Unwanted pests are a homeowner’s nightmare. If you suspect that your home is harboring rats, mice, bats, termites, and other critters, you must assess the situation. That way, you’ll have the chance to have your home inspected and properly rid it of these pests. Here are 4 major ways to check if you have an infestation.
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1Watch for Signs of Activity
All pests display some telltale signs of activity in your home. If you suspect you have termites, look for swarming insects in your yard. Termites leave their home colony in large numbers to find a new settling spot. If you see this, watch for wings in windowsills or on the floor as termites drop their wings once they settle. You should also check for termite tubes (what they use to get from their colony to your house) slightly above the soil and break these open to see if there are termites inside.
If it’s bats you suspect, go outside right before dusk to watch your roof. Sit back and relax a while. If bats are there, they’ll go out to forage and you’ll see the points where they leave. There’s a bright side to bats, though, as they eat their weight in insects like mosquitos each night. But install a bat house if you don’t want them in your own home.
As for rodents, all types leave evident runways as they use the same paths to go to their food. Typical pathways include home foundations, tree branches, and electric lines. They’ll deposit urine in runways (and other frequented areas). And high-pitched squeaks or gnawing sounds are often apparent during night inspections.
2Examine Possible Damage
These pests are adept at damaging your home. When it comes to termites, cracking for bubbling paint is a sign that they’ve burrowed underneath. Tap on the wood at these sites to see if it sounds hollow. They also might inflict small holes in wooden walls. Rodents often gnaw, so if you see signs of gnawing, an inspection is important to figure out how old it is.
3Know Their Homes
Termites settle in the wood in dark and moist areas of your home. Termite control helps with this. Bats love attics. When dealing with rodents, it depends on what type you have. A house mouse likes cluttered areas like closets and garages. A Norway rat tends towards burrows in soil and basements, while a roof rat goes for attics, false ceilings, and the upper portions of buildings.
4Check What’s Left Behind
Pests leave many things behind as they crawl along. In dark, moist areas of your home, look for sawdust if you suspect termites. It naturally comes from termites eating wood. For bats, check your attic for droppings. And if you don’t want to run into the bats, venture up during the day. They’re nocturnal creatures.
Rodents will also leave behind plenty of droppings. On the bright side — the age of the droppings tells if the presence is current. They’ll also leave odors, so cats and dogs will often react in areas where rodents are present.
If you suspect that pests have found a home in your house, it’s important to know how to check. Knowing for sure is the first step to addressing your problem.
5Small Bites
This is something that many do not think of while checking their house for pests. Small bites could be from bugs that can be almost impossible to see but the marks that they leave on your skin will not be invisible. Many times these are the signs such as small bites that give you the clues that there are bedbugs in your home. Make sure to look at all the signs, that rash may just be a string of bites so be aware of this!