Contained water, elevator pits and mosquito breeding

Florida summers are an invitation for mosquitoes to thrive.


These breeding grounds, or anything that holds water, can be found indoors or outdoors in the form of flower pots, toilets, buckets, air coolers, gutters; even elevator pits.

If your facility has an elevator, you are at risk. And so are the people who use the elevator on a daily basis.

Most mosquito species need a body of water to lay their eggs. Neglected containers with puddles of water could cause a pest problem and a safety hazard for your home or business.

There are over 80 species of mosquitoes identified in Florida– 13 of these species can transmit diseases to people, according to Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory.

Disease-carrying mosquitoes can transmit the West Nile virus, causing inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, or the Zika virus, which can affect a pregnant woman’s fetus. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor areas that can attract mosquitoes; especially if there are people nearby. Other viral infections these insects carry are malaria and dengue.

Water intrusion in elevator pits is common in Florida because of the rainy season. If the pit isn’t waterproofed or has a weak wall structure, there will be a puddle of water capable of sustaining mosquito larvae, which feeds on the bacteria beneath it.

Do not delay the drainage of collected water in the pit or trying to fix what caused it in the first place yourself. Act fast. Stop the mosquito breeding while you can.

Here is what you can do:

  • Notice the first signs of water entering your elevator pit.
  • Do not try to fix it yourself.
  • Do not delay inspection.
  • Contact TG Oil Services for a free inspection.

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