How To Get Rid Of Cricket Noise At Night
Do you hear cricket noises at night? Are they keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep? If so, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people are affected by cricket noise, and there are ways to get rid of it. In this blog post, we will discuss how to soundproof your house so that cricket noises won’t bother you anymore!
About a Cricket Noise
Cricket noise is correctly called stridulation and is made when the cricket rubs its wings together. Male crickets need to make noise so that females can be attracted and territory may be staked.
Cricket noise can be an issue in the evening and at night. Just for the sake of illustration, here are a few sound comparisons:
- Field crickets. The din made by field crickets measures at 100 decibels–about the same volume as a motorcycle engine.
- Mole cricket noises reach 88 decibels, which is comparable to that of a gas lawnmower.
The CDC (official website) claims that any noise level over 85 decibels for more than two hours can result in hearing loss in as little as two hours. Please consult this CDC website for additional information.
Two Main Ways to Get Rid of Cricket Noise
There are two main ways to get rid of cricket noise: soundproof your house, or get rid of the cricket. If you want to get rid of cricket noise, the best way is to find the cricket and remove it from your home.
During daylight hours when crickets are quiet, they like to hide in dark, moist places such as under rocks and plant pots, leaves, bark, cracks in walls/sidewalks, small burrows in the ground, etc. At night they will be out in the lawn, making noise. Eliminating hiding places and/or nesting places and keeping your lawn mowed short can help to keep them away from your house. The further away they are, the less you will hear them.
Method 1: Clean Your House or Your Yard
Clean Your House
- Prevent Infestation
Crickets can enter your home through tiny cracks and crevices. To help prevent crickets from getting in:
-Caulk or seal any cracks and/or holes on the outside of your house, especially around doors and windows.
-Keep screens in good repair.
-Use a door sweep under all exterior doors leading into your house.
- Bait or Spray
You can also bait the insects. Cricketicide gel is available at most hardware stores) to these cricket hiding places will also help get rid of them. Apply the gel according to the package directions; then remove and dispose of the dead cricket(s).
You could also hire an exterminator to spray insecticide around the outside of your house. This will help keep crickets (and other insects) from getting inside. Be sure to follow the package directions carefully when using any insecticide.
- Trap Crickets
If you have crickets in your house, you can get rid of them by vacuuming them up or trapping them. To vacuum them up, use a handheld vacuum cleaner or the hose attachment on your regular vacuum cleaner. Be sure to empty the vacuum bag or canister afterwards so the cricket can’t escape and make its way back into your house.
To trap crickets, put a small container (like a jar) with some bait (a piece of fruit, for example) in it upside down on a flat surface. The cricket will go into the container for the food but won’t be able to get back out because the lip of the container is too wide for it to climb over. You can then take the cricket outside and release it.
There are also cricket traps that you can buy at many hardware stores and home improvement stores. These work in a similar way to the homemade trap described above.
Clean Your Yard
Remove any hiding places that you can–including leaf heaps, firewood, bark, and anything else you don’t need. Getting rid of rocks and flower pots may not be feasible in some cases, especially if they are part of the garden or yard design. If you decide not to remove them, use one of the following strategies to aid in the control of rodents – such as traps, bug spray, or diatomaceous earth.
Some people find that cricket noise is lessened when the insects are not attracted to their yard in the first place. To help with this, keep your lawn mowed short and trim back any bushes or trees that touch your house. These cricket hiding places are often found near houses because they are attracted to the warmth emanating from the building.
Another way to keep crickets away from your house is to make sure there is no food or water available for them. Keep garbage cans clean and tightly sealed, pet food bowls inside, and repair any leaks in your outdoor faucets or hoses. If you have a birdbath, empty it out every few days so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for mosquitoes–and crickets.
Method 2: Block The Noise
If you can’t find the cricket, or if there are many crickets making noise, you may need to soundproof your house to block out the noise.
Soundproof Your House:
– Use weatherstripping to seal.
-Install door sweeps on all exterior doors.
-Use caulk or sealant to fill cracks and holes in walls, floors, and ceilings.
-Hang heavy curtains over windows.
– Place rugs on hardwood floors.
– Add furniture to empty spaces in rooms (this will help absorb sound).
Use Ear Plugs or Noise-Cancelling Headphones
If you can’t soundproof your house or block out the cricket noise some other way, you can always use ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones. This won’t get rid of the cricket noise completely, but it will help lessen the noise so you can get to sleep. You can also try using a white noise machine or app to help mask the cricket noise.
In Conclusion
We hope these tips will help you get rid of cricket noise at night! If you have any other questions or would like more information, please contact us. We’re always happy to help! Thanks for reading!