mosquitos in gutters
Dealing with pests in and around your home can be a huge hassle but there are ways to prevent this from happening and how to remedy it if it’s already happening.
The problem is that pretty much anywhere water pools up and does not drain out, mosquitoes are hatched and born by the hundreds of thousands, and they all have the same goal in mind – bite you and suck your blood!
One very common overlooked area of high intensity mosquito production is in your gutters. Usually there’s a tendency to think they are just bred in pools of water standing on the ground, but actually they will breed on moist organic material such as leaves and certainly also in pools of water above ground.
The most common is standing water in you gutter.
Which is sitting there because leaves are clogging it and therefore the water has nowhere to go. This can be cause from clogs in your gutters or your downspouts or even if your gutters are bent, sagging and/or way out of pitch. All of these problems can cause water to pool in your gutters and become standing water. Standing water creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes which the female mosquito is very specific about where she lays her eggs and searches diligently for water that will be suitable for her offspring. Most of the mosquitoes that breed around the home require stagnant water rich in decomposing organic material. This means if you do not clean your gutters out or if you have a leak and water is pooling in your yard, it is a prime area for mosquitoes to breed.
If you already have this problem there are a few ways to fix this problem and insecticides come in a variety of different delivery methods, from hand- or power-spraying to yard foggers to time-release misting systems. Many of today’s mosquito-fighting products use ingredients that are easier on the environment than their predecessors.
To prevent them from breeding or coming back the best course of action is to keep those gutters cleaned and maintained. If you don’t have the time or resources to clean them out contact a local professional to do the work for you. Also maintaining your landscape will help prevent puddles forming in your yard.
For other pests such as birds, who like to build nests in your gutters.
Adding a bird house to your yard could help. Keep them from clogging up your gutters with nests. Another idea for preventing it is adding a gutter guard to the top of your gutter.
As for rodents, such as rats or squirrels
Gutter guards will help keep them out. Make sure to clean your gutters too because rats are attracted to standing water.Also calling a pest professional can help you with the larger problems like rats or squirrels.
Bees are unlike the other pests.
It’s easier for them to build a hive in a clean gutters. So gutter guards are the absolute best option for keeping them out of your gutters. Hopefully they’ll find a tree to build their nests in. Also when choosing a gutter guard to keep bees out of the mesh kind is best. Bees can get into the curved gutter guards and still build their nests.
Pests will come and go.
You can take preventative action to try and stop them but sometimes it still won’t keep them all completely away. Always remember that if you ever feel uncomfortable climbing on a ladder. It’s best to call a professional to clean out your gutters. Never put yourself in a uncomfortable situation to save money. It’s just not worth it if you injure yourself.
Let your gutter cleaning worries be behind you! For a free estimate on gutter cleaning, repairs or adding gutter guards, call us today! Our experienced team will take the guess-work out of the process, and ensure that your home is protected.
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Tags: Charlottesville Virginia, Construction and Maintenance, Downspout, Gutter Guard, Gutter Guards, Gutters, Gutters and Guards, injury prevention, Lynchburg Virginia, Materials and Supplies, Rain, Rain gutter, spring, Virginia
