Pests, Pool, and Prevention

Mosquitos are less likely to lay eggs around the pool when the water has chemicals.

Pools are life savers during the warmer months of the year. However, mosquitos and other pests can easily ruin the fun by buzzing around and giving you painful, itchy bites. Mosquitos typically lay eggs around areas with standing water, and pools are no exception. Boatmen and backswimmers are other pests that often end up in pools due to high algae levels or feeding.

Summer pool fun starts with getting rid of these bugs. But preventing them from entering the pool from the beginning is much easier than extracting them later. This article will explore how to prevent pests from reaching the pool in the first place.

Maintain ideal chlorine levels

Mosquitos are less likely to lay eggs around the pool when the water has chemicals. In addition, chlorine kills algae that attract boatmen and other bugs. With nothing to feed on, backswimmers will also avoid the pool.

To keep the pool clean and pest-free, homeowners should practice proper pool care according to the product instructions and ensure optimal chlorine levels.

Cover the pool

Covering the pool when it’s not in use, especially at night or when the family is away, doesn’t just keep pests out. It can also keep leaves, twigs, or other debris from falling into the pool and making the cleaning process more complex than it already is.

Use a strong pool filter

Since mosquitos prefer standing water, a strong pool filter might make the pool seem less desirable by creating ripples. But filters also catch other bugs that make their home in the pool or lounge on the water’s surface.

Keep the pool surroundings clean

Pool pest prevention includes not only the pool but also its surroundings. Overgrown grass, bushes, and vegetation, in general, are excellent hiding places for bugs. Trimming the bushes, mowing the lawn, and plucking out weeds is a good practice for every homeowner to keep the pool clean and the yard visually appealing.

Additionally, homeowners who love cooking, eating, or snacking near the pool should ensure no dropped food or leftovers are left out in the open.

Eliminate other sources of moisture

Standing water attracts mosquitoes, but it might not be the pool that’s the source of the problem. Other areas of standing water, such as puddles, hollowed tree stumps, clogged gutters, etc., can also hold water that becomes a mosquito breeding ground. Removing these water sources requires only a simple cleaning or slight modifications to the landscape, but it’s all worthwhile.

Keep the pool lights off

Pool lights create a pleasant ambiance during the night. But they’re also excellent bug attractors. Keep them off when no one is in the pool. Furthermore, minimize other light sources around the pool as well.

Call a pest control service

The solutions mentioned above might help you eliminate smaller groups of mosquitos and other pests. If the pool has a significant pest infestation, calling an experienced pest service is much smarter. Experts can provide temporary or permanent solutions for getting rid of bugs in and around the pool.

Kinder Safe Pest Solutions offers 17 years of experience in commercial and residential pest control serving Manatee and Sarasota counties. Call (941)254-2180 today!