More Bugs. What else is there to say?
October 4, 2013 8:56 AM Subscribe
Previously I asked about bugs in our rented townhome - specifically about drains.
The drain issue ended... but now we're getting all different kinds of insects in our home again. Roaches in various colors and sizes, nasty ass camel crickets, slugs, lovebugs, stinkbugs, etc.
Last night we had a guest over and within 3 hours - there were 4 roaches that had to be killed. Those were just the visable ones! One was in the silverware drawer.
Earlier today my SO had enough and basically called up the new manager and yelled at her. She kept saying, "what do you want me to do? We've had pest control come out two weeks ago!"
When the pest control company came out they said the problem was most likely the mulch (which is all over the complex). My SO asked management if they would consider using a different kind of mulch or using rocks instead. Management said that they would ask upper management but I'm guessing it's a no-go since she hasn't received an answer.
There have been complaints from others in our complex as well (within the same building and within the whole complex).
Our lease is up at the end of March and we are also considering forfieting our deposit and putting in a notice to leave sooner.
In the meantime - we keep the place clean, frequently empty the trash, no dishes in the sink, drain covers. They spray once every 2 months or so (usually more often because we call and complain a lot), we use boric acid and some other spray from home depot...
and.... nothing.
I really can't handle this. I spend all of my time upstairs in the bedroom because of the insects downstairs.
We don't know what else to do. We don't live in a large city with a big Tenant's Rights Association or anything like that.
Anyone been in this situation? Any other tricks to get rid of this shit? Anything else we should say to management?
Last night we had a guest over and within 3 hours - there were 4 roaches that had to be killed. Those were just the visable ones! One was in the silverware drawer.
Earlier today my SO had enough and basically called up the new manager and yelled at her. She kept saying, "what do you want me to do? We've had pest control come out two weeks ago!"
When the pest control company came out they said the problem was most likely the mulch (which is all over the complex). My SO asked management if they would consider using a different kind of mulch or using rocks instead. Management said that they would ask upper management but I'm guessing it's a no-go since she hasn't received an answer.
There have been complaints from others in our complex as well (within the same building and within the whole complex).
Our lease is up at the end of March and we are also considering forfieting our deposit and putting in a notice to leave sooner.
In the meantime - we keep the place clean, frequently empty the trash, no dishes in the sink, drain covers. They spray once every 2 months or so (usually more often because we call and complain a lot), we use boric acid and some other spray from home depot...
and.... nothing.
I really can't handle this. I spend all of my time upstairs in the bedroom because of the insects downstairs.
We don't know what else to do. We don't live in a large city with a big Tenant's Rights Association or anything like that.
Anyone been in this situation? Any other tricks to get rid of this shit? Anything else we should say to management?
Response by poster: I should mention that a majority of the insects, including the slugs, are getting in from under the kitchen sink cabinets. Not from inside, but underneath. There is a 3/4" inch gap between the bottom of the cabinets and the baseboard (?) area. We asked them to fill in that area but they said that the gap needs to stay that way (??) for some reason. I don't remember the excact conversation but I'll ask my SO again. Would having that gap make sense other than they're too lazy to fill it in some how? Neither of us know anything about home repairs.
posted by KogeLiz at 9:17 AM on October 4, 2013
posted by KogeLiz at 9:17 AM on October 4, 2013
If there's some sort of issue - real or imagined on their part - from your letting agency about filling up obvious gaps, you can just stuff them with steel wool and remove it when you move out.
I personally would do whatever it takes to break this lease and move elsewhere, but admittedly I have never lived in TN and do not know if a general in-house bug issue is standard for the local environment.
posted by elizardbits at 9:24 AM on October 4, 2013
I personally would do whatever it takes to break this lease and move elsewhere, but admittedly I have never lived in TN and do not know if a general in-house bug issue is standard for the local environment.
posted by elizardbits at 9:24 AM on October 4, 2013
My SO asked management if they would consider using a different kind of mulch or using rocks instead. Management said that they would ask upper management but I'm guessing it's a no-go since she hasn't received an answer.
Realistically, a property management company is not going to give you a definitive answer on a request like this in a matter of hours. I'd give it a couple weeks. The decision makers have to decide if they're interested in doing it, then talk to landscapers, get quotes, yada yada yada. All that stuff doesn't happen in a couple of hours on a Friday morning.
posted by ZabeLeeZoo at 9:30 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Realistically, a property management company is not going to give you a definitive answer on a request like this in a matter of hours. I'd give it a couple weeks. The decision makers have to decide if they're interested in doing it, then talk to landscapers, get quotes, yada yada yada. All that stuff doesn't happen in a couple of hours on a Friday morning.
posted by ZabeLeeZoo at 9:30 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: a majority of the insects, including the slugs, are getting in from under the kitchen sink cabinets. Not from inside, but underneath. There is a 3/4" inch gap between the bottom of the cabinets and the baseboard (?) area. We asked them to fill in that area but they said that the gap needs to stay that way (??)
