If you are having no luck at all doing anything, and need to have your in-house communications disrupted - bring over some reptiles that still think. The pet shop ones will just hide in the air vents or waterpipes; look for the ones watching television and invite them in.

A side benefit to this is your luck with Heroes' Tavern will drastically improve, as long as you treat your new herp buddies right, plus, less need for the bug zapper or citronella candles and plants etc... You might not want to let them get stepped on though, so make certain your housemates are okay with this arrangement.

A glass of water, a few verbena plants, a small fish tank, some bugs or micro SD Cards - your Heroes' Tavern will go well.