Everything You Need to Know to Keep Pests Out Of Your Crawl Space

If you're like most people, you probably don't think about your crawl space very often. But if you have pests living in your crawl space, it's something you should be thinking about! A crawl space is a great place for pests to live and breed, because it's dark, moist, and warm. In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know to keep pests out of your crawl space. We'll cover what type of pests can be in your crawl space, what are some signs of an infestation, and how to get rid of them.

What types of pests can be in your crawl space?

There are a few different types of pests that can infest your crawl space. These include:

• Rodents: Rodents such as mice, rats, and chipmunks are the most common type of pest that infests crawl spaces. They are attracted to the dark, moist environment and will build their nests there. They can also carry diseases, which can be dangerous to humans.
• Carpenter Ants:  Carpenter ants are another type of crawl space pest. They build their nests in wood, which can damage the structure of your home. You can differentiate these ants from other ants by their large size and black or dark brown color.
• Termites: Termites are a type of crawl space pest that can cause extensive damage to your home. They eat wood, which can weaken the structure of your house.
• Crickets: Crickets are another type of crawl space pest. They are attracted to the dark, moist environment and will build their nests there. Crickets can also damage your home by eating wood.
• Beetles: There are several types of beetles that can infest crawl spaces. These include powder post beetles, deathwatch beetles, and old house borers. Beetles can damage wood and other materials in your crawl space.
• Hornets and wasps:  Hornets and wasps are crawl space pests that can sting. They build their nests in areas that are protected from the weather, such as crawl spaces.
• Spiders: Spiders are another type of crawl space pest. Some spiders, such as the black widow spider, can be dangerous. Others, like the common house spider, are not harmful to humans but can be a nuisance.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are crawl space pests that can carry diseases. They are also difficult to get rid of once they infest an area.
• Snakes: Snakes are crawl space pests that can be dangerous to humans. They often enter crawl spaces through holes or cracks in the foundation.

What are some signs of pest infestation in your crawl space?

• Droppings: One sign of pest infestation in your crawl space is droppings. Cockroaches, rodents, and other pests leave behind droppings that can contaminate surfaces and spread disease.
• Nests: Another sign of pest infestation in your crawl space is nests. Hornets, wasps, and spiders build nests in protected areas like crawl spaces.
• Gnaw marks: Rodents such as rats and mice gnaw on wires and insulation in crawl spaces. This can cause a fire hazard.
• Sounds: Pests such as rodents make noise as they move around in your crawl space. If you hear any squeaking or scurrying, that might be a sign you have a pest infestation in your crawl space.
• Smells: A musty smell in your crawl space is another sign of pests. This is because rodents and other pests often urinate and defecate in crawl spaces.

How to keep pests out of crawl space?

• Clean up: The first step to keeping pests out of your crawl space is to clean up. Get rid of any debris or clutter in your crawl space. This will make it harder for pests to hide and build nests.
• Seal entry points: Take a look around your crawl space and seal any cracks or holes that pests could use to get inside. This includes weather-stripping doors and windows and repairing damaged screens or rotten beams.
• Use pest control products: There are a variety of pest control products that can help keep crawl space pests at bay. These include baits, traps, and chemicals. You can find these products at your local home improvement store or online.
• Crawl Space Dehumidifiers: One of the best ways to keep crawl space pests away is to control the moisture in your crawl space. A crawl space dehumidifier can help to do this by removing moisture from the air. This will make your crawl space less inviting to pests and help to keep them away.
• Crawl Space Vapor Barrier:  Another way to control moisture in your crawl space is to install a crawl space vapor barrier. This will help to keep the humidity levels down and make it less inviting for pests.
• Crawl Space encapsulation: One of the best ways to keep crawl space pests out is to encapsulate the area. This will create a barrier that pests cannot get through. It is important to make sure that the crawl space vapor barrier is installed correctly in order to create a pest-proof barrier.

Get Professional Help from Sound Pest Control

If you're still having trouble keeping crawl space pests under control, you may need to hire a professional pest control company. This is when Sound Pest Control can help you. Whether it be repairing your damaged crawl space or dealing with the pests you have in there, Sound Pest Control in Washington has the experience and expertise to help you. Contact us today for a free estimate!