Pests in Northern Virginia need three main things to survive – food, shelter, and water. These three factors are often the reason why pests infest local commercial and residential properties. With high humidity throughout the spring, summer, and fall pests already have an excellent source of moisture in cities like Gainesville, Haymarket, and Bristow.

But if bugs are also easily able to find moisture inside your home, it can significantly increase your risk of infestation. These are some of the water sources that attract bugs and how to address them.

Reducing Moisture Around Your Home to Mitigate Pests

The different pests that require extensive moisture and thrive in damp environments include cockroaches, centipedes, mosquitoes, ants, and termites. Rodents are another pest that need plenty of drinking water.

This wide range of bugs means that there are both indoor and outdoor habitats that you should be aware of and take steps to correct if there is excess moisture in these locations. The most common forms of moisture that attract pests to Gainesville include:

• High Indoor Humidity – Rooms that typically get humid, such as bathrooms, are attractive spots for pests. If your home also generally has high humidity, you may be more at risk for pest infestations. You should take steps to reduce humidity, such as by turning on the ventilation fan in the bathroom while showering or running a dehumidifier in the more humid rooms of your house. Wipe up any spilled water as soon as possible as well.
• Dripping Faucets – Faucets in kitchens and bathrooms that continuously drip can provide a water source for pests whenever you are not present. Tighten faucets or replace aging ones.
• Leaks – A leaking pipe can create the perfect water source for a range of pests. Pipes leaking in your crawlspace or around the exterior of your home are particularly good for attracting termites since they will make the soil damp.
• Standing Water – Standing water outdoors in containers is notorious for attracting mosquitoes since they lay their eggs in the water, but it can also serve as drinking water for other pests. You should empty water regularly in your yard to reduce the chances that it will attract bugs.

Reducing excess water and the number of areas around your home where water can collect or humidity builds up is a valuable step in preventing tests at your home. By removing a key resource, you make your home significantly less inhabitable for pests and encourage them to search elsewhere for places to live.

But because there is almost always some water present, even when you take precautions against it, pest prevention treatments from ExtermPRO can give you an additional layer of security. We use either bi-monthly or quarterly pest control treatments to create an exterior barrier against pests. This solution works against all of the most common moisture-seeking bugs and rodents.

By combining basic pest prevention procedures with our leading treatments at ExtermPRO, we can give you a pest-free home or business. Request a quote online or call us to get started.