Pest Infestation Removal: What You Need to Know

Pest infestation can cause serious problems for homeowners. Some pests can eat through wood and cause structural damage, while other pests can make the environment in the home unhealthy for humans. If a pest infestation goes on for long enough, the value of the home could go down and you might have trouble selling your home.

If you're a homeowner, there are many things you can do to prevent pest infestation. Here's what you need to know.

Know the Signs of Infestation

Pest infestation can take many forms. Recognizing the different signs of a pest infestation can help homeowners decide where to focus their pest prevention efforts. Once they know what kind of pests are in their home, they can take measures to get them out and keep them from coming back.

Mice and Rodents

Mice and rodents tend to live in the walls, and are usually not visible during the day. Most rodents become more active at night. The signs of infestation include:

• Scratching in the walls and ceiling
• Rice-shaped feces in cabinets, under sinks and beneath appliances
• Rodent sightings

Roaches

Visual sightings of roaches are common. Roaches are most visible at night. They tend to come out in the dark, and scatter when the lights are turned on. Around the nest, the homeowner will also see small collections of feces.

Termites and Carpenter Ants

Termites and carpenter ants live in the walls and cause structural damage to the home. The signs of this kind of infestation are often subtle. The best way to determine if a home has a termite or carpenter ant infestation is to work with a pest control company to perform an official inspection.

Miscellaneous Small Mammals

Small mammals are often found in parts of the home where the humans in the home spend little or no time. The attic, air ducts and basement are places where small mammals can be found. Signs of infestation include:

• Holes chewed in the side of the house
• Sounds in the attic, air ducts, or walls
• Piles of feces
• Claw marks and scratches in areas where the invading animals spend time
• Animal odors

Steps You Can Take

Once the homeowner has identified an infestation in their home, there are many things they can do to eliminate pests.

Cut Off Water Sources

Animals and insects need water, and will congregate in areas where there is moisture. Repairing plumbing leaks in the home cuts pests off from their source of water.

Make Food Inaccessible

Keeping food in glass jars or hard plastic containers prevents pests from finding food sources in the home. Removing food from cardboard boxes and putting it in carefully labeled impenetrable containers makes it much harder for pests to find something to eat.

Take Out Trash Nightly

Trash is an important food source for many insects and animals. Taking out the trash nightly, and storing it in containers with secure lids helps keep pests away from trash.

Inspect Your Home Regularly

Performing regular inspections of the home and looking for cracks and holes in the exterior walls and foundation helps homeowners find the point of entry for pests. Homeowners who identify holes and cracks should seal them with caulk or whatever material is appropriate.

Winterize Your Home

The act of weatherstripping and winterizing does more than keep out the cold weather, it also helps keep out pests. Winterizing at least once annually can prevent infestations.

Work with a Pest Control Company

Working with a good pest control company can help ensure that a property will stay pest-free. Most pest control companies will put out poisons and perform inspections to find places where Sagewood homes are vulnerable. Working with a pest control company can help ensure that a home will stay safe from pests.