Opening the windows on a nice evening shouldn't mean inviting mosquitoes and flies inside. If bugs keep showing up in rooms with open windows in your Hoboken home, your screens may not be doing their job. Window screens are one of the simplest pest barriers a home has, but small tears, loose frames and gaps around the sash let insects slip right past. Below, we'll cover what screens stop, how to pick the right mesh, where hidden gaps form and how to keep screens in good shape. If mosquitoes are the main complaint, our mosquito control services work on the breeding sites outside your home.
What Window Screens Keep Out
A tight, intact screen blocks most flying and crawling insects that try to come in through an open window:
- Mosquitoes. The main reason most people screen windows in summer.
- House flies and fruit flies. Drawn by kitchen smells and indoor light.
- Moths and beetles. Attracted to lit windows at night.
- Wasps and yellow jackets. Occasional visitors that wander in looking for food or shelter.
- Stink bugs, ladybugs and boxelder bugs. Fall invaders that crawl over windows looking for gaps to get indoors.
- Spiders and other crawlers. They follow the window frame from outside.
Screens aren't built to stop animals like squirrels or birds, and rodents can chew through standard mesh. Those need other fixes.
Choosing The Right Screen Mesh
| Mesh Type | Strengths | Trade-Offs |
|---|---|---|
| Standard fiberglass | Inexpensive, flexible, won't dent or rust | Tears more easily |
| Aluminum | Sturdy, holds its shape | Can dent and corrode near the coast or salt air |
| Pet-resistant | Thick and tough against claws | Reduces airflow and view slightly |
| Fine "no-see-um" mesh | Tighter weave for very small biting insects | Less airflow |
| Stainless steel | Very durable | Higher cost |
For most homes, standard mesh stops mosquitoes and flies. Finer mesh helps if very small biting gnats or midges are a problem near your windows.
Where Hidden Gaps Form
A screen can look perfect and still let bugs in. Check these spots:
- Frame edges. Bent or warped frames leave gaps where the screen meets the window track.
- Corners. The spline that holds the mesh can work loose at the corners.
- Between sashes. On double-hung windows, insects can slip through the gap where the upper and lower sashes meet.
- Window AC units. Side panels and foam strips around air conditioners often leave openings.
- Weep slots. Some windows have small drainage slots at the bottom of the frame that insects can crawl through.
- Missing screens. A single unscreened window, often in a bathroom or basement, undoes the rest.
Basement windows sit low and face their own issues. Our post on pests trapped in window wells covers what to do there.
How To Check And Repair Screens
- Inspect each window in spring. Hold a flashlight behind the screen to spot small holes and tears.
- Patch small holes. Screen repair patches or a dab of clear adhesive close pinholes.
- Rescreen larger tears. Replacing the mesh and spline is a simple project with a spline roller.
- Straighten or replace bent frames. The screen should sit snugly with no light around the edges.
- Seal around AC units. Fill side gaps with fitted panels and weatherstripping.
- Clean screens. Wash with mild soap and water to remove dust and pollen that weaken mesh over time.
Don't Forget Screen Doors And Other Openings
Windows get most of the attention, but screen doors and other screened openings matter just as much. Sliding patio screens slip off their tracks, leaving a gap along the top or side. Storm doors with retractable screens can stay half open. Screened porches develop tears at kick height, where people and pets push against them. Check the latch side of every screen door, since that edge often doesn't close tightly.
Other openings also benefit from screening. Attic and gable vents, crawl space vents and dryer vent hoods all need intact covers to keep out insects and nesting birds. Many homeowners also forget about windows that are rarely opened. If you live in an apartment or rental, let your landlord or building manager know about torn or missing screens, since the frames may be part of the building's windows.
Screens Work Best With Other Steps
Screens keep insects out of the house, but they don't reduce how many insects are waiting outside. Empty standing water in planters, gutters and buckets to cut down on mosquitoes. Switch outdoor lights to warm or yellow bulbs to draw fewer night-flying insects to your windows. In fall, seal cracks around window frames and trim before stink bugs and ladybugs move in for the winter.
When To Call A Professional
If your screens are tight and you're still dealing with mosquitoes, flies or fall invaders indoors, there's likely another entry point or a breeding source nearby. Our NJ DEP-licensed technicians inspect windows, doors and the outside of your home, find where insects are getting in and breeding and recommend a plan. We use Integrated Pest Management and EPA-registered, eco-safe products, and our work is backed by the EcoGuard Guarantee.
Good screens let you enjoy fresh air without the bugs. A quick check each spring and fall keeps your Hoboken home comfortable all season.