Where Pests Get In

Five Entry Points Every Plano Homeowner Should Check This Fall

Here's a simple question: Can you see daylight under your front door?

If the answer is yes, your home may have an opening that's easier for pests to use than you realize. And your front door is just one of several places around a home where small gaps can become unexpected entry points.

As summer begins to give way to fall, Plano homeowners start looking forward to cooler mornings, evenings outside, and a break from the intense North Texas heat. What often goes unnoticed is that pests are making seasonal changes too.

Many insects and rodents aren't randomly appearing inside your home—they're following instincts that lead them toward food, moisture, and shelter. And they don't need an open door to get inside. Small gaps and overlooked openings can provide all the access they need.

Whether you live in Willow Bend, Kings Ridge, Deerfield, West Plano, Legacy, Park Forest, or one of Plano's many established neighborhoods, here are five common entry points worth checking around your home this fall.

1. Gaps under exterior doors
A worn door sweep or small gap beneath an exterior door can become an easy entrance for ants, crickets, spiders, and other crawling pests.

Take a quick look at the bottom of your front door, back door, and garage entry door. If you can see daylight underneath, it's a sign the door may not be sealing as well as it should.

This is an especially easy place to overlook because a door can appear to close normally while still leaving enough space underneath for small pests to enter.

2. Garage doors
Garage doors rarely seal perfectly against the ground and sides. Over time, North Texas heat and everyday wear can cause weather seals to crack, flatten, or pull away, leaving small openings that insects can use.
Because garages are often less climate-controlled than the rest of the home, they can become the first stop for pests before they eventually make their way indoors.

Take a look along the bottom and sides of your garage door when it's closed. Small gaps around the corners are particularly easy to miss.

3. Utility openings
Every Plano home has places where plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, cable lines, or air-conditioning lines pass through exterior walls.

These openings are usually sealed during construction, but caulk and other materials don't last forever. Heat, moisture, soil movement, and normal aging can cause seals to shrink, crack, or separate.

Even relatively small gaps around these openings can provide convenient access for pests.

4. Windows and screens
Damaged window screens, aging weatherstripping, and windows that don't close tightly can all create opportunities for pests.

Fall is a particularly good time to check these areas because cooler weather often means opening windows and letting some fresh air inside.

Before you do, inspect screens for small tears or gaps around the edges. It's also worth checking the exterior of your windows for deteriorating caulk and other openings that may have developed over time.

5. Foundation cracks
North Texas soil conditions can put homes through plenty of expansion and contraction as periods of heavy rain give way to long stretches of hot, dry weather.

Small cracks and gaps can develop around foundations and exterior walls over time, creating another potential pathway into the home.

While many small cracks aren't necessarily a structural concern, they can still become travel routes for insects searching for food, moisture, or shelter.

Prevention starts with awareness
Most pest entry points aren't dramatic.

They're usually small, ordinary changes that happen gradually as a home ages and responds to North Texas weather. Door sweeps wear down. Caulk separates. Screens tear. Weatherstripping loses its seal.

And even newer homes aren't automatically pest-proof. Small construction gaps and openings around utility lines can provide access regardless of a home's age.

Taking a few minutes to walk around your Plano home and inspect these areas each season can help reduce opportunities for pests to move inside.

If you're already noticing more pest activity than usual, a professional inspection can help identify where pests may be entering and determine the best approach for protecting your home as the seasons change.

At Home Run Pest & Termite Control, we help Plano homeowners identify pest activity, locate common entry points, and keep their homes protected year-round.

If you have questions about pest prevention or would like to schedule an inspection, we're here to help.

Home Run Pest & Termite Control
homerunpest.com
972-800-6354