BUGS!!!!!! I hate 'em!! Help!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:58 pm

I was just out in my garage with all the lights on putting together and breaking in my new compressor...and I have bugs and moths EVERYWHERE!!! It's driving me nuts!!

What are you doing about summer time bugs in your garage/shop? I need a solution to cut down on the population...

HELP!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 5:59 am

I poison my house and garage regularly with the stuff that comes in gallon spray containers from Home Depot.

I used to have professionals come in and do it, but that cost me $400 per year! Not gonna happen when I can do it for about $5 per year!

As far as the moths go, keep the doors shut at night.

My $0.02.

CJ

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:04 am

The first summer I was still storing my empty aluminum cans and trash in the garage (oops! I mean aircraft factory). The second summer I started keeping the cans and trash in sealed containers. This helped a lot with the bugs. I also started spraying periodically.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:40 am

I don't feel like spraying will do anything, and it's not trash since it's kept outside. It's the lights that they're attracted to, and I can't go without lights...

Keeping the doors shut at night would be like working in a sweatshop. NO THANKS!

I gotsta have air movement!

What else ya got???

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:42 am

I keep all the doors closed and the AC on when it is hot. I also have a bug zapper left over from when I was a kid in the 70's/80's ... it really only works well when the lights are off, so is better for entertainment when drinking a beer at the end of the workday.
They make screens that are designed to fill the entire garage door ... I have thought about this because I like having things open.
quick google search results:

http://www.garagedoorscreens.com/

T

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:53 am

A/C would be great, but I don't think I have the capacity on the garage circuit to run one along with lights and compressor.

The screen idea...that one has merit!

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:56 am

I was lucky enough to do the wiring for my shop myself and have dedicated 200A service, so I have a 220 line for the compressor and for the AC. Depending on where your box is, it wouldn't be too difficult to run a wire - it could even be like an extension cord that you roll up and stow in the off season (I know, not exactly code, but just pull it before you sell).

What kind of spray are you guys using that is safe for dogs? I am reluctant to use that stuff with Jake running around everywhere...

T.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:01 am

Yeah, I remember seeing your shop. You have a great set up at that location. How's the house coming along?

My box is on the complete opposite side of the house, so running a dedicated line is pretty much out of the question. We went thru this way back when I was looking at bigger compressors the first time. Just isn't gonna work.

I feel the same way about spraying. Our dogs are always out running around, and I don't care what the people say about how safe it is, I DON'T trust that it WILL be safe.

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:09 am

I know this is kinda redneck-style, but you could even run the wire outside around the outside of the house and leave it temporarily.

I didn't run a line for the window unit when I did the wiring, as I was sorta planning on central heat/air (yeah, right$$$). Now I just have a wire with a metal box and outlet on the end that rolls up and hangs on the breaker box in the winter.

Slow work on the house ... it is really detracting from the -8. The other house is still for sale - 18 months and counting! I'd be happy with the 2-4% decline in price that the media keeps touting ... I'm looking at more like 10-15%+

T.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:42 am

Yowza!! That's terrible!!

I don't think my wife will let me do the redneck thing. I would if I were single...but I'm not, and I like it that way!

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:04 pm

Spraying ain't going to do squat for flying bugs, new ones willl just fly right in. My suggestion would be to get a pet bat.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:33 pm

Chad, you need to close the door then. I have a neighbor who has huge screens on his garage. That is probably the best resolution.

Thomas, I use Spectracide. You shoot it around the foundation and sill on the outside and in the basement. If they are really nasty, you can spray it under the sinks and behind the fridge and furniture.

The stuff works and I only do it 2-4 times per year. Normally before we go on a trip and we always take the dog with us.

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:49 pm

Yeah, I think I'm going to buy some screen, and make my own. The premade stuff is nice, but I think I can build it for a quarter of the cost.

Keeping the doors shut is not an option...to blasted hot with no air movement. I'd rather deal with the bugs, or not be out there at all.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:50 pm

Yellow bug lights? Sure the lighting will look like a cheap burger stand but should cut down on the moths.

Bill H · Post by **Bill H** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:21 pm

Hi Chad I Had the same problem I was going to do the screen thing but I would have to make the swing so I could get the motorcycles in and out. I ended up buying 10 by 20 mosquito netting and attached it to the bottom of the door and Velcro to the sides. I can roll it up when I'm not using the netting. To close I just pull the sides in and close the door. I don't remember where I bought the netting but I think it was from a company in Canada

Bill H

RV9inIowa · Post by **RV9inIowa** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:36 pm

Hi Chad - I had the same problem you did last year. For about $80 I bought a big garage door screen. It velcos to the inside of the door frame and seals really well. You can open and close the door with it there (sort of...) or you can roll it up. It keeps the bugs out, but it's a big pain to deal with. Also, the garage was still a sweatshop, so.....

I went for it, redneck style. The wife didn't want me cutting a hole in the house, and I didn't have a window, so I made a slight modification to the door.

Actually I bought a new door (now called the summer door). I never use this outside acces door anyway. The wiring was pretty easy. I ran grey PVC surface conduit down & around to where I could feed it into the basement where the panel was. I ran a 20A 220V circuit and that was it (the rest of my shop runs on a single 110V circuit - no problem)

The A/C is a 25000 BTU from Lowes... cools the 3 car garage down to comfy nice & fast. This is the way to go. Get creative, go redneck, be cool.

PS - it goes well with this too

Also, I forgot to mention... you can have my old bug screen

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:44 pm

I may try the bug screen, but then again, I may just deal with it...

I'm gonna think about the AC thing a little harder...even getting creative, it'd be difficult (not to mention EXPENSIVE) to run an exterior line to the garage window.

One of my summer projects, that I have yet to start on, is to hardwire my generator outside in a weather proof box. That'll require 220 to run, so I may incorporate both.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:46 pm

RV9inIowa wrote:Also, I forgot to mention... you can have my old bug screen

Saw this little tidbit after I repsonded...I'll take it!!

Are you going to Boone this weekend? I *MIGHT* be there...

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:59 pm

cjensen wrote:I may try the bug screen, but then again, I may just deal with it...

I'm gonna think about the AC thing a little harder...even getting creative, it'd be difficult (not to mention EXPENSIVE) to run an exterior line to the garage window.

One of my summer projects, that I have yet to start on, is to hardwire my generator outside in a weather proof box. That'll require 220 to run, so I may incorporate both.

Wiring is NOT A HOBBY!

CJ

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:26 pm

Generator??

The wiring to the AC shouldn't be that much ... keeping in mind that it is "temporary" (aka redneck style) you really just need the wire and a new breaker for the box. No problemo...

T.

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BUGS!!!!!! I hate 'em!! Help!

BUGS!!!!!! I hate 'em!! Help!

my bug solution

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