Argendon Dehumidifier:
A Smart Way to Stop Silverfish & Centipedes
Reduce humidity for silverfish & centipedes control
House silverfish & centipedes may be found outdoors under logs, rocks, and tree bark. They may be found in homes located in moist habitats with a high relative humidity, such as, basements, sump pumps, and bathrooms. House silverfish & centipedes are active at night in search of food. They also can be observed during the day moving rapidly along walls, baseboards, and floors searching for food.
Although they are not harmful to humans, the mere presence of these “large”bugs moving around in the house is disturbing to most people.
How They Thrive in Humidity
When your home is damp, it basically gives silverfish and centipedes everything they need — they don’t dry out, they find plenty of food, and they can reproduce easily. That’s why these bugs show up like crazy in humid spaces.
Silverfish and centipedes thrive in humidity because they’re moisture-dependent pests. Their bodies can’t hold water well, so they rely on consistently damp environments to survive. In dry air, they dehydrate quickly, but high humidity slows that moisture loss and helps them stay active.
Their food grows faster in these areas too. Silverfish feed on mold, mildew, paper glue, and starches, while centipedes hunt other moisture-loving pests like springtails, roaches, and spiders.
Damp areas like basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and under-sink cabinets also give them dark, protected spots to hide and reproduce. Moist air can also protect their eggs, keeping them from drying out before they hatch.
In short, the more moisture your home has, the easier it is for these pests to live, feed, and multiply.
Smart Way to Stop Silverfish & Centipedes
Keeping indoor humidity at 45–50% can effectively reduce pests like silverfish and centipedes. A drier environment makes them lose moisture faster and struggle to survive. It also cuts down mold and other food sources. Their eggs can’t hatch properly in low humidity. This breaks the conditions they need to live and reproduce. This method is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and safe. It is a simple and effective way to protect your home from pests.
How Does a Dehumidifier Help with Pests?
Moisture pests such as house centipedes, silverfish, springtails, and isopods thrive in damp environments. Do not apply insecticides inside the home to manage house moisture-pest populations. To manage them effectively, the most important step is to find and eliminate the moisture source. Agencies like the EPA recommend keeping indoor humidity below 60%, ideally between 30–50%. Argendon dehumidifier can help you monitor and maintain proper indoor humidity levels.
The Cornell CALS Integrated Pest Management Program explains,
“Lowering indoor humidity is an effective way to manage moisture-related pests. Using a dehumidifier to keep humidity below 60% reduces the conditions these pests depend on.
”Kansas State / Raymond Cloyd (University Extension and entomology expert) directly state that “using a dehumidifier can reduce the relative humidity inside homes,” and recommend it as one of the measures to reduce house centipedes, isopods, and other moisture-related pests.
How to Control Moisture Pests Like Centipedes
For centipedes specifically, control focuses on reducing humidity and removing their food sources—other moisture-loving insects. When these pests decrease, centipedes naturally decline as well.
Here are the key steps:
Use a dehumidifier or fan to keep humidity under 60%. This disrupts the damp conditions that support centipedes and the insects they feed on. Basements, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and laundry rooms benefit the most from moisture reduction.
Centipedes hunt springtails, silverfish, isopods, and other small insects. Fixing moisture problems and reducing these pests will directly reduce centipede populations.
Close gaps around doors, foundation walls, utility openings, and cracks. This limits the number of centipedes that can enter from outdoors or damp structural areas.
Sticky boards placed along baseboards and wall edges help monitor activity and capture individuals that wander indoors.
Stacks of boxes, leaf piles, mulch against the home, and dense plantings hold moisture and provide shelter for both centipedes and their prey. Removing clutter and keeping a clear zone around the foundation reduces pest habitat.
Check for hidden leaks, sweating pipes, and overflowing drip pans. Even slow moisture buildup can support springtails, mold, and humidity-loving insects that attract centipedes.
Basements, crawl spaces, and attics often trap moisture. Adding vents, using vapor barriers, insulating pipes, and correcting poor airflow can significantly lower humidity.
Argendon Dehumidifier Models
Frequently Asked Questions
What humidity level is best for preventing silverfish and centipedes?
How long does it take to see fewer pests after using a dehumidifier?
Where should I place the Argendon dehumidifier for best results?
- Basements
- Laundry rooms
- Crawl spaces
- Damp corners or storage areas