Is Your Basement Buggy?

Are you dreaming of turning your basement into a Man Cave, a movie hangout, or maybe just more usable space? Are your dreams being cut short because you feel like your basement is too buggy to make it a comfortable space? Let's take a little look at your buggy basement, why it's like that, and what you can do about it.

Who's Hanging Out In Your Basement?

Let's face it, bugs love basements. They are generally dark, moist, and not often visited, making them a perfect location to hide out. Typically, the pests that may show up uninvited could be: mice, rats, termites, spiders, earwigs, ants, cockroaches, and silverfish. Some homeowners ignore the creepy crawlies and let them go along their way. However, rodents, termites and other pests could cause major damage and the spread of diseases.

What Can You Do About a Buggy Basement?

Thankfully, there are some steps that homeowners can take to prevent and exclude pests from their basement on their own.

• Use a humidifier to dry the basement out. Bugs love moisture so if you remove the moisture you will make the area less appealing. Keep a fan running and install a self-emptying humidifier.
• Remove all damp debris that could be attracting insects such as pillows, blankets, or clothing in a laundry room.
• Seal all cracks and crevices around the foundation, doors, windows, and utility openings such as dryer vents.
• Get rid of all clutter. Rodents, insects, and pests love having a hiding place such as in and around seasonal decorations.
• Set up traps around your basement.
• Learn about the bugs that could be infesting your basement. A little knowledge can go a long way to discouraging an infestation.
• Clean as thoroughly as you can. Have the rugs and floors professionally cleaned. Do the same for any furniture.
• Complete an inspection for signs of a rodent infestation including: droppings, gnaw marks, damaged items, and greasy rub marks.
• Store books, seasonal items, and bulk items in plastic containers to avoid having insects work their way into them. This is especially true for homes that keep bulk pantry items in basement storage.
• Have a professional inspect your joists and support beams for signs of termites. Look for frass, termite droppings, as well as soft spots along the wooden beams.

Pest-End Exterminators can inspect your basement for a wide variety of pests including the above mentioned rodents and insects. We can determine how the pests are accessing your basement and a course of treatment to take your basement from buggy to livable. Talk to our team today and get started making your basement into an area of your home that you can enjoy... without any unwanted visitors.