Yikes! I've never heard of those, but they sound really annoying! Do you know for sure that your PB installed 20/ 20 screen? My guess is they charged you for it, but they neglected to install it. You can count the number of strands yourself to see if you got the wrong stuff, it should have 20 strands per inch each way. The web site linked to below specifically states that 20/ 20 keeps out no-see-ums.

Here is a link that might be useful: Screen web site

Terribly sorry to hear about your infestation. Living on the MS Gulf Coast we are afflicted by not only mosquitoes, but gnats (no-see-ums) as well. I recently rescreened our back porch with 20x20 mesh, and it keeps all of the bugs out. Unfortunately, like tresw, I think you may have paid for the better screen and the installer installed the cheaper screen instead.

I used Pfifer wire's 20x20 screen. I do not have the website handy at the moment, but I will try to find it and update the thread.

Good Morning!

Thank you both for your information and research on our behalf. We went out and counted the threads (about went cross-eyed doing it) and it is 20/20. My husband sprayed the pesticide we are using for the house on the screen. We tested a small area first to make sure it would not discolor it. It seemed to work. We did not have a bug issue last night and we were out for a few hours. We do see dead bugs in the screen now. Last night was a little breezy and the bugs are never as bad then either so we will keep watching it and keep everyone updated just in case we are not the only ones with this problem.

Thanks Again!

Melissa

I guess that's good news/ bad news- good news that they installed the right screen but bad news that the bugs are still getting through! Those things must be incredibly tiny to fit through a hole that is smaller than 1/20 of an inch! It sounds like spraying the screening worked. Do you have an outdoor fireplace or chimenea? We have a chimenea that we burn pinion wood in to keep the mosquitos and flies away and it has been pretty effective. We don't have the no-see-ums around here though.

The bugs are tiny. They are like gnats. We watched them land on the screen and then all of a sudden they pop through the other side. They are certainly determined!!! We have our fingers crossed that spraying the screen will continue to work even when it is not windy. We do have a small fire pit that my husband built. It is run off our propane line. It appears to attract them rather than deter them. It has a black granite top so we did not see them at first, but after running it that first night we had almost a solid layer of little dead black bugs on the surface of the granite. We also have tiki torches that have Citronella oil, but those have not been set up yet. We finally got all three waterfalls up and running and the two bubblers on the sun shelf. The electrician is coming back out today (I hope) to hook up the hot tub and look at the lights. We have two Intellibrite lights but they keep tripping a breaker. The solar is hooked up, but that is leaking so they need to look at that too. The kids and dogs do not care about all of that. The water is freezing, in my opinion, but we can't keep any of them out of there. I should have time this weekend to take some pictures and post them. It all has come together so beautifully. Even the Lightstreams glass that my husband was not so crazy about, he has finally admitted that it looks pretty cool! The new grill and patio furniture are being assembled now. We have about 7 family members coming to stay with us this weekend and my step-son may stop by home on his way back from Spring Break with a few of his friends so it will all get a work out.

Thank you again for all of your advice. I do not always have time to post on here, but I always find time to keep up with all the new postings!

I can't wait to see your pictures. I have found this forum very informative as well as entertaining, esp. others' pool designs/builds.

As for the bug problem, I have discovered through my own personal dealings/research that gnats/mosquitoes/horse and deer flies are attracted to heat, CO2, water/water vapor, and scent. There are two types of gnats: the ones that bite and the ones that annoy the hell out of you. Both are equally frustrating. I must have developed an immunity to them over the years, b/c they don't bother me as much as they drive my family/neighbors crazy. I know you said that they seem to find a way through the screen, but is there an access door to the outside of the enclosure that does not have a door sweep installed? Just trying to run through scenarios...I know the bugs can make a dreamy night out by the pool turn into a nightmare (esp knowing that you have an enclosure that was installed to prevent the scenario).

The gnats/no see um's love me, for whatever reason. I spray bug spray all over me when I work in the yard and it doesn't slow them down one bit. They bite me like crazy. And it's only March.....

There is something fairly new that is like a sprinkler/irrigation system except it mists bug deterrent stuff several times a day. My husband actually talked to a guy here that installs them but we were just beginning to build our house so we didn't pursue it. Wondered if it would be worth it or not?

I believe they make netting that can go over your screens to keep out no-see-ums. And, I seem to remember when I lived in the Bahamas as a child, there was some sort of insecticide we would actually paint (much thicker than a spray) on the window screens to keep out no-see-ums. It is probably illegal now, though... Just thought these might give you some ideas for internet searching. Good luck, they are really bothersome, I know!

Well, the bugs are already coming through the pesticide and the screen. There were a few issues that the screen guys had to come out and fix today and my husband mentioned how frustrated we were that the bugs were coming through and one of the guys said that there is screen made to stop no-see-ums that has a mesh size of 20x30. He said there was no reason that we shouldn't have it, if that is what we need. I am a little upset that I was told that there was no smaller mesh and I just have to wonder how much more this will cost us. I will keep you all posted!

Melissa

Totally feel your pain. We moved to Central Florida from California. We had the house built with a 40'x30' enclosure and had no clue about no-see-ems. We were kidding ourselves thinking we could keep our doors and windows open (weather permitting) and the enclosure would keep the bugs out. Just an FYI, we have a drain the routes the water off the pavers and out of the enclosure. We found that a lot of bugs and baby snakes make their way in through the drain, We add diluted bleach every week of so which keeps down some of the bugs. Will need to wait for the next hurricane before we can replace all the screens with the no-see-em screen.

I know this post is extremely old, but we live in rural area, close to orange groves in FL. Had no issues for 2 yrs now it’s nearly impossible to sit on porch by the pool at night without seeing all of them flock to the tv or lights. You can literally squish them as you look on your phone or iPad. I’m losing my mind as well! Tried insecticides and constant skimming, bleach the drains, even fogged the porch, still they return. I can’t figure out why they appeared all the sudden a little over a year ago & can’t rid them for good! Also can’t pinpoint what they are! No biting, just tiny annoying gnat like things that seem to ‘hibernate’ somewhere during the day, then out of nowhere, they’re everywhere! Appears to be a few different kinds, but all so tiny. Bought the trashy yellow sticky paper to put with a light and 2 pics of the bugs on screen and napkin. Any advice is helpful!