Pests can cause significant damage to your property and can pose health risks. From chewed wires to structural damage, recognizing the warning signs is important to avoid costly repairs and keep your family safe.
Structural damage, unpleasant odors, and pest droppings are all indicators that it’s time to call Pest Control Shawnee KS pros. Here are the top five signs you should never ignore:
Termites
Termites are among the worst pests a home or building can have, and without prompt detection and treatment, a termite infestation can destroy buildings from the inside out. They eat wood 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and if left untreated, can result in walls that bulge, doors, and windows that don’t open or close, and wood that is unsafe to walk on. Termite damage costs property owners billions of dollars each year. Fortunately, several signs indicate it’s time to call for a professional termite inspection:
Look for BB-sized spots of dirt on wall or ceiling surfaces. These are called “pinholes” in the pest control industry, and they can only be caused by termites. Inspect each pinhole for evidence of termite activity, then watch to see if the hole is repaired within a few days.
Watch for mud tubes that termites build to travel from the soil to the wood of a building. They are often mistaken for ant trails but can be seen near foundations and other protrusions from the ground. Look for mud tubes along the side of buildings, and especially near entry points like doors and window frames.
Infestations are usually well established by the time swarmers appear indoors. If you see swarmers, or dead swarmers on the floor or in a window sill, it’s time to call for an inspection. You should also be on the lookout for discarded termite wings that show up in spider webs, around door and window frames, or on other surfaces around your home. If you spot these, it is a sure sign of a termite infestation. Termites are very difficult to detect, but spotting these signs of an infestation early on can save you thousands in repairs.
Rodents
Rodents like rats and mice are experts at finding places in a building where you might least expect them. They can squeeze into tiny cracks and nooks, as well as find their way through holes in outside walls or interior spaces. Look for droppings, tracks, and gnaw marks. Droppings from rats and mice typically look like black grains of rice or small capsules and can be found near food sources, in drawers and cupboards, under sinks, in storage areas, along baseboards, and behind cabinets. Rodents track their movements with greasy rub marks caused by their oily fur, which leave dark grease or dirt stains on surfaces they frequently touch. A strong, musty odor resulting from the breakdown of rodent urine is another telltale sign of a rodent infestation.
You might also hear scratching or scurrying sounds at night when these creatures are most active. These noises could indicate that rodents are moving around in your ceilings, walls, and attics.
If you see signs of a rodent infestation, it’s important to call in a pest control professional right away. These critters are known to carry dangerous diseases and cause costly damage. Rats and mice can chew through electrical wires, causing fire hazards and leaving your home unsafe for you and your family.
Keep an eye out for nests and hives in or around your home. Mice and rats build nests from shredded paper products, cotton, packing materials, wall insulation, and fabrics. These can be hidden in crawl spaces, attics, basements, and behind walls. You might also find a beehive or wasp’s nest in or on your property, as these insects make their homes in sheltered locations like eaves and tree branches.
Insects
While spotting a few insects or rodents now and then is normal, if you regularly spot cockroaches, ants, termites, wasps, or moths in your house, this may be a sign that your property is infested. These pests can introduce diseases, bite people and pets, contaminate food, and even damage the structure of your home.
You should also look out for signs of pest infestation outside. For example, ant hills or termite mud tubes are indications that pests are nesting close by. Also look out for gnaw marks on wood, paper, or plastic that indicate that pests are chewing their way through these materials to make their homes.
Gnaw marks on electrical wires are particularly dangerous and can cause fires or other damage to your home. Additionally, you should watch out for rust-coloured spots on your bedsheets. These stains are likely to be caused by a blood-feeding pest, such as a bed bug or fleas.
Rodents and other pests love to gnaw through wood, plaster, and other materials to build their nests. This can result in holes in your walls, ceilings, and other areas of your property. This can be a serious issue that requires professional help to resolve.
If you notice a large number of insects or rodents running around your property, this is another warning sign that it is time to call in the experts. Infestations of this kind tend to spread from one area to another if not addressed quickly. This can be a huge inconvenience for other residents or businesses in the area and may even end up irritating them. For this reason, it is important to nip a budding pest problem in the bud before it gets out of hand.
Odors
Pest infestations can put your family at risk by contaminating food, spreading diseases, and compromising the structural integrity of your home. Pest control services help keep your family safe, healthy, and stress-free by removing the insects and rodents that invade your space.
Trying to eliminate pests on your own can be time-consuming, difficult, and dangerous. Many DIY methods aren’t effective and can leave you with an even bigger problem than before. Additionally, many store-bought pesticides are toxic to humans and pets and can cause health problems if not used properly. Professional exterminators are specially trained to safely and effectively use pesticides to remove the infestation without harming your loved ones or pets.
A one-time pest control service is ideal for addressing a specific issue and is usually less expensive than a general pest control plan. During your initial call with the exterminator, they will typically ask questions about your home’s square footage, number of rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms to determine how much treatment is needed for your pest issue.
General pest control plans offer ongoing, preventative services that include regularly scheduled visits from local technicians to both inspect and treat your home. During these visits, they tailor their strategies to your specific needs and home, considering the specific local pest species and environmental conditions.
When choosing a pest control company, look for one that prioritizes your satisfaction and offers a money-back guarantee. In addition, make sure the company has a valid pesticide applicator’s license and can provide copies of their pesticide labels with the proper application rates. Also, choose a pest control company with tenured legacies and a history of providing quality services to their customers.
Damage
Pests can damage the structural integrity of your home, cause property loss, and lead to expensive repair bills. Recognizing the early signs of a pest infestation allows homeowners to seek immediate professional assistance and minimize the extent of the damages.
Droppings And Urine Marks
Finding droppings around your home or noticing urine stains on furniture, floors or walls is a clear indication that pests have been living in your home. Droppings and urine stains may also reveal the species responsible for the infestation, which is essential for effective pest control methods to be implemented. Gnaw marks and damage
signs of chewed or damaged materials are another indication of pest infestations. Rodents, for example, frequently gnaw on electrical wires which can lead to fire hazards in your home. Their constant gnawing can also damage plumbing which can result in leaks, water damage, and costly repairs.
The early detection of pests by professional pest control services can help you avoid the negative consequences associated with untreated infestations. Some pests carry bacteria, pathogens, and allergens that can pose health risks to occupants. When pests are allowed to remain untreated, they can spread these hazards throughout a home, which may affect the health of family members and pets.
The frequent appearance of certain pests in your home can signal that the environment is favorable to their growth and survival. This may be due to nearby vegetation, neighboring infestations, or environmental conditions. Proper sanitation and cleaning practices can minimize the attraction of these pests, but it is crucial to understand that not even the cleanest homes are immune to some forms of infestation. Recurring infestations are a clear indicator that you need the professional assistance of expert pest control services.