The first step to getting rid of pests often lies in closing up all entry points. This means sealing up any cracks and crevices. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to seal up your home entirely. A good example of this is drains and plug holes. Yes, pests come in through drains, and there’s very little you can do to stop this completely. That being said, there are things you can do that will mitigate the issue of drain pests. Here are a few of them.
Which drain pests cause the biggest problem?
So, what type of pests come in through drains? The main insects include drain flies, fungus gnats, cockroaches, fruit flies and spiders, although spiders only come up through dry drains. Another significant issue is protecting your property from rats that can enter through the drainage system. These pests have even been known to enter toilets by swimming up through sewers.
There’s a simple reason why these pests come in through drains. It’s simply because drains are filthy. They also provide the ideal living conditions for some of these pests. For example, drains are dark and wet. In the case of kitchen drains, they are also coated with food residue. This residue provides more than enough sustenance for pests to live off.
How do property owners deal with this issue?
The first port of call is to clean your plug holes, and the associated pipes. You need to get rid of the filth and food residue that has accumulated. You also need to kill things like fungus and mould, which may be growing in your pipework. Once this is done, you reduce the chances of attracting these pests and other pests that thrive in damp places.
The easiest way to do this is by pouring boiling water down the drain. Do this once or twice a day until the pests are gone. Something else which works is mixing vinegar with warm water. You can also pour an over-the-counter eco-friendly enzyme-based drain cleaning solution down the plug hole, or use a solution of vinegar and baking soda. The next thing to do is sanitise the outside drains that lead into your property. There are also environmentally responsible commercial drain cleaning products available on the market for this job that you may want to try.
In the case of rodents, the best way to deal with them is by installing rat flaps for drains. These are basically metal or plastic flats which are placed inside of the entrance to your drainpipes. They open to allow water to run out, and then close over so that rats cannot get into the pipe. If you’re interested in installing these devices, please note that it is a professional job. Contact Diamond to see if we can help you with our expert fitting service.