The recent happenings all around the world made us more mindful about keeping our health in check. For our safety, most of us spend most of our time in the comforts of our own home. However, the four corners of our own house do not entirely protect us from all types of diseases. Dengue is one of the medical conditions that can attack any time, even if you are not exposed to the outdoors.
Dengue is caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. The mosquito spreads the virus by biting one dengue-infected individual to another. Most cases of the fever only take adequate fluid intake and bed rest to dial down. With that said, dengue is not something to be taken lightly. This condition can turn severe, causing dengue haemorrhagic syndrome and dengue shock syndrome.
Aedes mosquitoes commonly breed in stagnant water, which can be easily found in different parts of our house. It only takes water as small in volume as the size of a 20-cent coin to attract mosquitoes into your home. Furthermore, some places in Singapore are considered dengue cluster areas, where more Aedes mosquitoes reside, increasing the risk of dengue infection.
If you leave in or near these dengue cluster areas, it is essential to keep your home at all times. Even if you are outside these high-risk areas, observe proper precautions as well. Spots like plant pots and vases, basins and buckets of water, and even air conditioning units are possible attractors for mosquitoes. It is easy to clean these areas to avoid any risk of dengue. there are areas in our home that usually go unnoticed are actually more prone for mosquito breeding than those mentioned earlier.
Gutters, the drainage system on the roof of housing properties, usually have stagnant water stuck in them, which attracts mosquitoes. It is essential to clean them regularly to avoid any risk of dengue. However, not everyone knows how to approach this problem. To help you, here are some of the things you need to know about keeping mosquitoes out of your gutter.
How Do Gutters Get Clogged?
As mentioned earlier, gutters are the narrow trough or duct on the roof that collects rainwater and diverts it from entering the interior into your home’s drainage system. Twigs and leaves fall from trees onto your roof, especially during the rainy season, eventually getting washed down into the gutter. This debris clogs the passage of water in the gutter, causing it to become stagnant and accumulate if not cleaned regularly. Furthermore, the moisture causes the leaves to rot and decay, making the area a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Aside from dengue-carrying mosquitoes, other pests thrive in clogged gutters, including cockroaches, ants, gnats, termites, spiders, worms, and flies. For many experts, keeping your gutters clean for free-flowing water should be the main priority when it comes to home pest control, especially dengue prevention.
It is crucial to clean your gutter regularly throughout the year. In Singapore, you can be infected by dengue regardless of whether it’s summer or the rainy season. As soon as the temperature rises above 23-28°C and above for a few days in a row, it signals that mosquitoes start to become active again. So, it is better to check your gutter for any clogs before that happens.
What to Do to Prevent Mosquitoes in Your Home?
As we established earlier, keeping your gutters clean prevents mosquitoes from inhabiting your home. If you want to assure that it won’t clog again, you can invest in a gutter protection that is available in the market. Aside from that, here are other tips that minimize the possibility of dengue-carrying mosquitoes from entering your home:
Maintain a Clean Landscape
For homeowners who have a garden or have plants inside their house, make sure to empty containers such as pots, wheelbarrows, and buckets filled with water as it can nest mosquitoes. Outdoor gardens should be regularly mowed, trimmed, and weeded. Lower areas should also be filled with dirt to avoid water from accumulating.
Set up Mosquito Traps
If you want extra safety from mosquitoes, you can set up mosquito traps in high-risk areas of your home such as the patio or deck. There are a lot of options available in the market, which can be powered by either electricity, propane, or batteries.
Treat Leaking Areas
Check out for leaks or any other problems with your drainage system. These issues can cause water to seep through the interior of your home. The moisture attracts mosquitoes inside, which increases the risk of dengue infection.
With that said, these following measures are not as easy as it may seem to be. In fact, going up to your roof and cleaning the gutter yourself exposes you to a higher risk of being bitten by dengue-carrying mosquitoes. However, you can elicit the help of experts in Singapore to assure your safety and make sure that your home is mosquito-proof.
M3M: Professional Waterproofing Company
M3 Multiservices Pte Ltd is one of the leading waterproofing contractors in Singapore. For 9 years, the company has built a strong clientele through its excellent waterproofing services, using advanced and innovative technologies. M3M also offers an on-site analysis to figure out the solutions that will best suit the needs of your property.
M3M offers a full range of waterproofing procedures such as PU waterproofing for RC flat roofs, pitched roofs, fixed roof awnings, open balconies, wet areas (i.e. kitchens and bathrooms), as well as walls and basements.
Aside from waterproofing, the company also offers other services such as painting and coating, minor works in construction, and other general contract work, to ensure that ceiling leak will not be a problem for a long time. M3M is a reliable waterproofing company that delivers high-quality service every time.