Brits warned to look out for these five signs in their homes as autumn bugs start appearing

Homeowners are being urged to carry out five simple checks as spiders, woodlice and silverfish become more noticeable around the house this autumn.

Brits could be forgiven for thinking the summer would never end after the UK recorded its hottest summer on record.

But as temperatures drop and windows start closing, homeowners are being warned to keep an eye out for some unwelcome visitors creeping indoors.

From spiders and woodlice to silverfish, the appearance of certain bugs around the home can sometimes be more than just an autumn nuisance.

Experts say repeated sightings could point to damp, excess moisture or gaps around the property that need attention.

George Edwards, Managing Director of Timberwise, said: “Seeing the occasional spider or woodlouse is perfectly normal.

“What’s worth paying attention to is when you keep seeing the same insect in the same part of the house.

“With the damp-loving ones especially, that’s often the house telling you something before you’d otherwise notice.”

Here are five checks homeowners should make before autumn gets into full swing.

1. Check bathrooms and kitchens for damp

Finding the odd silverfish in your home isn’t necessarily a reason to panic.

But if they keep turning up in bathrooms, kitchens or utility rooms, it could be time to investigate.

Silverfish thrive in damp conditions, meaning repeated sightings can be a clue that an area isn’t drying out properly.

Edwards said: “One silverfish isn’t cause for alarm, but if you’re regularly seeing them round a bathroom or utility room, start looking for why that area’s staying damp.

“Check under sinks, round baths and showers, behind appliances and round pipework.

“A small leak or ongoing condensation can keep a spot damp for months without any obvious water damage.”

2. Don’t simply squash woodlice

Woodlice might be harmless, but repeatedly finding them indoors could be a sign that something is attracting them into the property.

They need damp conditions to survive, so homeowners who spot a regular stream of them should check the areas around doors, walls and air bricks.

Edwards said: “If you’re repeatedly finding them, particularly on ground floors or near external walls, it’s worth investigating.

“Check moisture round door thresholds, air bricks and outside walls, and whether leaves or vegetation have built up against the building.

“The insect itself might do no damage at all, but whatever’s attracting it usually needs sorting.”

3. Look for the gaps bugs are using to get inside

Spiders are another familiar sight as summer gives way to autumn.

House spiders become more noticeable from August into October, with males leaving their webs to search for mates.

That can mean more of them making their way indoors through open windows, doors and tiny gaps around the property.

But there is a simple way to reduce the number of unwanted visitors.

“Check gaps round window frames, doors, pipes and cables,” Edwards said.

“Draught excluders, insect screens and properly sealed openings do the job, and they prepare the house for colder weather at the same time.”

4. Clear your gutters before the autumn rain arrives

Gutters might not be the most exciting job on the household to-do list, but experts say autumn is exactly when homeowners should be checking them.

After a dry summer, fallen leaves can quickly clog gutters and downpipes once autumn arrives.

That can leave rainwater spilling over walls or pooling around the base of the property.

Edwards said: “After a dry summer, gutters aren’t top of anyone’s list, but autumn is exactly when to do it.

“Leaves restrict them quickly once the season turns, and when heavy rain comes, water needs somewhere to go other than down the walls or pooling round the base of the building.

“Good maintenance is mostly about stopping moisture reaching somewhere it shouldn’t in the first place.”

5. Don’t shut the house up completely

As temperatures fall, most people naturally start closing windows and spending more time indoors.

But everyday activities such as showering, cooking and drying clothes continue to pump moisture into the air.

Without enough ventilation, that moisture can settle on cold surfaces and contribute to condensation.

“People naturally close the house up as it gets colder, but that moisture has to go somewhere,” Edwards said.

“Keep extractor fans working and don’t block air vents, or condensation starts building on the coldest surfaces.

“Bugs aren’t automatically the problem; sometimes they’re just what makes you notice a condition that was already there.”

His advice is to pay attention if the same insects keep appearing in the same place.

“If you keep finding the same insects in one spot, or there’s condensation, staining or a musty smell, that’s when the property itself is worth a proper look,” Edwards added.