The smaller the gap, the more difficult it is for a mosquito to wiggle through into your house.
The screens are intended to keep bugs out but there are different types of screens. Some have very small mesh, while others have larger holes. Mosquitoes get attracted to the carbon dioxide heat in houses and may be able to get through some screens. Screens can vary in their mesh size, which affects how much space there is between each strand. How small is small enough? This depends on what you're trying to keep out. Most mosquitoes tend to go only as far as their homing device (i.e., antennae) can reach. To see how effective your screens are at keeping out mosquito populations, check them every 6 months for holes and tears. Look both inside and outside your home for gaps next to doors or windows. Check around light fixtures that might have wires poking through. When you find any gaps, seal them up with duct tape or fill them in with caulk to help keep the bugs out of your home.
The carbon dioxide heat inside your house and other cues like skin odour, light inside the house and body heat etc may attract mosquitoes. They seek shelter in bushes, thick weeds, rock shelters, hollow logs and holes in the ground and can get inside your house through small openings around windows and doors, by flying up from underneath, or even flying in when someone opens a door or window that they're near, looking for a tasty spot. Many people don't realise it's possible for mosquitoes to fly into their homes. Unfortunately, it only takes one mosquito inside to start laying eggs which can create a whole mosquito population - so it's important to make sure you close all entry points and every corner where mosquitoes hide such as in standing water, under the bed and behind other furniture if you want to prevent significant mosquito problems. Another tip is having lawns, potted plants, pool, bird baths or any standing water body cleaned regularly and using repellants such as basil, orange, lemon, lavender and catnip naturally produce oils that are generally pleasant yet repel mosquitoes. You can use a mosquito lantern for your main door or even use a few unlit citronella candles inside the window ledge or rub citronella oil over the mesh with a paper towel using rubber gloves to keep mosquitos away as it possesses bug deterrent properties.
Mosquitos, when actively seeking out a blood meal, get attracted to the carbon dioxide humans create inside a house. Moreover, insects love light. There are many methods to help repel mosquitoes but door screens are very good at keeping out most insects and provide effective malaria protection, including biting insects like mosquitoes, spiders, wasps and flies. They're not perfect though; it's possible for some small or lightweight insects to make their way through very fine mesh wire screens, especially if the screen has any tears or holes in it (which will weaken its ability to keep bugs out). This is true of any type of screen, not just fly window screens. If you're concerned about the mesh wire screens on your windows letting mosquitoes in (or insects out), you can try adding another layer of screen over them. If this doesn't work, there are other solutions available to help reduce blood-sucking pests entering your home. Some options include using insect repellent mats, creating a bug-free zone around your sitting area with an electric fan and installing automatic door openers that keep the doors closed until you're ready for them to open.
Screen mesh size plays a big part in determining whether or not insects can enter through your doors or windows. Larger biting insects like wasps, horseflies, centipedes and camel spiders can get through gaps as small as 1/4". Mosquitoes however do not go any further than the tips of their antennae - which is approximately 5/8" across. So if there's a gap that's smaller than that around your doors and even windows then you should be OK to use insect screens to keep mosquitoes out (although even just one mosquito inside will need 12 weeks before it lays eggs and starts buzzing all over the place).
The tiny holes in window screens are fine enough to keep out most bugs, however, there's still the minor possibility that some extremely small insects could get through. A few types of bugs include disease-carrying ones that can actually fit through smaller holes than mosquitoes can - including little fruit flies that are only 1/10" big. If you have any worries about whether or not they'll fit through your fly window screen then just add another layer over the top of your mesh screen to be safe. Mosquitoes will not go through single layer flyscreen but may go under it if there is a slight gap at the bottom.
As our body heat and the carbon dioxide we exhale attracts mosquitos, the best way to use fly window screen is to install them over entry points on front doors and also all windows where you want to keep mosquitoes out. If you've got any gaps or holes in your mesh fly screen then try adding another layer of mesh fly-screen above it (or something else) to help reduce the risk of bugs getting inside. Also, don't rely on mesh fly-screen alone; make sure that there are no other ways for bugs to enter - like through open doors or ventilation systems. So make sure you fix up anything that's letting flies get inside, including cracks in window sills and around window frames (which let spiders crawl through), draughty door seals, small openings under door thresholds or any other gaps that bugs could pass through.
There are lots of different types of wire mesh screens to choose from. Depending on where you live and the time of year, you'll need a type that's suitable for keeping insects away or one that can be used all year round (or perhaps both).
Bamboo screens give your home a tropical look but they aren't very strong. Many species of spiders and butterflies can easily get through these kinds of screens; especially if they've got any tears or holes in them.
This is made out of glass fibre and is the best material for doors because it doesn't rust. Fibreglass window screens consumers usually are form areas with lots of humidity because they won't rot or rust even if it gets wet. It's also one of the most insect-proof types of mesh available, as long as you don't have any cracks or tiny gaps in your screens.
You can buy plastic window screens in lots of different colours and styles but it will fade over time. Suitable for both doors and windows, this type of mesh is great for disguising the screens as part of your house's architecture or design, but if you find any holes then it won't keep out insects and other animals at all.
This material is popular because it comes in lots of different colours and sizes (and is also slightly cheaper than some other types). It's not very strong though so be careful about using it around children, cats and other animals or heavy traffic areas. However, it can be trimmed to size so if you want more width on your flyscreen but don't have enough room to fit another layer over the top then why not try trimming your mesh screens?
This type of metal screen uses lots of small wires that are woven together to provide a very closely meshed screen. While it's not completely insect-proof, this type of material is great for reducing the number of flying insects around your home while still being easy to see through and maintaining good air circulation.
If your flyscreen is part of a security screen system there are certain installation and manufacturing standards that must be followed, according to Standards Australia.Most mesh screens can be easily fitted to doors or windows using a few simple tools. You'll need a drill, scissors, screwdriver and hammer before you get started - unless your mesh screen comes already attached with clips. To attach your flyscreen, follow these steps.
Cut the mesh screens to size according to the measurements of your window or door frame (if needed). Try adding at least 6mm around each side for best results when it comes to insect-proofing.
Drill two holes into opposite corners of each piece of flyscreen, making sure that they're spaced roughly 2cm apart along the length of the wire. Do this by lining up an edge against the pane so that there are equal amounts sticking inwards and outwards.
Screw the mesh screen to your door or window frame using a screwdriver and drill, making sure that both pieces of wire face inwards so that they cross over each other. Leave an equal amount of wire sticking out from each side before finalising your attachment with a nice firm hammer.
You can also buy pre-cut flyscreens that come ready to use.