Having moisture, and especially standing water, in and around your home is a major draw for pests. Triangle-area residents may not always know why an infestation of insects, rodents or other pests takes off on their property, but quite often, the reason is the presence of water. If pest invasions aren’t bad enough, keep in mind that water damage to your home — especially to drywall, foundations and framing — and the presence of mold and mildew are also major reasons to keep excess moisture at bay. If you need crawlspace cleaning we can help there too.

Pests that are attracted to water

All living things require water, that includes not only us humans, but also animals and plants, even ones we don’t want around. Water isn’t always easy to find for these pests, and certain ones are more likely to settle in around human dwellings when they find a good source. 

Cockroaches — These repulsive little bugs are known to carry disease, so you don’t want them in your home. But they are also very sneaky and adaptable. When they find a dark, damp place, they move right in. Don’t let it be a place you call home too! 

Termites — Water already does enough damage to the wood framing of your home, but when termites find this wood softened by moisture, they often start colonies that can be difficult to control. 

Carpenter ants — People often confuse these ants with termites, since they both attack wood, and both prefer soft wood, but there are differences. Termites actually eat the wood, while carpenter ants just clear out the inside of boards to make their “galleries.”

Rats and mice — As if the above insect infestations weren’t enough, rats and mice are known to relocate to where there are reliable water sources. Crawl spaces and clogged gutters are two common places. 

Larger mammals — Beyond rodents, somewhat larger pests like raccoons, opossums and foxes will also be attracted to water. These will be easier to locate but maybe more difficult to dislodge from your crawl space, drain pipes or other homes they find. 

Key tip: Prevent your gutter from getting clogged with a gutter guard

This brings us to an important point; there is no better place for rodents and insects to find moisture and nesting materials than a clogged gutter. And it’s also out of sight! Gutter guards prevent debris from collecting in the gutter and creating this perfect pest habitat. Leaves and sticks slide right over the gutter, and water flows in and then drains away from the house — where it’s supposed to be — forcing pests to look somewhere else for a water source. 

Critter Control of the Triangle eliminates pests, installs gutter guards and finds moisture

Regardless of what stage you are at in the process of providing a water source to the local pest population, Critter Control of the Triangle can help take you off their list of reliable, go-to locations. 

If you have pest infestations already, we can help eliminate them and repair the damage. If you have moisture problems that you think could become an issue, we can help there. If you want gutter guards installed to keep pests from enjoying your gutters, we can also help with that. Call (919) 382-0651 if you live in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Wake Forest or the greater Triangle area, and we can get to work today solving your issues with pests and moisture.