How Pests Are Taking Away The Integrity Of Your House

As someone once told me, a house is never really finished, it can go as far as your imagination, and resources can take it. Well, the problem is, imagination and resources are not the only problems you would encounter in building up your home. What else is there? Pests. Pests have this uncanny ability to ruin the structural integrity of houses, yours included. A pest is defined by Merriam-Webster as an “insect or animal that is detrimental to humans or human concerns.” We can certainly include our homes as human concerns. Here at Go-Forth Pest Control - perhaps the best pest control management in North Carolina - we would like to share with you some of the ways these pests can affect the integrity of your homes, and how to stop the threats their presence brings about.  

In The Power Outlets

To some people, the power outlets are the least of all places to find pests. One such type of pests is bed bugs. If the infestation has spread, or they have increased in numbers, bed bugs can reach even your electrical outlets. This is especially so when these outlets are near the beds. Another pest that loves tight spaces like power outlets is the cockroach. Once these cockroaches find their way into your power outlets, they can cause damage due to the secretions they produce that can corrode the receptacles. This could potentially start a fire. In case you do find pests inside your power outlets, you should contact both a pest control professional and an electrician to inspect the wirings and ensure that no damage has been done yet.

Around The Foundation

The exterior foundation walls are always vulnerable to a lot of pests. Among these are the termites. Each year, homeowners are spending billions of dollars fixing the damages brought about by termites, yet most people still fail to protect themselves from them. One type of termite - the subterranean termites - gain access to houses through the gaps in the foundation. Termites are always hungry for wood and plant materials. Once they are able to sneak in your home, they would soon find wooden structures to feed on, causing a lot of structural damages. Be vigilant. Always check for mud tubes around the foundation. Look for termite swarms. Do not confuse them with ants, though. Termites have straight antennae, while ants have curved ones. The body of a termite is rectangular in shape, while an ant has a narrow waist. Also, look for hollow spots in exposed wood by tapping on them. If it gives off a hollow sound, then there are termites inside. If you find any gaps or cracks within your foundation, seal them off so that the termites would not be able to use them as entry points. Keep the soil around your foundation dry by fixing leaks immediately and cleaning your gutters to promote proper drainage. Keep wood away from your house and away from its foundation.  

Along The Gutters

The house’s gutter provides a good hiding place for animals and pests. A gutter’s job is, of course, to allow water to pass each time it rains, but sometimes it is not just water that passes through it. You might find all kinds of debris in there. This debris causes water to be trapped and stagnate, which then attracts deadly mosquitoes. Of course, mosquitoes like to breed in standing water. Gutters provide them with that. You would not want them to be around your house, because mosquitoes transmit many deadly diseases, including dengue fever, malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, and elephantiasis. You might also find a bird’s nest and beehives in your gutter. Unfortunately, the weight of the nests and hives can wreck your gutter. Rats and mice might also find their way inside gutters and into your homes. These rodents are also disease-carrying pests you would want to keep out. Regularly check your gutters and clean them to prevent these scenarios. Flush out your gutters using a house. You can also use leaf guards to keep the debris out. 

Through Your Vents

Among the most common ways, mice enter your home is through dryer vents. A mouse can enter your house through holes as small as a dime. They may look chubby to you, but they are capable of flattening their bodies so they can fit into small holes, including your dryer vents. Most dryer vents are wider than a quarter of an inch, so a mouse can easily fit into them. A mouse’s head is the widest part of its body, so once it has its head pass through a hole, then the rest of its body would surely fit in. A mouse nibbles a lot. They chew on paper, cardboard, and even wood. This is because their incisors are constantly growing all their lives. Chewing on something stops their incisors from getting longer. This chewing habit can definitely damage parts of your home. How can you tell if a mouse has been using your dryer vents as entry points? If you find small pellets that are rice-shaped and are black or brown in color, then mice have passed there. These are mouse droppings. If you hear squeaking sounds, you might have mice there. To discourage these pests from entering through the dryer vent, use a damper, which is a component that opens for exiting air, then closes to prevent pests from entering. Caulk around the vent too. 

In The Deck

Installing a deck is a nice addition to any home. It adds to the attractiveness of your home, and you look forward to having parties right on your deck. It can also add value to your house once you plan to sell it at some point in your life.

Unfortunately, decks do not only attract humans but pests too. Insects, rodents, and other animals like decks, and would have no second thoughts about living in, on, or under it. Again, termites are your worst enemy here, along with the carpenter ants. These wood-destroying insects can certainly damage your deck. Termites will eat the wood, while the carpenter ants will bore holes through it. Either way, your deck would be damaged. Mice and rats love to live under these decks, and they chew on the materials that would make your deck weaker. Seal your deck with a protective coat if it is made of wood, then add a layer of paint. This will attract lesser pests. Remove standing water around your deck, since these pests need water to live. If you have water around your deck, it would only encourage these pests to live in, on, or under your deck. Refinish your periodically so that raw wood would not be exposed. Protect your investment. In case you have these unwanted pests in your home, be sure to contact the best pest control management in the Carolinas, Go-Forth Pest Control.  

Go-Forth Is Simply The Best

Go-Forth Pest Control is a family-owned commercial service solutions provider of modern pest control services and techniques, using the latest and most advanced technology in the business, making our service to you more efficient, safer, and more convenient. We have a team of expert professionals who can provide the best pest control services to residents and business establishments all throughout North and South Carolina. No home or pest is the same, so there is no cookie-cutter solution. At Go-Forth Pest Control, we have professional technicians who will examine your home to evaluate your individual necessity. We will identify points of entry and make treatments as necessary. We bring in a new and fresh approach to the pest control industry, using family-friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination that caters to your specific needs. Our expert experience in exterminating pests like cockroaches, wasps, weevils, mosquitoes, mice, flies, termites, ants, and spiders can really make you say goodbye to these pests in your home. You may check us on Facebook or Google us to see what our satisfied customers have to say about us. Go-Forth Pest Control has earned the trust of residents and businesses in Charlotte, North Carolina for more than 50 years. For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial 336-841-6111. Our friendly operators are standing by.