That said, the way the weatherstripping fits is more important than the material it’s made of. Simply place old towels at the base of your door to keep bugs out of your house if you don’t want to spend money.

Move Your Pet’s Food

Bugs are often in desperate need of food during the fall. Because of that, the scent of the food you leave out for your pets can be irresistible. Before they make their way into your house, you should move your pet’s food so you don’t tempt bugs to come inside.

The last thing you should do is keep a bowl of dog or cat food near any entry door to your house. Only serve as much food as your pet will eat in one sitting. The longer that food sits in the bowl, the greater the chance that bugs will get into your house during the fall and try to eat it.

Circulate The Air In Your House

Stagnant air can make your house quite moist, and bugs love that. Bugs are attracted to moisture, and that’s especially true during the fall when it’s typically less humid outside. Run the fans in your HVAC system throughout the fall to help remove moisture from the air.

It also helps to run ceiling fans and plug in tower fans. Dehumidifiers can also remove moisture from the air, which will make your house less appealing to bugs throughout the fall.

Maintain A Clean House

Not only does a clean house improve your mental health, but it will also keep bugs away. Bugs are drawn to the smell of food, and you will attract them if your counters and tables are covered with crumbs. Clutter also attracts bugs because it provides the perfect hiding spot for them to nest and eat.

Ideally, you should clean your counters and tables after each meal to eliminate crumbs and food waste. Fall is the perfect time to clean your house, and it also saves you money from calling an exterminator.

Check Packages

You most likely get lots of packages at your doorstep. This is a modern convenience, but packages also provide the perfect hiding spot for bugs. Bugs often cling to boxes and sneak into your house where they will stay indefinitely. Check each package before you bring it inside to make sure there are no bugs on it.

Patch Cracks

The cracks in your windows, screens, doors, and siding make it easy for bugs to get into your house during the fall. You must patch these cracks to ensure bugs don’t get inside your house. Not only will this keep bugs out, but it can also lower your electric bill during fall.

You can typically use caulk to seal cracks in most doors and window screens. However, you may need to use steel wool for large cracks. Luckily, it’s easy to alter the shape of steel wool to fit whatever crack or gap you must fill.

Spray Your House For Bugs

Many homeowners only spray their home during the spring and summer. That’s a mistake, however, as bugs can easily get into your house during the fall and even reproduce. It costs roughly $100 to spray your house for bugs, but it varies based on the exterminator and the size of your house.

Summing It Up

Bugs get into your house during the fall because they seek warmth, moisture, food, and shelter. More bugs will enter your home during the fall if you have wide gaps beneath your doors. Clean your house regularly and avoid leaving pet food near the doors so bugs are less likely to enter your home.

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