Do you feel like no matter what you do, you can’t keep pests out of your home? The reason why could be lurking under your house.

If you have an untreated crawl space, you’re essentially running a pest hotel under the floors of your living space. This space has all the features pests love: moisture, warmth, darkness, food, and nesting materials.

When you’re dealing with this situation, extermination alone isn’t enough. But there’s good news: there are steps you can take to break the cycle of infestation. Keep reading to learn why untreated crawl spaces attract pests and what you can do about it.

Why Pests Love Untreated Crawl Spaces

There’s a reason you’ve probably never ventured into your crawl space: they weren’t built for people. They are a cost-effective way to gain access to plumbing and other infrastructure while keeping your floors away from the moist ground. But over time, moisture still accumulates in these areas and attracts unwanted visitors. Here’s how:

• Wood Rot: Heavy moisture + wooden foundations = wood rot. You know who loves rotten wood? Termites. Termites are a crawl space’s natural predator and they can wreak havoc on the structural stability of your home.

• Open Vents: Crawl spaces are often constructed with open vents to allow dry air in and moist air out. But when the air outside is humid, as it often is in Roanoke, moisture can accumulate. These vents also function as open front doors to pests who will eagerly let themselves in.

• Wet Insulation: As moisture accumulates in these areas, it can waterlog your insulation rendering it useless to you. But not to rodents. Wet insulation is an ideal nesting material for rats and mice and other insects.

• One Pest Attracts Another: As more pests move in, an entire habitat can grow underneath your home as some pests serve as a food source for others.

Extermination Alone Won’t Break the Cycle

If you’re dealing with a pest infestation of any kind, you need professional help.

It’s absolutely wise to call an extermination professional to address pest problems. But if you don’t fix the root source, you run the risk of pests returning again and again. That’s why we sometimes recommend a combination of extermination and crawl space services to make your crawl space an unwelcome place for pests. These pros can assess your space and recommend the right steps to keep your home pest free for good.

At Bug Man Exterminating, our professionals are experienced in crawl space issues and can help you make an action plan that works. Ready to figure out what’s driving your recurring pest problem? Call Bug Man Exterminating and schedule your free pest control inspection today.