How Moisture in and Around Your Home Attracts Unwanted Pests
May 20, 2021
Moisture Level Tips from Our Pest Control Company
Serving Aberdeen, Fayetteville, Hope Mills & Raeford, NC
We all need water to live, but so do most bugs. Like nomadic tribes of old, a population of insects will relocate to find a suitable source of water that can sustain them. You do not want your house to become their new settlement due to its excessive moisture and humidity levels. Below are some simple ways to reduce moisture in your home and around your property in order to help you avoid pest issues.
Interior
Within the home, you can lower the overall humidity level by keeping the air circulating with fans or running a dehumidifier, particularly in the basement. You will also want to check for leaking pipes once in a while by inspecting the areas under sinks and around toilets. Slow and subtle leaks can be one of the biggest causes of moisture problems. Also take a look at your showers and tubs to ensure there are not holes in the caulking which could allow water to seep through and accumulate behind walls and under flooring.
Exterior
Outside the house, keep your gutters unclogged and regularly pour out any standing water in trash cans, wheelbarrows, and other containers. If you have issues with water pooling around your foundation, you may need to invest in installing a drain system or re-grading the soil to slope away from the house. When it comes to landscaping, trim back hedges and trees which can trap moisture and serve as a breeding ground for pests. Using too much mulch can create a similar problem. Lastly, position sprinkler heads to avoid spraying water onto your siding.
For additional tips, or if you find yourself faced with an unwanted insect problem at your home in Aberdeen, Fayetteville, Hope Mill, Raeford, NC or any of the surrounding areas, contact
the expert pest control
team at Carolina Extermination Inc. for information or to schedule service!

Excess moisture in your home is not good for your health and can cause mildew, mold, pests, and more. It is extremely important to try to reduce the amount of moisture in your home to avoid these issues, which can lead to health issues and cause damage to your home. How can you tell there is excess moisture in your home? Below are some signs. Peeling/Bulging Paint or Wallpaper Cracked, peeling, or bulging paint or wallpaper can be a sign that there is excess moisture on your walls or ceilings. If you notice this, it is important to have a professional come in and determine if the cause is, in fact, excess moisture. Musty Odor If you notice your home has a musty odor, it may be caused by excess indoor moisture. Mildew and mold can create a foul odor, especially if you have furniture near your walls. If you notice your home has a musty odor, you may want to investigate if there is mold or mildew anywhere. Mold Mold can be found on your ceilings, walls, shower, and many more places. Mold is a sign that there is excess moisture in your home and certain kinds can be dangerous to your health if not taken care of right away. If you notice mold in your home, call in a professional right away to get the problem taken care of. Pests If you notice an influx of pests in or around your home, such as mosquitos, earwigs, roaches, and more, it could be due to an issue of excess moisture. Certain pests are drawn to moisture, which can cause an infestation. Call in an exterminator to help remove the pests and moisture. These are just a few of the many signs of excess indoor moisture. If you are experiencing any of these issues or believe there may be excess moisture in your home near Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Aberdeen, or Raeford, NC, call the professionals at Carolina Exterminating Inc. We offer moisture control services, as well as pest control to keep you comfortable in your home.

We’ve all seen it happen. Two friends sit next to each other for a cookout, bonfire, or other evening activity. When they get up at the end of the night, one person is covered in itchy, unsightly mosquito bites. The other person hasn’t had a bite all night. Why do mosquitoes attack some people more than others - and more importantly, what can you do to keep them away from you and everyone hanging out in your backyard? There are many reasons why mosquitoes are more attracted to some people than others and several ways to keep them away from you and the people you care about. Let’s run through them, so you’re better equipped to take on the bloodsuckers this summer. How Mosquitoes Are Attracted Mosquitoes pick their victims based on a variety of factors: ● Carbon Dioxide : Mosquitoes are more attracted to people who emit more carbon dioxide when they breathe. In practice, this means that larger people - including those who are taller, heavier, overweight, or pregnant - are more likely to attract mosquitoes than smaller ones. ● Blood Type : People with type O blood are out of luck when it comes to getting bitten by mosquitoes - according to one scientific study, they’re twice as likely to call mosquitoes over to them as people with type A blood. In addition, people who secrete a chemical that indicates their blood type are more likely to attract mosquitoes than those who don’t, regardless of what that blood type is. ● Exercise : People who are exercising are more attractive to mosquitoes than people who are sitting still. Not only are people who are exercising breathing harder and likely emitting more carbon dioxide, their body temperatures are likely to be higher, and the lactic acid included in their sweat is also highly attractive to mosquitoes. ● Genetics : Some people just lose the genetic mosquito lottery. Between blood type, body odor, and other factors largely controlled by genetics, attraction to mosquitoes is controlled by the genes in similar ways to height and intelligence. ● Wardrobe : Mosquitoes can see colors to a certain extent, and they’re more likely to be attracted to people wearing darker colors than those wearing lighter ones. How to Repel Mosquitoes As you can see, some factors that attract mosquitoes are entirely within your control: if you’d like to avoid being bitten by a mosquito, you might want to skip that jog through a mosquito-infested swamp while wearing an all-black ensemble. However, once you’ve made a few strategic adjustments to your outfit and your outdoor activities, you’re left with things you can’t control, like your body odor and blood type. How do you keep the mosquitoes away if you’re one of the “lucky” mosquito magnets? The answer, of course, is mosquito control from Carolina Exterminating Inc. As a leading pest control company serving Fayetteville, NC; Hope Mills, NC; Raeford, NC; Aberdeen, NC; and the surrounding areas, we have a wide range of solutions to keep the mosquitoes away from your property. These solutions range from simple changes (like removing areas of standing water on your property) to chemicals and sprays. Rest assured that we can make your backyard a no-go zone for mosquitoes. So if you’re sick and tired of being a mosquito magnet, give us a call today. We’re here to turn your space into one that repels mosquitoes, so you can enjoy it in peace!

Termites are insects that feed off of wood and can become a major pest if they decide to feed off the wood in your home. Termites typically feed off wood that is dead or decaying. If termites go undetected for a long period of time, they can cause serious and costly damages to your home. Are you wondering how to detect if there are termites in your home? Below are 5 signs you may have a termite problem. 1. Hollow Wood If you tap on your walls and they sound hollow, you may have a termite problem. This is because termites eat from the inside out, which hollows the wood. If you believe you may have termites, try knocking on your walls to see if they sound hollow. 2. Strange Sounds Termites are known to bang their heads against the wall of their tunnels if they feel threatened or that they are in danger. This can create a rattling sound that can be heard by humans. If you hear an odd rattling sound coming from your walls, you may have a termite infestation. 3. Frass Frass or termite droppings are a tell-tale sign that you have a termite infestation. Frass can look like wood shavings or sand and can be found anywhere throughout your home. If you have found suspicious sand or wood shavings around your home, it may be frass. 4. Hard to Open Windows & Close Doors The mud that termites create causes wood to trap heat and moisture. This heat and moisture causes the wood to swell, making it hard to open windows and close doors due to the tight fit. If you are having issues closing your doors or opening your windows, it could be a sign that termites are present. 5. Wings As a termite colony expands they are able to produce winged termites. When the wings are no longer needed, termites discard their wings. If you notice piles of insect wings in your home, you likely have a termite problem. Have you noticed any of these signs in your home in the Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Raeford, and Aberdeen, NC areas? Call Carolina Exterminating Inc! We offer termite control services to help prevent serious damages and costly repairs to your home.