3 Kinds of Pest-Related Household Damage

As a homeowner, you may feel the need for constant vigilance against one threat to your home's well-being after another, from catastrophic storms and pet accidents to break-in attempts by burglars. However, in addition to guarding against major destructive events, you must also look out for small pests that can cause big problems.



By understanding how different pests can attack and destroy different household structures and systems, you can put preventative strategies into effect right away, recognize trouble when you see it, and enlist pest control professionals to wipe out worrying infestations. Pay particular attention to these three kinds of pest-related damage.

1. Plumbing Damage

A home doesn't seem much like a home without a functioning plumbing system. You and your loved ones rely on flushing toilets, a steady flow of water from the various taps, and comfortable water temperatures for bathing and showering. Unfortunately, water and pest infestations tend to go hand in hand, often with destructive results.

An existing plumbing malfunction can actually kick off your pest problems. Animals naturally seek sources of water to sustain themselves, meaning that even a tiny leak in your plumbing system can summon insects and vermin to your home.

If your kitchen or bathroom plays host to silverfish, earwigs, crickets, and roaches no matter how clean you keep it, you may have a leak or a slow drain that needs fixing. If you hear pests moving around behind your drywall, you might have an invisible leak that requires attention.

Once pests discover the water in your home, they can do considerable damage, aided and abetted by the water itself. For example, termites prefer to burrow through soft wood rotted by water exposure. Rodents such as mice can actually chew away the insulation wrapped around your plumbing pipes.

2. Roof Damage

If your home represents the largest investment you ever make, the roof on your home may represent the next largest. A well-built roof can last for decades with proper maintenance, but pest infestations can make that maintenance an ongoing struggle. Even the tiniest creatures can do massive damage that forces extensive repairs.

Watch out for birds and rodents that build nests in your gutters and send debris into your downspouts. The resulting clogs can cause water to overflow from the gutters and collect on your roof, weakening the wooden supports and promoting mold growth. The wet wood may then promote termites to move in and weaken your roof further.

Even bees and wasps can create roof problems if they build extensive nests on roof structures. Believe it or not, a sufficiently large bee infestation can actually place a structural strain on your roof. At the same time, wasps living near your roof or doorway may attack and sting occupants if provoked.

3. Electrical Damage

Rodent infestations can wreak havoc on home electrical systems. As they chew their way through your attic walls and beams in search of nesting sites and materials, they may also chew up your wiring, a dangerous situation that could lead to a fire. Symptoms may include flickering lights and burning or decaying odors.

Your pest-related electrical problems need not confine themselves to walls and attics. If you always see ants in your home but can't tell how they keep getting in, check your electrical outlets. Ants often climb into electrical outlets, where they may get electrocuted and release hormones that just attract even more ants.

Just as your family doctor can help you take care of your body's various systems and functions, American Pest Professionals can help you take care of your home's most important components. Contact us today to schedule an inspection or pest treatment.