Remember in “’The Wizard of Oz” when Dorothy says, “Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!”? The homeowner version of that infamous chant is “Rodents, cockroaches, and termites, oh my!” Every homeowner dreads the possibility of pests but at some point every homeowner deals with an issue.
The most common pests are: mice and rats, ants, stink bugs, cockroaches, bed bugs, spiders, mosquitoes, pantry pests, and termites. These pests can spread disease, contaminate food, damage wire and wood structures, and great discomfort for the household.
All homeowners should know the inspection basics so they can avoid long visits from unwanted visitors.
Ants
When inspecting for ants, you’ll look for trails which are often a line of ants. Focus on the entry points such as cracks, windows, and pipes. Inside the home you’ll want to pay attention to the kitchen, bathrooms, and damp areas because these are spaces ants like. Outside focus on inspecting wood, soil, mulch, and spots near the foundation of the home. There are several types of ants and they look for different things. For example, carpenter ants look for sawdust and can create big issues for homeowners. Even though it’s tempting, you’ll want to avoid killing ants because they release alarm pheromones that attract more ants which make the infestation worse. Follow the line to see how they’re entering your home and bait them. Be patient, allowing them to take the bait to their nest.
Cockroaches
Always inspect dark, moist areas and behind appliances like the refrigerator, television, or internet equipment. If you see droppings (that look like coffee grounds), you have a cockroach problem. If your home has a full-blown infestation, you need to hire a professional because cockroaches reproduce rapidly. A small concern can escalate quickly.
Mice, Rats, and Small Rodents
Small droppings, gnaw marks, and greasy rub marks along walls are signs of mice and rats. The Pest Control Guys have an excellent video that shares how to perform a mouse inspection at your home. Common places in a home where mice live are hidden, quiet, warm spots usually near food such as: wall voids, attics, crawl spaces, under cabinets, and behind large appliances. Mice also like cluttered boxes and inside furniture so avoid leaving cardboard boxes or furniture in your garage for extended periods of time.
Termites
Termite inspection can be incredibly involved because there is a lot of area to meticulously inspect. It is a good idea to hire a professional with a service inspection contract specifically for termites. Signs of termites can range from piles of wings on windowsills to pencil-sized tunnels on walls and foundation that connect soil to wood. When inspecting for termites on your own, you’ll want to:
- Check for buckling floors where termites could have damaged the wood beneath visibility.
- Look for termite droppings that are small and dark pellet sized.
- Check for hollow surfaces using a screwdriver to tap on walls (and wooden structures) that may appear hollow and/or damaged.
- Look for termite mud tubes. They are usually found near foundation walls or other areas where termites access the home.
- Look for signs of swarms which are termite communities—they usually look like piles of sawdust.
- Examine wooden structures like windowsills, walls, and furniture.
- Look for damage to exterior walls to see if siding, brick, or stucco is weakened by termite damage.
As a homeowner you must protect your investment by routinely inspecting your property. Addressing a pest or termite concern early on will increase your chances of resolving the issue in a timely manner with minimal damage to your house.