House crickets are annoying and sometimes destructive pests. When they get into your home, they can drive you nuts and damage your belongings. Fortunately, there are many ways you can work to keep crickets out of your Hartford home. Here are five quick and easy tips to help.

1. Reduce Light As An Attractant

You may not know this, but crickets are drawn to light. If you have exterior lighting, those lights can lure crickets to your yard. The more crickets you have around your home, the more likely it will be that crickets will invade your home. We understand that some lights need to be left on for security reasons. We don't suggest turning them all off, but here are some ideas.

Install security lights away from your home, rather on your home.
Replace white light bulbs with yellow bulbs or sodium vapor lamps, which aren't as attractive to insects.
Keep your shades and curtains drawn at night.
Turn exterior lights off when you aren't using them.

2. Address Moisture Around Your Home

You would be amazed at how much of an attractant moisture is for insects. Crickets are only one of many pests that will be lured to your home by damp ground and areas of high moisture. Consider these tips for reducing moisture.

Make sure your gutter system is cleaned out and that rainwater is able to flow down and away from your foundation perimeter.
Fix any plumbing issues that are causing moisture near your home.
Maintain sprinkler times that prevent over-saturation of the ground near your home.
Rake up leaves and remove clutter to remove moist habitats.
Move firewood to at least twenty feet from your exterior and elevate the stacks.

3. Address Humidity In Your Home

When crickets accidentally get inside, they'll seek locations of high humidity. This is why you'll find them in your basement, cellar, boiler room, laundry room, or bathroom. Consider these tips for reducing humidity inside your home.

Install dehumidifiers and fans in areas that get humid.
Use your fan when taking a shower or bath.
Fix any leaky faucets in your home.

4. Keep Things Trim Around Your Home

House crickets, and many other pests, will be more comfortable in a yard that has tall grass and lots of vegetation. When you keep things trim and neat, you have an impact on the population of pests around your home, especially crickets.

Mow the lawn.
Remove weeds from your landscaping.
Get rid of plants that are unnecessary.
Trim bushes and shrubs.

5. Seal Your Exterior

Every home has gaps and cracks. Some are large enough to let crickets inside. Here are a few potential entry points to consider:

Inspect the weatherstripping around your doors. If you see any gaps, adjust or replace your weatherstripping.
Inspect the frames around your exterior doors. If you have holes or gaps, use a caulking gun to seal them.
Inspect the frames around your exterior windows. Use a caulking gun to seal these up.
Repair damaged door and window screens.
Repair broken windows or door panes.
Repair cracks in your foundation wall.

Add Pest Control

The best way to keep house crickets (and a long list of other pests) out of your home is to invest in a residential pest control plan. If you live in Hartford County, consider American Pest Solutions. We offer customizable pest control plans in Hartford to address your specific pest control concerns. The methods and products we use are the most advanced and most environmentally responsible. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule to meet with one of our licensed professionals.