As basement repair and waterproofing specialists, we see exactly what basement bugs can do to an otherwise healthy house. Pests in the basement can damage your foundation, the structure of your home, your personal property, and can spread illness through diseases and allergens they carry. Basement pest control is necessary to get rid of them, but more importantly, proper pest control helps keep them out in the first place by robbing them of a hospitable environment to nest, eat, and breed in.
Why Your Basement Is A Prime Target
Pests want the same thing you do from a home–a place that’s warm in the winter, cool in the summer, offers plenty of shelter, and where they have food and water to thrive. Basements and crawlspaces usually see less traffic, have less lighting, and offer protection from the elements. WIth them, they bring a host of threats to your household:
- Property Damage – Whether you use it as storage, a laundry room, or an entertainment area, most homeowners have personal property in the basement they’ve worked hard for. Basement bugs and other pests can ruin electronics, leave clothes wholly holey, and destroy important papers.
- Structural Damage – Your home isn’t immune to damage from uncontrolled basement pests. From plaster to wood and wiring, there’s plenty that pests can either chew through or eat outright, leaving you with an unsafe home.
- Health Risks – Bites can be poisonous, droppings can be toxic, and odors or oils can irritate allergies. There are many ways that basement bugs can land a loved one in the hospital.
- Remediation Costs – Fixing any of these issues costs money, and it can come with a larger price tag the longer you wait. From initial basement pest control costs to replacing property, repairing the house’s foundation, and covering medical expenses, it’s far cheaper to stop basement bugs before they become an issue.
If not properly maintained, there can be ready sources of the materials they eat and water they can drink. Even the most impeccable housekeepers can find that as much as their upstairs is welcoming to friends and family, their basement is welcoming to unwanted guests.
Look Who’s Coming To Dinner
Let’s take a look at the basement bugs and animals that you could be harboring:
- Spiders – Most spiders won’t hurt you, but that doesn’t mean you want them to have free reign in your basement. While they primarily eat other bugs, their presence means you have plenty of bugs for them to feed on. In addition, some spiders, such as black widows or brown recluses, have venom that is potentially lethal to humans and pets.
- Roaches – Roaches are prolific once they get a foothold, leaving droppings that create a distinctive odor, ruining property, and spreading irritants and disease.
- Termites – One of the biggest threats to your home, termites will destroy the wood in your home. They feed on the fibers, leaving support structures rotting, weakened, and ready to collapse.
- Crickets – While some cultures consider finding a cricket to be good luck, they can be a nuisance when trapped in your basement. There are several different species that may infest your basement, attracting mates with loud chirping or an odious smell. They rarely bite, but their strong mandibles are perfect for gnawing through paper, cloth, and other fibrous materials that may be found in your basement.
- Mice – Mice and their rodent cousins carry a variety of diseases that can pass to humans. They readily chew through almost anything besides stone and metal, leave copious droppings, and breed quickly, making them hard to displace once they set up shop, often requiring professional basement pest control.
- Snakes – Snakes love to escape the heat in a cool, dark basement. Finding their way in through cracks or pipe entries, they often look for homes that provide plenty of basement bugs and rodents to feed on. While not the worst pest to find, if one has made your basement its home, then you can assume their food source has done the same thing.
While these may be some of the most common pests found in basements, no blog could list everything that homeowners have found harbored in their forgotten spaces. Other bugs and wildlife–even bats–have found their way into house basements and found a place they could thrive. Don’t let unwanted tenants put your home at risk.
Protecting Your Basement
Your home wasn’t built for basement bugs and rodents, and you shouldn’t have to put up with them. Luckily, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk of an infestation and make basement pest control easier. Acting early gives you a better chance at preventing problems, identifying them when they occur, and stopping them in their tracks before they become issues.
- Seal And Waterproof Your Basement – The first step to preserving your home’s integrity is eliminating the easy routes of infestation. Cracks should be sealed, openings around pipes should be tight, and basement drainage should be designed to remove water and moisture from your basement. A professionally sealed and waterproofed basement is harder for basement bugs to enter and lacks the plentiful food and moisture that gives them an environment to thrive in.
- Give Yourself Space – Basement bugs like to hide, and most basements give them plenty of options. Leave space around walls, and make sure personal property is raised up and off the floor. This will allow for easier cleaning and leave the space needed for maintenance.
- Make Cleaning Routine – Work your basement into your regular household chore schedule. This gives you a chance to ensure any messes are cleaned up instead of being left to provide food and shelter. It also ensures your family regularly has the opportunity to inspect the basement for any damage, signs of potential infestation, or other issues that need correction.
- Practice Preventative Basement Pest Control – Basement bugs are persistent. Even with professional waterproofing and sealing, proper maintenance, and a regular cleaning schedule, they can still find their way into the home. Traps should be set in high-traffic areas and pesticides designed to stop infestations from occurring in the first place.
Keep Your Home’s Foundation Strong
With a little preparation and care, you can keep your basement protected to preserve the life of your home. When you schedule a free inspection, our specialists will take a look at your basement, identifying existing damage, potential basement bug entry points, and the options you have to restore your basement’s integrity and protect it from cracks, flooding, and pests. Request your estimate from AM Wall Anchor & Waterproofing today.
