A bathroom leak could be just the beginning of problems for your home: you may find an insect infestation if the damage isn’t rectified immediately. Mosquitoes, water bugs, and other insects thrive in moist environments, and they’ll take any leak as an open invitation to set up shop.
It’s very common to deal with bugs from water damage, and it spells further headaches and stress. However, finding the source of the issue, whether it’s an unnoticed plumbing leak or standing water from clogged rain gutters, can often resolve the problem.
TN Flood Kings is here to help solve your toughest water issues 24/7 – we’re always just a phone call away! With that being said, let’s dive into the icky mysteries of cockroaches and other bugs who will happily make your house their home.
Bugs and a Plumbing Problem: What’s the Connection?
While a bug infestation isn’t always caused by clogged p traps or leaky sections of pipe, it’s incredibly common to find insects when you find a water issue.
Just like us, insects need a few things to thrive: a steady water source, nutrition, and the right balance of humidity. They’re attracted to dark places with high moisture and plenty of organic material to munch, which is why they will often crop up in humid environments like basements, bathrooms, a crawl space, or cracks in walls where they can feed on wood, mold, and debris. This causes further damage to your home’s structure, especially if you find yourself with wood-boring insects like moisture ants.
If you remove the wet conditions, you can also deter insects; this is why after calling pest control, you should call TN Flood Kings to stop the water at its source.
Water Sources Related to Bug Infestations
Anywhere with moisture and food is very attractive to insects and other pests, which is why it’s so important that you take care of water issues right away by calling TN Flood Kings.
Here are some of the most common water sources that may encourage insect infestations:
- Standing water after heavy rains or floods
- A poorly maintained HVAC system or near air conditioning units areas
- Moisture in the bathroom or basement from poor ventilation
- Leaky pipes
- Water features like pools, bird baths, and ponds
Common Pests Related to Damp Environments
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are found all throughout the United States, including in Tennnessee; there are multiple different types, and identifying which one can be a significant part of managing the issue. A cockroach infestation is a serious issue, as these irritating pests spread diseases. They breed fast, laying between 13 and 48 eggs in a single clutch, so one or two stragglers can become an entire colony within weeks.
Water Bugs
The water bug is actually a type of cockroach that prefers very wet environments and thus is often found in the bathroom or basement near leaky sections of pipe. You might find them skulking near dripping washing machine water lines, where they can foul your clean clothes with their excretions.
Drain Flies
These flies lay their eggs in the p traps and s traps within drains, leading to their name. Once they are mature, they will emerge from the pipes to find more food and lay their own eggs.
Rodents
Mice and rats will eat almost anything, including rotting wood and paper; they’re especially common pests outside your home, where they may hide in air conditioning units areas for moisture, safety, and food. Their droppings can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Black Widow Spiders
Other than mosquitos, these are the most dangerous insects to find in bathrooms and basements, as their bite can be deadly. They have a distinctive red hourglass shape on their abdomen, making it easy to identify.
Mold Mites
These insects are almost impossible to see with the naked eye; you’ll find them lurking in patches of mold, which is their preferred meal. Even if you can’t see them, any house with mold issues likely also has mold mites too.
Mosquitoes
The most dangerous animal on earth is the tiny mosquito, which can spread malaria and other diseases. They will congregate and breed in stagnant water, such as an uncovered rain barrel or clogged rain gutters.
Moisture Ants
These pests dine on rotting wood; they’ll eat away at the joists of your house and make their home there too. You’ll know you have an infestation if you see a swarm of flying ants in your bathroom or other areas of high humidity.
Carpenter Ants
While these insects don’t eat wood, they will develop colonies inside the wood, eating away at its structural integrity.
Earwigs
Earwigs are easy to identify thanks to their forceps-like pincers. You’ll notice them around a bathroom leak or near a floor drain, where they will emerge at night to hunt.
Termites
Termites are one of the most well-known wood boring insects, which will create tunnels in the wood of your home. They can be hard to identify because they don’t generally emerge from inside the structure, though you may see a few marching in and out of cracks in the walls.
What to do About Moisture Loving Pests
Call a Water Damage Restoration Company
Your first step should be calling a company like TN Flood Kings, as you need to stop the source of the infestation – the leaks or drips – before you get rid of the pests themselves. We’ll identify any plumbing leak and protect your home’s structural integrity so you can call a pest control professional.
Contact an Exterminator
While DIY methods sometimes work, it’s best to work with a pest control team, as they have the tools necessary to totally get rid of the pests and leave no bugs alive. This is especially important if you’re dealing with termites or a water bug colony, which can be hard to target independently.
Clean Drains
For more annoying but non-damaging bugs like drain flies, cleaning the drains out can often take care of the issue. You can buy specially formulated drain gels from a home improvement store which will eradicate the drain flies’ eggs and destroy their colony.
Ways to Prevent Further Infestations
The best way to prevent bugs is to deal with leaks and excessive moisture and keep your home free of excess debris.
Use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture in your bathroom and basement, and deal with any plumbing leak immediately.
Prevent stagnant water by emptying any water receptacles on the property. Instead of a shallow bird bath, consider installing a bubbling fountain instead.
Have your home inspected regularly for termites and contact a pest control professional to provide preventative maintenance if you know your home is prone to bugs.
By following these tips and treating leaks, you can reduce the likelihood of unpleasant houseguests and protect the health of everyone who enters your home.
Dealing With a Pest Problem Due to Broken Plumbing Pipes? Call TN Flood Kings 24/7 for Fast and Friendly Service!
