Yes, this happens a lot. In fact, open or unscreened basement windows are one of the most common ways that spiders enter homes.
Spiders don’t target homes for no reason. They follow food. Basement windows just happen to be where food collects. Window wells are especially bad about this. Leaves, moisture, and insects show up there and that draws spiders in.
An open basement window is an obvious route. A closed one is often not much better, because basement windows are frequently the oldest in the house. Frames warp. Glazing cracks. Screens tear and sometimes go missing altogether. And it’s these kinds of small everyday breakdowns that make it easier for spiders to get in.
Spider problems are often at their worst in fall in Northeast Wisconsin. It’s right at this time that temperatures cool off and spiders start going toward buildings. Cellar spiders and common house spiders end up in basements and stay. After all, a basement offers steady humidity and darkness to the benefit of the insects that spiders like to eat.
If you want to cut down on spider problems, you’ll want to clean up around window wells. One of the biggest and most important steps is simply to clear leaf litter and debris out of window wells. That way, they won’t just sit there and hold water.
Beyond this, you can also add well covers, which cut the insect supply and the moisture at the same time. Be sure to repair or replace screens, and screen any window that gets opened. If you see daylight creeping in through cracks around the frame or sill, that's a sign that there is a gap that needs to be caulked.
Then once you do this, you can take further steps by swapping out exterior lights with warm-toned bulbs. These attract fewer insects. Likewise, trim vegetation from the home and clear ground-level debris so insects have fewer places to gather. Inside, knock down any spider webs you find.
If spiders keep finding their way into your basement, Mosquito Squad of NE Wisconsin can help. Mosquito Squad's home and yard coverage treats the foundation and entry points where spiders come in. This will help you protect your basement and living areas.
