How important are fly screens in the winter? Summer might still be here for some of us, but that means that winter is unfortunately just around the corner. This might be something you’re looking forward to – especially if you work in the food or catering sector. After all, the winter usually represents a respite from flies and pests, which are particularly a problem in the food industry. If you live around the coast, or near water, insects can be a real problem for your restaurant or catering business’ hygiene. However, the winter is not necessarily a time to get lax with your fly screen hygiene. After all, businesses have a responsibility and legal necessity to keep their premises clean and hygienic year round – even if the problem might seem to have lessened. Should I remove my fly screens in winter? If you look up what to do with fly screens in the winter, you might see a range of websites purporting to advise you that you should remove your fly screens when it gets colder. This is not advice we would give, nor is it a practice we recommend. The reason you may see this advice on the internet is that many countries with more extreme climates have the common practice of fitting fly screens on homes. If you are likely to see heavy snow, you may fear that your screens will be damaged by its build up. However, this is unlikely to be a problem in the UK. Equally importantly, most fly screens in the UK are not fitted to domestic properties, but rather commercial buildings. In commercial buildings, particularly those related to food production, fly screens are an essential to stay compliant all year round. Winter pests One reason to maintain your window and door screens throughout the year is to protect your property against a range of potential pests – not just spring and summer insects. Winter represents a time where a great many animals and birds are attempting to find somewhere warmer to live and sleep. Even the coldest warehouse or factory is likely to be warmer than a tree or hedge, so represents a perfect place to try and gain access to. Screen doors and windows can help prevent all sorts of animals from getting into your property, and compromising your hygiene standards. Fly Screen Legislation Businesses that are involved in the production of food need to abide by certain standards of hygiene and public health. Fly screens are necessary to ensure that businesses are at the standard of public hygiene necessary to be compliant with regulation. We are experts in supplying fly screens to businesses all year round. We can fit screens on a wide range of buildings and to suit a wide range of situations. To learn more about our fly screens, and how we can help your business, get in touch today. We’d be happy to talk you through your options, and to help you decide what sort of fly screening products might be needed for your business.