Moisture in a home is a big deal because it often causes musty smells, mold, and even structural damage. Something homeowners may not consider is that it also provides pests with a key element needed to live comfortably in your home: something to drink. Moisture control in Roanoke, VA, is key to keeping your home from becoming a pest paradise!
Water Is Life
Water is a necessary requirement for living creatures to continue living. In nature, you will find higher concentrations of plants, animals, and bugs around water sources like streams and ponds. In rainforests, where the air is generally humid, populations of everything rise exponentially. In water-poor areas like deserts, plants are almost nonexistent, and animals and bugs are scarce.
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The same logic applies to your home. If you have water leaks or humid areas, pests can survive in large numbers. In a study, there was a 75-80% reduction in pest numbers simply by drying out the environment and preventing new pests from entering. To make your home inhospitable to pests, we first need to remove their water sources.
Crawling Around
Crawlspaces are a big culprit for hosting large amounts of pests. In an average crawlspace, you will find crickets, roaches, spiders, and sometimes even mice. They are often damp and cool, protected from the harsh sun drying them up.
They also frequently lack adequate air circulation, so the air can become humid and musty. If your home does not have proper drainage, water may pool in the crawlspace. The pros at Allied offer up the best moisture control advice in Roanoke, VA!
Vapor Barriers
For crawlspaces, a ground vapor barrier prevents water from evaporating from the dirt and entering your crawlspace, dramatically reducing pest activity. Vapor barriers are made of a thick plastic sheet that is unrolled and secured to form a watertight seal. Many companies will offer a warranty on the vapor barrier installation. If you want to do it yourself, you can purchase one from most major hardware stores.
Home Base
Basements are another area in your home that is often home to many pests. Basements naturally are cooler than the rest of the home. This, along with the lack of natural light, makes them ideal for storing canned food and other preserves.
They are also prone to being very humid. Most basements also have drains, which, if not properly maintained, can trap stagnant water and create a nice hosting spot for pests.
No Way In
One of the simplest ways to reduce the number of pests invading your home is to patch up any holes and cracks you find. Stopping the flow of traffic will give you a leg up on battling pests. Even if your home is not moist, if you have holes to the outside, you will always be dealing with a number of curious pests taking a look around your home.
Seal everything up tight, even if the crack seems very small to you. Check your siding for gaps and cracks at least once a year so that you don’t become an unwilling host.
Air It Out
Proper ventilation goes a long way in pest control. If air is not allowed to become stagnant and humid, it loses a significant portion of its moisture. For crawlspaces, this looks like installing a vent every 150 feet and ensuring that it can cross-vent to another vent parallel to it on the opposite wall.
Cross-breezes are important for airing out your space, so be precise when deciding where to put your vents! If you are not quite sure where the vents should go, consult Allied Termite and Pest Control for moisture control options in Roanoke, VA.
Dehumidifiers, fungicidal treatment
Dehumidifiers are a great option for both crawl spaces and basements. They can be set to a certain moisture level and will turn on and off as needed to keep your humidity in check. Some dehumidifiers need to be emptied, but others can be auto-drained via a drainage hose, which is especially nice for crawlspaces, as you will not have to continuously enter the space.
Fungicidal treatment is another option if you have a moist space that has already begun to grow spores. This is best handled by a professional like Allied, as mold spores can be quite dangerous when inhaled.
Cockroaches, termites
Termites are particularly tenacious pests that love moisture. Termites can easily cause tens of thousands of dollars of structural damage to your home by chewing up support beams and walls. A licensed exterminator can remove them from your space, but without implementing the strategies discussed above, they will likely return for another meal. Other common pests are:
- Spiders
- Crickets
- Cockroaches
- Rodents
Stop The Leak
A moist environment creates an ideal habitat for creepy-crawlies. Don’t wait for the bugs to take over your home! Contact Allied Termite and Pest Control today and let a professional inspect your crawl spaces and basement for moisture, ensuring your home is not a breeding ground for pests!