Crawl Space Pest Control
Crawl space pest control is vital to protect the structure of your home and maintain a healthy living space. The crawl space often goes uninspected for several years at a time, allowing major infestation to occur before the problem is even noticed. These pests may feed on the building structure, damage insulation or HVAC ducting, and leave waste which may contain bacteria or other pathogens that can present a health hazard.
Why do pests want to live in my crawl space?
Rodent damage in crawl space
A home without proper crawl space pest control can be a very convenient place for pests to live and reproduce.
- Leaky or uninsulated HVAC ducting, or uninsulated floors create a warm area for rodents, raccoons, or opossums to live during the colder months.
- A crawl space with open gaps into the home may allow pests to live safely below your home during the day, and raid your pantry at night.
- A crawl space that has standing water, may provide an oasis for thirsty pests.
- A crawl space with increased humidity or wet framing, may provide an excellent food source for termites, carpenter ants, or other wood-boring insects.
How can I prevent crawl space pest damage?
- Have a trained professional perform “exclusion” to limit the access to your crawl space, which includes a detailed inspection of foundation and siding, and sealing all possible rodent entry points.
- Make sure that the crawl space is not inviting to pests, by ensuring that it is properly insulated, and free from excess debris that might provide food or nesting areas to pests.
- Maintain a dry and low humidity environment in your crawlspace, so that the wood framing is not suitable for pest infestation.
What are the most common pest control problems you encounter in Seattle crawl spaces?
The best kind of rat... a dead rat.
No other pest compares with rats for their ability to damage a northwest crawl space. Mice and carpenter ants can cause problems but the unlovable rat reigns king in destructive power. The primary materials affected are the vapor barrier and underfloor insulation. Rats, preferring a warm and secluded environment often make their homes in the space between the top of the insulation and the subfloor. The insulation, of course, is not designed for the critters, and their weight eventually causes the insulation to fall. Beyond the obvious loss of thermal efficiency, the rats cause another problem. Odors.
Where ever you find rats, you will also find their droppings, and with their feces, a pungent reminder of their presence. This odor cannot be cleaned or removed from the insulation or vapor barrier, the only solution is complete removal. The same goes for the vapor barrier.