4 Things in Your Crawlspace That Attract Bugs

If you don't control the bugs in your crawlspace, you will soon have to figure out how to control them in you house. You will get a big jump on the problem by eliminating these 4 things in your crawlspace that attract bugs.

Moisture

Bugs love damp environments. It's a perfect habitat for them to breed, eat and spread. Stagnant water can make its way under the house because of clogged gutters, a slow leaking water pipe or a faulty drainage system. The best way to determine if you have standing water in your home's crawlspace is to do a visual inspection. As uncomfortably squished as you may feel, it's important to grab a flashlight, and take that journey "down under" to discover the source of your water pooling problems.

Humidity

Though similar to standing water, this type of moisture sits on the wood and keeps the ground damp. It's just as attractive to insects as a pool of water. When living in a hot and humid climate without the proper ventilation and an installed vapor barrier one can almost expect to have some humidity build up under the home. Termites, cock roaches, water bugs and carpenter ants all enjoy this ready-made habitat. 

Pets

Allowing your dog to use the crawlspace as a dog house where they can be dragging in all sorts of environmental bait for bugs, is not a good idea. Discarded bones, chewed up rags, pet toys and other indescribables are a perfect combination for a happy bug environment. During their down times, dogs may also be chewing on wood or water pipes which may cause further damages.

Piled Wood

Piling fire wood, construction leftovers or wood of any sort is a open door and "come on in" billboard for area bugs. Termites and carpenter ants will move in quickly and spread. Though convenient during the winter, piling that wood near the home is to be avoided at all costs.

Once invited, these critters will not leave without some professional help. Exterminators will need to be retained, to evaluate the extent of damage they have done. In the case of cockroaches how deeply they have moved into your home will be determined. Rest assured, the longer you postpone this step, the more damage you will have to deal with.

Once those little pests have been evicted, it's time to implement some proactive steps to prevent future generations moving in.  Start by repairing those clogged gutters. Redesign your drainage to redirect water around your home rather than under it.  Next install a plastic vapor barrier to keep the moisture level down as much as possible. You may choose to install the vapor barrier yourself. Most supplies can be found at the local hardware store and shouldn't cost more than $600 to do it yourself.

The existing ventilation system needs to be addressed as well. Some professionals recommend closing these foundation vents off altogether. Others recommend installing circulating fans to keep the air moving in and through the crawl to control humidity levels. 

Whatever combination of moisture protection you choose, you will not only be preventing bug infestation but managing mold and odors and  possibly saving energy by eliminating air leaks and increasing insulative properties.

Don't forget to build that dog house for Fido!