Mosquitoes can turn even the brightest of summer days into an itchy ordeal. All they need is a little standing water to turn your yard into their personal playground, which unfortunately means your gutters are prime real estate. If you think your gutters are being taken over by a mosquito infestation, don’t delay. Here’s how to stop mosquitoes from breeding in your gutters.
4 Ways to Stop Mosquitoes From Breeding in Your Gutters
Mosquitoes aren’t just an annoying nuisance – they’re also a dangerous source of the West Nile and zika viruses. Follow these steps to stop mosquitoes from breeding in your gutters!
1. Clear Out Clogs
Clogged gutters can cause long-term problems down the line, and they also give mosquitoes plenty of standing water to breed in. Clean out your gutters twice a year to prevent clogs and keep out mosquitoes. A thorough cleaning after autumn buildup and again in early spring can help you avoid dealing with a mosquito problem in the first place.
If you’re not sure where to start, follow our step-by-step gutter cleaning guide.
2. Check for Sagging
Even if your gutters are clog-free, any disruptions to their flow can create pools of water for mosquitoes to take up residence in. Make sure your gutters are properly installed by a trusted professional, and inspect them for any spots where they’re sagging or pulling away from the house.
3. Try Mosquito Repellents
Setting up mosquito repellents around your home is another solid strategy to keep them out of your gutters. Mosquito traps and mosquito dunks will keep them from spreading, while citronella candles and plants will ward them off to help you enjoy your lawn skeeter-free.
4. Invest in Gutter Guards
If your gutters are prone to clogging from surrounding trees, gutter guards can keep the water flowing smoothly and keep mosquitoes out. Have a trusted professional install your gutter guards, and consider installing them when rainfall is low.
Other Common Mosquito Breeding Spots
Female mosquitoes only need a tiny amount of water to lay eggs and start to spread, so it’s important to thoroughly examine your lawn for any potential breeding sites. Once you’ve cleared the mosquito eggs out of your gutters, make sure you check these common mosquito breeding grounds.
- Overturned flower pots
- Bird baths
- Underneath leaky faucets
- Puddles
- Rain barrels
- Wading pools
- Wheelbarrows
- Old tires
FAQ About Mosquitoes and Gutters
Mosquitoes are drawn to damp, warm areas with standing water where they can lay mosquito eggs. If you have any clogs in your gutters, it’s very likely that mosquitoes will nest in them.
Gutter guards can be a great investment, but they also come with downsides. They’re prone to cracking and freezing in the winter, and if you have standing water underneath the gutter guards, you may still have problems with mosquitoes.
If you’ve thoroughly inspected your gutters and cleared out any clogs, the mosquitoes on your roof might be nesting in standing water on the roof itself. This is more common with flat roofs, especially in the spring and summer.
Pros Are Here To Help
If your gutters have turned into a mosquito nest, trying to evict them alone can turn into a mess of swatting and itching. Take your yard back with the hands-on help of a local gutter professional to spend your summer mosquito-free!
Main Image Credit: Mainely Photos / Canva Pro / License
