South Philadelphia is famous for its history, its culture, and those narrow alleyways behind our rowhomes. While these spaces are handy for trash cans, they are also the main roads for unwanted guests.
Mice, rats, and roaches see these brick pathways as a direct route into your kitchen. Because our houses are built so close together, a pest problem in the alley quickly moves inside.
Protecting your home starts with knowing how these critters travel through our local streets. To keep your property safe, many residents hire professional Philadelphia pest control services to find and block these hidden entry points before they become a bigger headache.
Cracks in the Old Neighborhood Brickwork
The old brickwork in areas like Pennsport or Passyunk Square is beautiful, but it can be a weak spot. Over many decades, the mortar between bricks can crumble and fall out. This leaves small gaps that act like open doors for pests.
A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime. A cockroach can slide through a crack as thin as a credit card. You can usually find these tiny openings at the bottom of your house where the wall meets the alley pavement.
Our Philly weather makes materials expand and shrink, which creates new cracks every year. Using a simple sealant or some mortar patch can close these “back doors” for good.
The Problem With Shared Utility Lines
In South Philly, our utility lines are often a messy web that connects one home to the next. Pipes for water and gas usually enter the house through the back wall.
When these were first put in, the holes were often drilled much larger than the pipes. This leaves an empty space around the pipe that leads right into your basement. Rats love these entries because they can follow the heat from the pipes to find a warm place to sleep.
You should check every spot where a wire or pipe goes into your wall. Filling these gaps with steel wool and some outdoor caulk creates a wall that pests cannot chew through.
Basement Windows and Low Grates
Many local homes have small basement windows that sit right at ground level in the alley. These windows are easy targets for pests if the wooden frames are rotting or the glass is loose.
Even a tiny chip in the wood gives a rodent enough space to start gnawing. Also, the iron grates and window wells in Philly tend to collect wet leaves and trash. This creates a damp home for centipedes and spiders to live in.
Keeping these areas clean is an easy way to lower the number of bugs near your foundation. If your windows are old, adding a strong mesh screen can provide a great extra layer of protection.
Back Doors and Missing Sweeps
The back door that leads to the alley is often the most used part of a South Philly home. Over time, the house might settle, which makes the door hang a little crooked. This creates a gap at the bottom of the door.
If you can see light coming in from the alley at night, you are basically leaving the door open for mice. Installing a thick door sweep is a very easy fix for any homeowner.
Make sure the sweep touches the ground firmly to create a tight seal. In our neighborhood, a good seal also helps keep the cold wind out and lowers your heating bill.
If you are dealing with pests in your South Philly home, Presto Pest Control provides expert help for the city’s unique rowhome layout. Their team knows exactly how to handle the challenges of local alleyways and narrow streets.
They help neighbors keep their properties safe and pest-free with reliable and professional service. Give them a call today!