All across the United States, $5 billion in damage is done by termites alone. They are just one of many pests, but are among the most destructive. No matter what kind of pest you are dealing with, they can disrupt your life and your home. Pest inspections can find out if you have a problem before it becomes too large.
Hiring an exterminator to come out and check your house is a logical first step in getting rid of any problems. You don’t have to wait until a serious issue manifests before taking care of it. That is the purpose of a pest inspection.
Pest Inspections for Your Home
A pest inspection occurs when you contact a pest exterminator to come and deal with a problem. This is true whether you have an infestation, feel like you might have an infestation, or are proactively engaging before a problem shows up.
Here is what you can expect from a pest inspection.
1. Meet and Greet
When you first meet your pest inspector, they will introduce themselves. You should already know that they were coming, and this is your opportunity to get comfortable. They will be crawling around, under, and through your house looking for pests.
If you live in the Hillsborough County, FL area, a contractor from Brantley Termite and Pest Control will be friendly, professional, and thorough. They pride themselves on their professional and approachable demeanor.
2. Lawn Inspection and Tour
You can expect that as part of your pest inspection, the outside of the house will be toured. The inspector will look through the yard for signs of annoying and dangerous pests that could be invading your home. Don’t be surprised if they appear to be very carefully studying what is surrounding your home.
3. Finding the Entry Point
A pest inspector will look for ways that pests such as insects, rodents, and other animals will invade your home. This means that you can expect they will check the attic, the basement, the crawl spaces, and around the walls and foundation. Anywhere a pest can get in has to be checked for signs of entry.
If you are having an infestation, then finding the source of it is important. That is where they will target efforts to destroy the invading pests. This strategy is very useful against ants and other nesting insects. You can also seal up these openings in order to make it harder for another infestation to occur.
4. Humidity and Moisture
It is not uncommon for a pest inspector to check the level of water in and around your house. This can be humidity in the air, or even standing water around your property. The reason for this is that many insects, such as mosquitos, use standing water as a breeding ground.
It is also true that many insects and rodents like to have moisture in the air and wood structure of a home. They can use this to sustain themselves, and it makes your home an ideal place for them to nest. Once they move in, they will thrive if there are food and water available for their use.
There are thousands of insect species in Florida, and it is very humid a lot of the time. Making sure that our homes have less humidity than the outside air is important for both the reduction of pest infestations but also the health of the structure itself.
5. Explanation of Actions Taken
A professional inspector will let you know what and why they are doing things. They will also answer any questions you may have during the tour. It is not always necessary to follow along with the tour, but many homeowners find this to be a rewarding experience.
This is your opportunity to ask anything that comes to mind during the inspection. The pest inspector will have experience in this field, and you can lean on that knowledge to expand your own. You may also be asked questions during the tour.
6. Compiling the Results
A pest inspection is an event that takes a bit of time because it is important to be thorough. Once they are done touring your property, they will review their notes and pictures. The inspector will have a good idea of the results as soon as they are finished but will take the time to put it all together.
You can expect that you will receive a report from them that confirms what they tell you at the end of the inspection. If the inspection occurs when you aren’t around, this will be an important summary of what they found. You should study this document and make sure you understand what they discovered.
7. Analysis and Treatment Options
Once you have received the final report or statement on the inspection, you should expect to move into treatment options. This is what the entire inspection was about, and depending on results, they may suggest various courses of action. Pest inspection results can also lead to ways to deter infestation.
Not every inspection ends up finding a pest problem in the home, but it is more common than you might think. If you’re lucky enough to not have pests, then you can find out ways to make sure your home stays pest-free. If you’re not, the exterminators will make sure they take care of your problem.
Pests in Florida
Anyone who lives in Florida knows that there is all manner of pests in the state. The pests bothering you could be termites, ants, rodents, snakes, spiders, and a host of other possible animals. If you know the problem, the inspection may be more targeted, but don’t be surprised if they find out things you didn’t know.
If you live in or near Hillsborough County, contact us today. At best, a pest can be an annoyance, and at worst, they can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your property.
Pests target businesses and residences alike. Having pest inspections done by one of our experienced professionals will take care of the problem fast and efficiently.