Insects such as centipedes, cockroaches, and earwigs like to stay in dark, damp locations. A basement apartment can become the ideal living space for these creatures, which can cause inexplicable discomfort. But how can you prevent bugs in a basement apartment? We've asked the experts with regards to this matter and here’s what they say.
Different basement apartment bugs require certain techniques for prevention. Some insect prevention methods may not work on certain species. Nonetheless, you can still deter many bug species with the following methods:
- Decreasing the humidity
- Rearranging the furniture
- Sealing cracks and holes
- Keeping water out
- Cleaning the area
Take note that proper implementation of the right insect deterring technique will help improve efficacy. Keep reading as we tackle these methods in detail. We'll also discuss relevant points of interest such as how to prevent specific bugs from your basement apartment and how to check if humidifiers can keep the critters away.
Techniques to Prevent Bugs in A Basement Apartment
Basement apartments tend to be reasonably inexpensive rental lodgings for relatively long stays. But these living spaces can also be attractive to pests like centipedes, cockroaches, and termites. Aside from being unsightly, these insects can also become carriers of diseases, which can reduce your quality of life.
Here are some ways to prevent bugs from living and thriving in your basement apartment rent-free:
1. Maintain Low Humidity Levels
Humidity is the amount of airborne water vapor. If humidity is high, the air in your basement apartment becomes warmer and thicker than usual, which can make breathing difficult.
Some bugs, however, such as centipedes, cockroaches, earwigs, and mosquitoes, like the extra heat and thickness of the air, causing them to make your home into their abode.
Prevent these bugs from entering your basement apartment by getting a humidistat. You may also buy and install a thermostat that can read the relative humidity in the area. Use this tool to check and ensure that the humidity in your apartment doesn’t go over 70%. If it does, your living space becomes a breeding ground for different bugs.
You can turn on the air conditioner in your apartment to help reduce the humidity. Also, fix leaking pipes and use the apartment’s exhaust fans so that your living space doesn’t become significantly humid.
Check out this Veanic mini electronic temperature and humidity meter on Amazon.
2. Reorganize the Furniture
Certain pests, such as caterpillars and fly maggots, like damp and dark areas. Places like underneath the bed or couch can become favorite locations for these small creatures to live and reproduce.
The reason behind this fondness of dark places comes from a hormone called prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH). Scientists identified that this hormone plays a role in the survival strategy of certain insects.
The substance will activate the bugs' systems to hide in the dark if they know they're in danger. With humans being one of the insects' top predators, they tend to conceal themselves in the dark spaces created by your furniture.
Rearrange your basement apartment’s furniture once every couple of months. That way, some bugs won’t find the frequent moving of their living spaces appealing, making them search for other livable places other than your apartment.
3. Seal Cracks and Holes in Walls and Ceiling
Cockroaches and other insects tend to like hiding in small cracks and holes. The cold, damp, and dark surroundings can be perfect living and breeding spaces for these critters.
Take note that the method to fix cracks and holes in the ceiling and walls of your basement apartment will differ depending on the material. Only use the right sealer that’s compatible with the surface’s material to avoid costly issues.
Take a look at this LR liquid rubber concrete sealant on Amazon.
4. Keep the Water Out
Some insects won’t drown when doused with water, and some of them will even thrive in relatively wet areas. These bugs can even crawl through the spaces in and around drains to reach your basement apartment.
Protect water passageways that lead to your living space. Repair leaks and keep windows sealed properly, particularly during the rainy season. Additionally, consult with the property owner if they can clean the roof's gutters as a blockage can cause rainwater to travel to your basement apartment.
Check this Rescue Tape emergency pipe repair on Amazon.
5. Clean the Apartment
Many bugs find dirty items attractive, which can include your dirty laundry. Worn dirty clothes can attract and facilitate the spread of bed bugs.
Regular vacuuming can help prevent bed bugs and other insects from becoming an infestation in your basement apartment. Put dirty clothes in laundry bins, and make sure that your tables and floors have no food crumbs.
Also, make sure to keep track of the expiration date of your food items, such as fruit and vegetables. If these foods rot, they will invite pests to enter your basement apartment. Putting food products in vacuum-sealed containers may help extend their freshness and deter insects from feasting on those items.
Check out the GERYON vacuum sealer machine on Amazon.
How Do I Keep Bugs Out of My Basement Apartment?
Aside from the methods already mentioned, you can keep bugs out of your basement apartment by identifying the creatures that you’re up against. For example, if you’ve been having centipede sightings in your living space, make sure to keep the area as dry as possible since these bugs tend to thrive in damp places.
How Do I Spray My Basement For Bugs?
You can purchase a commercially manufactured bug spray and use it if you see insect sightings in your basement. However, most of those products contain harsh chemicals that can introduce health concerns if breathed for extended periods.
Instead, you can use organic sprays to combat those insects. For instance, you can use peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle to repel spiders. Many humans can handle the strong scent of mint. On the other hand, spiders tend to find that specific smell as overbearing, causing them to leave the premises.
Take a look at the Cliganic peppermint essential oil on Amazon.
Do Dehumidifiers Keep Bugs Away?
Since insects like damp places in the basement apartment, installing a dehumidifier in your living space can help deter certain bugs. Dehumidifiers work by removing excess moisture from the immediate environment, making the location unlivable to certain bugs.
Check out the hOmeLabs dehumidifier on Amazon.
Do Basement Apartments Have More Bugs?
Basement apartments tend to attract certain types of bugs because these locations generally retain more moisture than the rooms above ground. It is for this reason that basement apartment renters should prioritize keeping airborne moisture to a minimum to prevent their spaces from becoming insect nests.
What Kind of Bugs Live In Basements?
Bugs that like darkness and moisture become attracted to basements. Pests with high moisture requirements, such as millipedes, sowbugs, and camel crickets are some examples of bugs that you may find crawling in your basement apartment.
Cockroaches tend to love dark areas. This means turning off the lights in your basement can invite these dirty bugs into your area.
Final Words
You can prevent certain bugs from entering and infesting your basement apartment by reducing the humidity, cleaning the area, and ensuring that the plumbing doesn’t have leaks. If you do see some insects, you can use organic sprays to help remove or eliminate them from the premises.
