The Five Most Common Pests That Can Do Real Harm In The Home

As much as we might like to live close to nature, or have a beautiful growing garden, it doesn’t mean that we want to share our home with all creatures great and small. Pests can cause problems in a variety of ways, such as getting into your food, leaving droppings nearby, and more. However, they can affect the very health of the home, as well, from the materials that make it up to the qualities that should make it a safe place to live. Here are five pests you should act to get rid of and the damage they can cause when left to their own devices.

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Rodents

Rats and mice typically seek comfy interiors, like in houses, when it’s cool or wet outside. Aside from the hygiene issues they can cause, they will chew just about anything in the home, including timbers, insulation, and even through your wiring, which can lead to serious fire risks. Sealing up the entry points into the home and removing food sources, such as using Tupperware containers when you open grains and cereals, can prevent them from trying nest in your home.

Termites

Although they might only be a fraction of the size of rodents or other household pests, termites are perhaps the most costly pest around. They feed on timber structures and furniture, often remaining hidden until they’ve already done significant damage. If you spot any signs of them, such as hollow-sounding wood or a change in the fit of wooden doors or windows, finding the right termite control team ASAP is crucial. Otherwise, the costs of repairing the damage they cause can skyrocket.

Cockroaches

If you have cockroaches in the home, then there’s a good chance that you also have issues with damp, especially in more humid environments. Cockroaches can make this problem worse with their droppings and eggs, and they can also damage paper goods and food packaging in the home, spreading their bacteria and worsening the air quality in the home as they go.

Wasps And Bees

There are several species of wasps and bees that will build their nests under eaves, inside wall cavities, and in sheds. This, over time, can damage building materials, but the bigger threat is the risk they pose to residents and pets, especially if you have allergies. Professional removal tends to be the safest approach, as mishandling them can result in serious stinging incidents. 

Bed Bugs

One of the most stubborn and pervasive of all household pests, bed bugs tend to find their home where there’s plenty of fabric and places to feed, most commonly in human or pet beds, where they have fresh sources of blood. Aside from potential allergic reactions and skin issues, bed bugs can also cause damage to the furnishings they make their homes in, and often, you might want to throw them out even if you’re able to rid yourself of the infestation.

Always keep an eye out for the signs of pests, from stray droppings to wood shavings and unexplained noises in the walls. The sooner you spot them and act, the more damage you can prevent.