eliminating ants, flies and other household pests

A sudden increase in spiders in your home is rarely welcome and can be caused by several different factors. There are many ways you can try to take care of the problem, from basic home fixes to involving professional assistance.

Identify the Type of Spider

Knowing what kind of spider you're dealing with can help you deal with an infestation. For example, roaming spiders—spiders that don't make webs—could be a sign that there's been an increase in the prey they hunt in your house while web-making spiders could be a sign your home is an appealing permanent home for them. Understanding why spiders are coming in can help you resolve the issue.

It's also helpful to know if the spiders are dangerous. Most spiders pose no real threat to humans, but if you have spiders like black widows or brown recluses suddenly appearing more often, it's much more important to have them removed as soon as you can.

Keep Your House Dry

Dark and moist places are often appealing to spiders, not because spiders themselves particularly like moisture, but because the insects they hunt do. One way to help combat this issue is by keeping your house drier, at least in areas that don't get much foot traffic like basements, attics, garages, and closets. Dehumidifiers are a good option, and you can also check for any leaks in your plumbing and roof while you're at it, just to be safe.

Reduce Bug Appeal

Since spiders go where their prey goes, you can reduce the likelihood of insects getting into your house in a few different ways. First, change your outdoor lights. If you use decorative lights and porch lights, switch to bug lights that won't cause bugs to congregate around them. Further, get your window and door screens inspected to check for holes and tears. Finally, check your foundation for cracks, and check around all windows and doors for any gaps. It's nearly impossible to patch up every single tiny gap a bug can sneak in through, but your efforts can have a big impact all the same.

Get Professional Assistance

Sometimes an infestation can get serious, and if your attempts at keeping spiders away aren't producing the results you want, it's time to contact a professional. They can check for underlying causes and implement treatments that target the specific type of spider you're having problems with. On top of getting rid of the current infestation, they can also help you prevent future ones as well. Be sure to ask your pest control specialist what steps you can take to prevent something like this from happening again; your specialist will know what pests are common in your area and how to deal with them and can give you good tips on keeping your home spider-free day to day.

For more info, contact a local company like Highland Pest Control.