How Spiders Get Inside New York Homes
There are a lot of spiders in New York. Fortunately, most of them aren't dangerous. But that doesn't mean we want them in our homes. Here are some of the ways common house spiders commonly get into your home and, more importantly, how to keep them from getting in.
As spiders explore your landscaping in search of tasty insects to eat, they stumble upon entry points that are near the ground. Windows in basement walls are prime targets. If glass panes are damaged and the wood of your window frames has been chewed by rodents, carpenter ants, and other pests, there could be a pathway for spiders to get into your home. The seal around your windows can provide entry points as well. Some windows are sealed with silicone caulk and all that lies beyond is a big gap spiders can use to get into your wall voids.
Do you have steps that lead up to your front door? Under those steps may be a hole that leads in. When pests chew on your soleplate (that is the horizontal wood attached to your foundation) spiders can squeeze in through these holes. Rodents chew in locations that give them cover and your steps might be the perfect spot.
There are many spots on your foundation wall that can give entry to spiders. Some of them can be right out in the open. Spiders can squeeze through gaps or broken seals around pipes and wire conduit. They can climb in through cracks in your concrete. And they are happy to squeeze through a broken section of mortar.
Do you have a door or double doors that lead into a finished basement? Spiders can get past gaps in damaged weather stripping or underneath door sweeps that aren't making good contact. And, as with windows, they can find a way past the seal around the outside of some doors.
Spiders that subsist on flying insects can enter in through points that are higher on your home. They'll use doors and windows on every floor. Look for the entry points listed above.
Your roofline and roof can be especially vulnerable to spider entry. When squirrels or roof rats chew on your eaves and soffits, they can create holes for spiders. When raccoons push up on soft portions of a roof-soffit intersection, they can create a big hole for spiders. When bats claw in behind your chimney stack, spiders will take advantage of the holes created.
Are you seeing a pattern?
Spiders don't chew their way into your home like termites, carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles, and rodents of many sizes. Spiders don't claw and force their way in like raccoons, bats and other wildlife do. Spiders take advantage of damage caused by other pests. If you're seeing spider activity in your home, you may have more to worry about than anything those spiders can do to you.
In our service area, brown recluse and black widow spiders are rare. Most of the spiders we deal with are not going to do much more than leave an itchy welt on your skin. But termites can destroy your home. Mice and rats can damage your home, spread illness, and carry ticks, fleas, and other parasites in. Raccoons, squirrels, bats, and other wildlife pests that will just use your home as harborage, can be extremely destructive, introduce parasites, and contaminate areas with their feces and urine. We could go on but you get point. Your residential pest control should target more than just spiders.
Do you have a residential pest control service? If not, make sure to get service that includes monitoring and control for rodents, termites, carpenter ants, and wildlife. In the Albany area, Thomas Pest Services can meet this need. Our Complete Care Plan does just what it says. You'll get coverage for all of these threats. For some, you'll get control. For others, you'll have ongoing monitoring to catch pest problems before they begin.
Spiders are only one of many pests that can have a harmful impact on your health and property. Get protected with the Complete Care Plan from Thomas Pest Services.
