Why Pests are a Problem

Everyone has experienced unwanted pests in their home. No matter what time of year or where you live, you should always be on the lookout for signs of pests. Whether it’s rodents taking shelter in your attic, or bees building a nest outside your home, finding pests in your home is never fun. However, an infestation of pests can potentially be more than just an inconvenience or annoyance.

While you may think that anything as small as most pests can’t cause any major issues, that certainly isn’t the case. If pests go unnoticed in your home for long periods of time, they have the potential to harm your home and the people living inside. Let’s look at two major problems that pests can cause.

Property Damage 

Damage caused by pests should be near the top of any property owner’s list of potential threats. In many cases, people are unaware that they have a problem with pests until damage has already been done. The extent to how much damage can be caused varies greatly with different types of pests, but many have the capabilities of creating major issues.

According to the EPA, termites alone cause billions of dollars’ worth of structural damage to home and business owners. Termites feed on wood, and if they go unnoticed for long, have the ability to seriously damage the structure of your home.

Other pests that have the ability to cause serious harm are carpenter ants and carpenter bees. These pests like to make their nests in wood, and the structure of your home can provide the perfect opportunity. Rodents present a different threat than most pests, as they tend to chew on wiring and can create fire hazards.

Cause of Sickness 

Pests can impact our health in a variety of ways that you may not be aware of. While it often takes a swarm or colony of pests to damage your home, it may only take a single pest to get you sick.

You’re probably familiar with one of the big health hazards surrounding pests: the ability to transmit diseases. We are currently seeing an extreme case of this with the spread of the Zika virus. Mosquitos bite an infected person or animal and the disease spreads as mosquitoes travel and bite uninfected bodies.

Pests are also able to pass along diseases to humans without coming in direct contact. Pests that carry bacteria can spread the bacteria by landing on our food. Consuming the food can cause intestinal issues and other sicknesses in people and animals.

An impact that you might not be familiar with is the effect pests can have on people with allergies and asthma. According to the New England Pest Management Association, dust mites are second to pollen in causing allergic reactions. Cockroaches can have similar effects on people. In both cases, droppings from the pests can also cause allergic reactions or asthma attacks. If you can’t seem to escape allergies but can’t figure out why, this might be the reason.

If you suspect you have a pest infestation or would like to have your home examined for any potential damage, give us a call today at (800) 229-2888 or visit our website.