Are you worried about pests intruding on your home?
Most people aren't sure what kind of signs to look out for. When you don't know what to search for, it's easy to miss some of the tell-tale signs of a pest invasion.
Common household pests leave distinct signs that help you decide on the next steps to solve the issue, explains Dave Knight of Orlando PM. This guide helps you spot the signs of the most typical critters that could be living in your home.
Sign #1: Nighttime noises
Do you hear scratching and squeaking coming from closets or inside the walls? Big insects, mice, and rats make noises at night. When the night falls, they feel that it's safe to become more active. For many homeowners, they learn about the pest problem for the first time at night.
Sign #2: Gnaw marks
This is a telling sign of a critter invasion. For example, mice love to chew on things in your home. When you spot any unexplained gnaw marks you are surely facing a pest issue. Sometimes you may find tiny pieces of wood or plastic lying around instead of gnaw marks.
Sign #3: Termite waste
Termites can cause a lot of destruction in your home. There are cases when homeowners spot a termite problem when it's already too late. They have to deal with structural damage. Keep an eye out for the signs of termite waste. This looks similar to sawdust and usually comes in small piles close to wooden furniture and fixtures in your house.
Sign #4: Bugs on window ledges
Inspect your window sills on a regular basis. This is an area of your home that tends to show clear signs of pest infestation. For example, having a lot of flies in your home usually results in a build-up of dead flies on window ledges.
Sign #5: Remarks from neighbors
Ask your neighbors whether they have seen or heard anything suspicious. Sometimes your neighbors have more information about an issue than you'd imagine. And if you recently moved to your new home, you could ask about pest control visiting the previous owners.
Sign #6: Damaged piping or wiring
Electrical wiring and gas lines often fall to the prey of rats and mice. That's because the small rodents have a constant need to chew on something. Next time when you find a leaking gas or water line, it might be a result of a pest issue.
Sign #7: Grease smudges and tracks
Rodents often leave grease marks and tracks behind. That's because they mostly tend to stick to the same travel paths. The most tell-tale sign is the grease track darker in color left behind by rats. You can usually spot this along the walls.
Sign #8: Damaged plants
You should always keep an eye out for damaged plants. Here are some of the major signs of plant damage that can exhibit pest issues:
Irregular, damaged patches of lawn
Gnawed edges of grass blades and indoor plants
Uneven grass length
Dead patches of lawn
When all the signs of damage are outdoors, you could be facing a mole, beetle, grub, cricket, or vole infestation.
Sign #9: Small holes
Mice can enter even the tiniest holes. When small holes start to appear on your home's surfaces, it's definitely the right time to seek intervention. These holes could serve as entry points for a variety of pests.
Sign #10: Sticky doors and windows
More often than not, people associate stiff door and window frames with structural issues. However, these signs could indicate a termite infestation as well. Termites tunnel through wood, thereby creating a significant amount of moisture. The generation of excess moisture can warp the wooden frames.
Sign #11: Fabric damage
Damage to fabric items on your property may be a certain sign of a pest invasion. For example, holes, stains, and scratches on your clothing could indicate an infestation. There many pests that could be damaging the fabric, including insects, rats, and mice.
The bottom line: signs of pest invasion in your home
Pests can create a lot of trouble in your home. Depending on the type of pests, you could deal with property damage, health hazards, unpleasant odors, or annoying sounds. Pest invasions always create a problem that you should address as soon as possible.
You are can spot various signs that indicate a pest invasion in your home. The most common ones are gnaw marks, nighttime noises, damaged plants, small holes, and dead bugs. Contact a qualified pest control company after seeing these tell-tale signs of an infestation.