Pest problems happen very often, but what are the signs? This helpful guide lists 10 common signs you need home pest control.
In America, 74% of homeowners have tried some form of pest control in their homes. This obviously proves pests are a common problem many people deal with on a regular basis.
Getting home pest control help from professionals can significantly reduce and/or eliminate your problems, allowing you to relax and enjoy your home.
But many put off calling in the professionals because they don’t know what they’re looking for or even when there is a problem until it’s too late. We’ve compiled the top ten signs you have a pest problem and need professional help.
1. Entry Opportunities
There are many signs of pest infestation that we’ll discuss, but the first thing to examine if you suspect you have a problem is possible points of entry for the pests.
Once a pest is in your home it can go anywhere, making it obviously extremely difficult to pinpoint their exact location. But they have to get in somewhere and that entry-point is often much more simple to locate.
As you’re looking for the entry point, think of all the areas that are left vulnerable around your home. Maybe you leave the garage door open throughout the day. Or you have a section of damaged siding. Or there’s the old woodpile that never gets touched in the backyard.
Obvious pest entry-points can lead you to more solid signs that you have a problem and need professional help.
2. Unusual Sounds
If you have experienced waking up to the sound of something moving in your walls or under your floors in the middle of the night, you’ll never forget it.
It’s about as unnerving of an experience as you can have. It leaves you feeling uncomfortable, vulnerable, and gross all at the same time. Which is why that’s a clear sign it’s time to call the local exterminator.
The noise you’ll hear will obviously be different depending on the type of pest. But there are some common noises to listen for.
Scratching and scurrying are usually a type of rodent, rat or mouse in the walls. Termites will make more of a tapping noise. You may hear bats or other birds’ wings flapping in the ceiling.
Whatever the sound is, it’s best to get help ASAP as they’ve already invaded your space enough.
3. Visible Damage
There’s a reason the name pests has such a negative connotation. These creatures aren’t invisible, friendly, easy-going houseguests. They cause major problems if there stay is extended long enough.
One easy way to spot signs of pests is unexplained visible damage to your home.
This could look like bite or chewing marks on baseboards or doorframes. or gnawed through cords and wires. That is a common action of rodents in a home.
It could also look like holes in wood either from termites, carpenter bees, or carpenter ants. They often leave a distinctive pattern of debris behind so you can distinguish which insect is responsible.
There are countless types of damage that you can see around your house. But if it’s unexplained and continues to happen, it’s likely a pest you should get taken care of.
4. Trails Along Walls
The very worst, but possibly most common, sign of rodents or other pests is trails of droppings or puddles of urine throughout your home.
As we said, these pests don’t want to be found, so they generally stick to the good hiding places and along the walls to avoid being detected. And they’re not the cleanest creatures either.
So if you notice trails of droppings along your walls, especially in closets or behind furniture. It’s a good bet you have a rodent problem.
They also often will leave grease stains on spots that they touch as well.
These deposits can be very detrimental to your health and should be taken care of with great precaution under the advisement of a professional.
5. Pets Acting Out
68% of American households have some kind of domestic pet, which is the exact opposite of unwanted pests. These animals give us love, comfort, and make our houses feel like home.
They are also a great indicator of your need for home pest control.
Animals are keenly aware of their surroundings and can sense things we generally don’t. They also go into place, like behind furniture or the bottom of closets, that humans don’t go.
You know your pet and what their typical behavior is, especially when it comes to new additions to your home.
So if you notice your pet acting strange, like scratching at the walls or barking at a corner, they may know something you don’t know. It’s time to investigate further.
6. Grouping of Dead Bugs
Every house is going to have some bugs, it’s just the way things are and can’t really be 100% prevented. So it isn’t unusual to see a few dead bugs here or there.
But when you see a large group of dead bugs in one location, its a sign of infestation.
Even if that large pile of dead bugs is all of them, it still means that many were living in your home. And that’s cause to look further into the situation and see what’s fully going on.
A large amount of the same type of bug is concerning. A trained professional will be able to tell you what risks you may be facing and what your options are from there.
7. Excess of Spiders
On a similar train, if you notice you have a drastic increase in the number of spiders in your home chances are you have an insect problem somewhere.
Spiders go where the food is and their food is insects. So an increase in or outside of your home is a clear indicator that their food supply has gone up. So while you’ll want to take care of the spider problem, you’ll want to find the root first.
The type of spider and their location may help you to narrow down what type of bug they’re finding in your home.
Once you clear out the bugs, you should see a decrease in the number of spiders as well. Just as a natural consequence. But your professional pest control services will be able to handle both at the same time.
8. Structural Changes
The worst of the worst pests are the ones that cause permanent, lasting damage to your home. Most commonly termites or carpenter ants.
These insects burrow deep into the wood of your home, creating large holes everywhere they go. Enough of these holes and your home could become structurally unsound.
Detecting and taking care of this type of pest infestation quickly is critical to the overall safety of your home.
If you begin to notice that the flooring seems softer in some areas or maybe a bit creakier, you may have this type of problem. It can also present itself with peeling paint or holes in the exterior of the home.
These destructive pests work quickly and so time is the most important factor in getting rid of them. Regular inspections of your home can help in catching things early.
9. Increased Allergy Symptoms
Many people experience allergy symptoms, especially seasonal allergies that are specific to their area.
Each year these symptoms can present in slightly different ways and so it can be hard to keep track of what is normal for you or not. But, occasionally, pest infestations can cause allergy symptoms in tenants of that home.
These symptoms are usually caused by the droppings left behind or the dust that is kicked up by the extra movement in uncommon areas.
If you have unexplained allergy symptoms, looking into a pest problem may find you your answer.
10. Actual Sightings
Last, and certainly most obvious, if you see any unwanted animal, insect, or critter inside of your home or on your property you need pest control services.
The thing about pests is that they can generally be pretty elusive. They don’t want to be caught and kicked out of the nice place they’ve found with the free shelter and food supply. So they do what they can to stay hidden.
It can be a bit of a mind game trying to decide if you really do have a pest problem or not.
But once you’ve caught sight of the problem, there’s no denying it and you need to call for help as soon as you can to avoid any major damage or problems caused by the unwanted invaders.
Get Started with Pest Control for Your Jackson, MS Home
There really isn’t much worse than knowing there’s an unwanted pest guest in your house. The thought of them running around takes away your peace, keeping you up at night and from feeling at home and safe.
Luckily, there are trained, knowledgable home pest control experts available to help you through the process of eliminating those unwanted pests.
A quick phone call and consultation will get you on the way to being free to relax and not worry about damage or health issues waiting for you.
If you need pest control services in your business please visit our site at https://synergy2ms.com. Feel free to read more about us and decide if Synergy² is the right company for you. We have over 270 Five-Star Google reviews for pest control service in the Jackson metro area (Jackson/Madison/Brandon/Ridgeland). Check out our newest location reviews for pest control service in Jackson, MS here!