Okay. I was in a very similar situation with different kinds of bugs in my apartment. Huge gaps all around kitchen counter where creatures were coming in, emerging from behind the counter while I was trying to prepare food, etc. I boric acided and taped up that shit like nothin'. If you don't want to do something as permanent as spray foam, spray some of the boric acid into that gap and then cover the whole thing with duct tape. They make it in fun colors, if you want fun colors. Then you can peel it off when you leave. Maybe bugs will be stuck to it! (Steel wool would probably work too. You can buy it in bulk at the hardware store.)
posted by wondermouse at 9:36 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Okay. I was in a very similar situation with different kinds of bugs in my apartment. Huge gaps all around kitchen counter where creatures were coming in, emerging from behind the counter while I was trying to prepare food, etc. I boric acided and taped up that shit like nothin'. If you don't want to do something as permanent as spray foam, spray some of the boric acid into that gap and then cover the whole thing with duct tape. They make it in fun colors, if you want fun colors. Then you can peel it off when you leave. Maybe bugs will be stuck to it! (Steel wool would probably work too. You can buy it in bulk at the hardware store.)
posted by wondermouse at 9:36 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
There is a 3/4" inch gap between the bottom of the cabinets and the baseboard (?) area.
I'm not quite understanding where this gap is. Could you post a pic?
There shouldn't be any bugs under the cabinets. Any chance there's a sink-related water leak there, with attendant bug-friendly rot and decay? If that's not where the bugs are living and breeding, then I'd want know how they're getting into that space. Is the kitchen over a basement or crawl space? Bugs could be coming up into that space through the floor penetrations for the water and sewer pipes.
posted by jon1270 at 10:07 AM on October 4, 2013
I'm not quite understanding where this gap is. Could you post a pic?
There shouldn't be any bugs under the cabinets. Any chance there's a sink-related water leak there, with attendant bug-friendly rot and decay? If that's not where the bugs are living and breeding, then I'd want know how they're getting into that space. Is the kitchen over a basement or crawl space? Bugs could be coming up into that space through the floor penetrations for the water and sewer pipes.
posted by jon1270 at 10:07 AM on October 4, 2013
This year's rainfall has been way above average (here in East TN we're around 125% of normal) and the bugs have been UNREAL. I've lived in the same holler in the Smokies since 2005 and we've never had such a banner year for every-damn-thing... crane flies, stink bugs, rhinoceros beetles, you name it. We even had earthworms trying to break into the house, trying to avoid drowning, I guess. The only good news is that we didn't have nearly as many ticks this year as last.
So what I'm saying is, the bugs are probably worse than normal for you too. And as the rainfall curve continues to flatten out, they will probably diminish. That's small comfort to you now, living with crawlies in the house, but being patient can only help.
posted by workerant at 10:11 AM on October 4, 2013
So what I'm saying is, the bugs are probably worse than normal for you too. And as the rainfall curve continues to flatten out, they will probably diminish. That's small comfort to you now, living with crawlies in the house, but being patient can only help.
posted by workerant at 10:11 AM on October 4, 2013
I am from TN and this is not standard issue.
posted by michellenoel at 10:20 AM on October 4, 2013
posted by michellenoel at 10:20 AM on October 4, 2013
Response by poster: Thank you so far for the advice.
The suggestion of different mulch was brought up a month or two ago - but I understand it's something that wouldn't happen ASAP.
I am not at home to post a photo... and can't really find an example online.
Basically if you look just above the gray banner on this photo, where the bottom of the cabinet meets the vent area - thats where our gap is. We do not have a vent like the photo. We usually spray a bunch of pesticide in there.
I just asked again if they could come fill in the gap. If they won't do it, I will probably have my SO just seal it up with methods mentioned above. Dining room is a different scenerio but that's just mostly lovebugs and some stinkbugs coming in there.
ahhhh..... tennessee....
posted by KogeLiz at 10:43 AM on October 4, 2013
The suggestion of different mulch was brought up a month or two ago - but I understand it's something that wouldn't happen ASAP.
I am not at home to post a photo... and can't really find an example online.
Basically if you look just above the gray banner on this photo, where the bottom of the cabinet meets the vent area - thats where our gap is. We do not have a vent like the photo. We usually spray a bunch of pesticide in there.
