bugs in basement

[szeik]

Hi,

We have a problem with bugs in our basement. One side of our basement is semi-finished and the other side is not finished at all. There is a door between the two sides.

The semi-finished side isn't really very finished. We have a nice wall to wall carpet and nice lighting, but the walls are cinderblock that have been painted to look nice. The wall separating the two sides of the basement has been finished and has some wood paneling.

The problem is that we get lots of bugs down here. Mostly potatoe bugs, but lots of centipedes, and in the summer we get crickets. I don't know how they all get in but there must be lots of little ways into here from outside.

Is there anything we can do to cut down on some of these unwanted guests in our basement?

Thanks in advance, Steve

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Start outside to make a barrier. Sprays can be pretty effective if done properly. Spray around any cracks, windows, places where siding meets the block, etc. Be sure screens are in repair, door seals are good.

[Art]

Use caulk outside to caulk the gap between the concrete foundation and the bottom of the wood walls of the house. IMake sure you do the inside of the garage too. f your house is brick it means the flashing was left out of the bottom of the wall.

[Lar]

In article , [e-mail] says... :) The problem is that we get lots of bugs down here. Mostly potatoe :) bugs, but lots of centipedes, and in the summer we get crickets. I :) don't know how they all get in but there must be lots of little ways :) into here from outside. :) :) Is there anything we can do to cut down on some of these unwanted :) guests in our basement? :) :) Thanks in advance, :) Steve :) :) The insects you are naming usually are around dampness. Creating air circulation under the home may be enough to stop a lot of your activity.

[..............................]

Move....

[Stormin Mormon]

Former Vice President Dan Quayle is an expert on potatoes. Call him.

[David Efflandt]

A dehumidifier could help. That is usually not needed during winter in a cold climate (heating dries things out), but might be if winters are mild in your location. We sort of had a Memphis winter in Chicagoland this year.