Many types of pests are attracted to moisture, not to mention it can also cause mold growth and lead to severe structural damage. Some of the most common pests attracted by moisture are ants, cockroaches, camel crickets, springtails and booklice, just to mention a few. This is reason enough to keep the moisture both inside, outside and underneath your home to a minimum. Here are a few tips to help you do that!
Inside
To reduce moisture inside the home, the first thing you need to do is fix any leaks. Sometimes they don’t make themselves noticed, but that’s what maintenance is for! Make sure you periodically check under the sinks, around the toilets, etc., to catch wet spots. Even slow leaks can lead to huge problems, so make sure your home is free of them.
It’s also important you inspect caulking around your showers and tubs, because holes or breaks in the caulk will allow water to accumulate under the floor, behind the tub, or in wall voids. You must keep humidity levels low as well, so make sure you use a dehumidifier or fans to circulate the air, especially in basements.
Outside
To prevent moisture outside your home, you should maintain your gutters so they always work properly. Otherwise they will clog and attract mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants, and more. You should also keep your bushes and trees trimmed because vegetation traps moisture, which will attract pests. Plus, heavy vegetation will allow pests to avoid pesticide areas and get into the house.
Pine straw and mulch use around the house shouldn’t be excessive, because it can trap moisture and harbor pests. It’s also important to eliminate any standing water around the foundation as well as standing water on trashcans, old flower pots, etc. Additionally, make sure your sprinkler projects the water away from the house!
Underneath
If there’s a crawlspace in your home, you need to make sure it’s maintained dry and free of any debris. Your crawlspace will be healthy as long as you keep it dry, which means your home will also be healthy. If there’s moisture in your crawlspace, it will be very inviting to termites and other pests that can compromise the integrity of your structure. Moisture in the crawlspace of your home can also lead to fungi that destroys wood, which will lead to serious rot.
As you can see, keeping your home nice and dry is not difficult at all. All it takes is the right kind of maintenance. Do this inside, outside and underneath your home, and you should never have to deal with annoying pests that are really expensive to remove.
Being a responsible homeowner means you have to protect your home from humidity, which can cause a lot of damage on its own, and the problems it can bring with it. Make sure you catch any leaks before they become a problem, keep your vegetation to a minimum, and keep your crawlspace dry, among other things. This way, you’ll avoid moisture-related pests successfully!