I just asked again if they could come fill in the gap. If they won't do it, I will probably have my SO just seal it up with methods mentioned above. Dining room is a different scenerio but that's just mostly lovebugs and some stinkbugs coming in there.
ahhhh..... tennessee....
posted by KogeLiz at 10:43 AM on October 4, 2013
OP: I lived in New Orleans for a few months and we had FLYING ROACHES. You could HEAR their footsteps in the cabinets and when you opened the door, they flew out at you. It was a true terror!
posted by michellenoel at 11:07 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by michellenoel at 11:07 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: When I lived in North Central Florida, all of the bugs you name (except stinkbugs, because at the time, they hadn't reached that area) were a completely common occurrence when I lived in a one-story house. I loved to a similar house--same block, same landlord--on the second floor and only had to deal with the occasional roach (which was promptly killed by my cat), and pantry moths, once, which I'd inadvertently brought in with a bag of rice. You might be happier in a different apartment--specifically a second floor apartment, where it will be more work for the bugs to reach you.
Honestly, in my experience the advice you cited in your first question--"A lot of people said to 'get used to it' because Tennessee is full of bugs and it's a way of life"--is somewhat unfortunately accurate. To a certain degree, the south is just different bugwise, and I speak as someone who has lived and currently lives in other buggy areas like Northern Virginia and on the side of a crick in upstate New York.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:08 PM on October 4, 2013
Honestly, in my experience the advice you cited in your first question--"A lot of people said to 'get used to it' because Tennessee is full of bugs and it's a way of life"--is somewhat unfortunately accurate. To a certain degree, the south is just different bugwise, and I speak as someone who has lived and currently lives in other buggy areas like Northern Virginia and on the side of a crick in upstate New York.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:08 PM on October 4, 2013
I should mention that a majority of the insects, including the slugs, are getting in from under the kitchen sink cabinets. Not from inside, but underneath. There is a 3/4" inch gap between the bottom of the cabinets and the baseboard (?) area. We asked them to fill in that area but they said that the gap needs to stay that way (??) for some reason. ...
This, together with this from your previous question:
My main concern are the roaches because they are in our plumbing during the summer. Last year it was the dishwasher and downstairs bathroom. Now it's mainly the UPSTAIRS bathroom sink. Upstairs was the "bug safe" area during the summer...
is making me think your complex is trying to use some of the more modern grease trap technology to remove much of the food waste from the water that goes down the kitchen drain before it goes to treatment, and that bugs are somehow getting access to stuff from and in the grease traps, then traveling to other drains connected to the kitchen drain and then back up into the sinks and things connected to those drains.
The gap below the kitchen sink cabinet would then be some kind of ventilation/inspection access point for the trap area.
I'd imagine these grease traps are more or less bug-proof if properly operated and maintained, so I'd guess your complex is doing something wrong, such as not emptying them often enough and they overflow, or not shutting them securely when they do empty them.
posted by jamjam at 5:35 PM on October 4, 2013
This, together with this from your previous question:
My main concern are the roaches because they are in our plumbing during the summer. Last year it was the dishwasher and downstairs bathroom. Now it's mainly the UPSTAIRS bathroom sink. Upstairs was the "bug safe" area during the summer...
is making me think your complex is trying to use some of the more modern grease trap technology to remove much of the food waste from the water that goes down the kitchen drain before it goes to treatment, and that bugs are somehow getting access to stuff from and in the grease traps, then traveling to other drains connected to the kitchen drain and then back up into the sinks and things connected to those drains.
The gap below the kitchen sink cabinet would then be some kind of ventilation/inspection access point for the trap area.
I'd imagine these grease traps are more or less bug-proof if properly operated and maintained, so I'd guess your complex is doing something wrong, such as not emptying them often enough and they overflow, or not shutting them securely when they do empty them.
posted by jamjam at 5:35 PM on October 4, 2013
If you have a vacuum cleaner, keep it handy. Sucking the big bugs into a disposable bag, and keeping the vacuum running long enough to materially dehydrate them, lowers their reproductive effectiveness, as a species. And, it's a clean and easy response to all visible comers, if you keep the vacuum cleaner out, and the hose attachment mounted.
posted by paulsc at 7:38 PM on October 4, 2013
posted by paulsc at 7:38 PM on October 4, 2013
Ah, the part of the cabinet where the vent is in that picture is called the toekick. I don't think sealing that gap is likely to help you much. Like I said, the bugs shouldn't be in there in the first place, and if you seal that gap then they'll probably just find another way out.
posted by jon1270 at 9:58 AM on October 5, 2013
posted by jon1270 at 9:58 AM on October 5, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by wondermouse at 9:10 AM on October 4, 2013