By Wayne, Owner, Wayne’s Pest Extermination

What I Walked Into

April is when spider calls start picking up again here in the Greater Ottawa area. The weather shifts a bit, people start moving things around the house, and suddenly spiders that stayed hidden all winter become noticeable.

A few weeks ago, I got a call from a homeowner who said they were seeing spiders almost every day, mostly in the basement and occasionally upstairs near the ceilings.

It was a typical Ottawa home, nothing out of the ordinary. They weren’t dealing with hundreds of spiders, but enough that it felt constant. They had been knocking down webs and cleaning regularly, but new ones kept showing up.

That’s usually when I get called in — when it stops feeling random.

The Problem

Spiders on their own aren’t usually the full problem. They stay where there’s food.

During the inspection, I found webbing in the basement corners, behind stored items, and along ceiling edges. Some of it was fresh, some of it had been there a while. There were also a few egg sacs tucked into corners that hadn’t been noticed.

What stood out more was the insect activity. Small bugs around basement windows, a bit of moisture near one wall, and light gaps where insects could get in. That’s what was keeping the spiders around.

The homeowner’s main concern was how often they were seeing them. Even if it’s not a dangerous species, seeing spiders regularly in your home gets uncomfortable quickly. It makes people feel like the house isn’t clean, even when it is.

In Ottawa, this kind of issue shows up a lot in early spring. Spiders have been inside all winter, and once things warm up slightly, they become more active and visible.

The Process

The first thing I did was go through the home and identify where activity was actually happening, not just where spiders were being seen.

I removed visible webbing and egg sacs from all the main areas. That alone makes a difference right away, but it’s not the full solution.

Next, I treated the interior problem areas — corners, baseboards, and areas around windows and entry points. I kept it focused and controlled, not overdone.

Outside, I checked the foundation, window frames, and vents. I treated those areas and pointed out a few spots where sealing would help, especially around basement windows.

A big part of the process was addressing the insects that were drawing spiders in. If you don’t deal with that, the spiders usually come back.

Everything was done without disrupting their day. No mess, no strong smell, just straightforward work.

The Outcome

Within a few days, the homeowner noticed a clear difference. The usual corners where webs kept coming back stayed clean, and they weren’t seeing spiders daily anymore. That’s usually the first sign things are under control — when activity drops off without needing constant cleaning.

Before, they were wiping down areas every day and still seeing new webs the next morning. After the treatment, that stopped. No new buildup, no repeat spots forming.

About a week later, I followed up to check everything again. I went through the same areas — basement corners, window edges, storage spaces — and there was no new activity. No fresh webbing, no egg sacs, and no signs of insects building up again.

The homeowner told me the biggest change was not thinking about it anymore. They weren’t walking into rooms and looking up at the ceiling first or checking corners out of habit. That constant awareness was gone.

That’s usually the goal with this kind of work — not just reducing activity, but getting things back to a point where it’s not on your mind.

DIY Advice I Shared

Before I left, I gave them a few simple things to stay on top of. Nothing complicated, just things that help keep conditions from building up again:

1. Vacuum corners, ceilings, and baseboards regularly to remove webs before they build up

2. Don’t ignore less-used areas like behind storage, under stairs, or in utility spaces

3. Keep basement and storage areas organized so nothing sits untouched for long periods

4. Check window screens and fix even small openings — insects get in easily through those

5. Seal gaps around windows, doors, and along the foundation as soon as you notice them

6. Keep basement areas as dry as possible, since moisture attracts the insects spiders feed on

7. Be mindful of outdoor lighting near windows — it draws insects in, which brings spiders with them

They stayed consistent with those, especially regular vacuuming and keeping storage areas easier to access. That helped keep the problem from building back up over time.

Professional Insight

Most spider issues come down to the environment inside the home. If there are insects around, spiders will stay. If there’s easy access and quiet areas to sit, they’ll use them.

A lot of people focus on removing the spiders they see. That helps short term, but it doesn’t fix the reason they’re there. If the food source and entry points stay the same, new spiders usually take their place.

In Ottawa, early spring is when this becomes more noticeable. The spiders have been inside all winter, but now they’re moving around more, so people start seeing them more often.

When I look at a spider problem, I’m not just looking at where webs are showing up. I’m looking at why that area is being used — whether it’s because of insects, moisture, or access from outside.

Once those conditions are dealt with, the spider activity usually settles down and stays that way.

Closing

Spider calls this time of year are pretty normal around the Greater Ottawa area. It usually starts with a few sightings and turns into something people notice every day.

If you’re seeing more spiders than usual, it’s worth taking a closer look at what’s going on behind it.

If you’re dealing with something similar, you can always reach out.

– Wayne

[https://waynespestexterminationottawa.com/spiders]