MORE LOCATIONSWhy there are Bugs in basement?
We Should be appreciative of bugs. They are an important part of our eco-system. Insects pollinate many of the fruits, flowers, and vegetables that we enjoy. They’re responsible for honey, silk, beeswax, and many other great products.
They break down and dispose of dead animals and plants, cleaning up our environment. However when they invade our homes, we are less likely to show such affection.
So when does an insect become a “bug”?
When it affects our lives in a negative way.
One of these ways is when we discover them inside our house. We want our house to be a refuge of cleanliness and protection against outside elements. Finding bugs in our homes “creeps” many of us out…
What concerns Do Bugs Create In Your Home?
Bugs create unsanitary conditions. They can carry diseases that can be passed on to pets and humans. They are also a sign that there is moisture in our home.
Why do we say that?
Like us, bugs need shelter, water, and food to survive. Basements often provide a perfect environment for all of these elements. Most are dark, damp, and lightly inhabited. This dampness or moisture is what they need to flourish, especially if conditions become dry outside.
What insects, in particular, are attracted to moisture in basements?
Silverfish, centipedes, mold mites, earwigs, and sowbugs are the most common.
Cockroaches are known to love dark, musty basements and can carry diseases.
Termites can invade a home and destroy it from the inside as they carve nests out of the wooden parts of a home, leading to it becoming structurally unstable.
How To Eliminate Bugs In Your Basement
Eliminate the moisture in the basement that attracts and sustains them
To prevent them from getting in, block all entry points. This means not leaving basement windows open in warmer weather (this keeps humid air out as well). It means sealing any cracks in foundation walls and floors. Insects (especially termites) do not need much room at all to get in, so even hairline cracks should be a concern.
Eliminating moisture in a basement takes many forms.
Outside:
Make sure water outside is diverted away from the foundation. The ground should slope away from the house and gutters should send water many feet in the opposite direction of a home.
Inside:
- Promptly dry any wet laundry
- Examine pipes for leaks or condensation.
- Run a dehumidifier when the weather outside turns humid.
- Seal any cracks in the walls and floor.
Even if you do not see any water coming in through those cracks, moisture can still come through.
If the walls show discoloration from efflorescence (white mineral deposits), you know moisture is still coming in through the walls. Consider the application of a penetrating, capillary sealer that will get into the pores of the concrete and form a barrier.
We can’t avoid insects. After all, there are three times more of them than animals on our planet, some 1.5 million species. But we can prevent them from becoming “bugs” in our life by keeping them out of our basements and homes. Sealing off their entry points and eliminating moisture will go a long way to living a bug-free life!
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