Are you fighting silverfish? If so, we don't have to tell you what a strange pest problem they are to have. These tiny, silver bugs, can get into every nook and cranny of your Providence home. And, when they do, they can cause damage to your clothing, draperies, sheets, bedspreads, tapestries, books, photos, wallpaper, and more. They can also find their way into your pantry. Not only do silverfish eat starchy foods, they enjoy chewing on the containers that hold those foods. Fortunately, you don't have to live with silverfish. There is a way to stop them from taking over your home.
What You Can Do
There are two primary ways to control silverfish. The first is focused on keeping silverfish out. The Second works to drive silverfish out if they have invaded.
Exclusion:
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Do an inspection of your exterior walls and seal any holes, gaps, or cracks you find. Look closely around pipes, conduit, and other objects that go through your walls from the outside of your home. Liquid cement works well to seal foundation issues, and a caulking gun is a great general purpose tool for a wide range of other holes.
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Inspect your weather stripping for gaps that bugs squeeze through, especially the weather stripping on sliding glass doors.
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Inspect windows for gaps or holes in frames.
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Examine all your window and door screens. Your screens are the first line of defense against any invading bug.
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Take a good look at your door sweeps. Often, bugs will get into your garage or porch before they get into your home. The door sweep on your entrance door could be where they're getting in.
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Look for any area that is rotted. When water damages the wood of a home it sets up the conditions for moisture pests, like the silverfish, to come in. Addressing these issues is not only good for keeping silverfish out, it is important for the health of your home and your investment.
Environmental Control
Once silverish have infested, you're not going to be able to arrest the issue with exclusion alone. You're going to have to find ways to make the environment of your home uninviting, and hope to drive those bugs out.
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Install dehumidifiers and fans in rooms that have high humidity or moisture.
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Inspect your home for any pipes that have moisture on them, or water leaking from them. By addressing these moisture problems, you can make your home less accommodating to silverfish.
What Only A Professional Can Do
Sometimes, the only way to fix a silverfish problem is to have treatments applied to strategic areas of your interior or exterior. These treatments should be performed by a professional pest control technician. An educated and trained professional will use EPA approved materials, follow industry-established best practices, adhere to all governmental safety regulations, and perform the treatments in a way that prevents secondary pest control issues from arising. When you kill bugs in your home, it is important to understand that those dead bugs can become food for other bugs and rodents--and become an incentive for these secondary pests to take up residence in your home. A professional pest control technician will also know how to perform a detailed inspection to ensure that your silverfish problem has been taken care of.
When it comes to controlling invasive and destructive pests like silverfish, the best course of action is always to call someone who knows how to get the job done right the first time. The last thing you need is an important photo, document, or keepsake being ruined by bugs you thought you had gotten rid of.
If you live in Providence, or somewhere within our extensive New England service area, let the pros here at Big Blue Bug Solutions help you fix that silverfish problem. We've been squishing bug issues for homes and businesses for over 80 years, and in those 8 decades, we've learned a lot about invasive pests, like the silverfish. We'll make sure all those bugs are completely gone and put in place a protective barrier to stop new silverfish from getting into your home. Reach out to us today for immediate assistance.
