You know your attic is filled with tacky holiday decorations and old sweaters, but is there anything else inside? The dry, relatively constant temperature (compared to outside) makes your attic a desirable home for many common pests. Know how to identify and remove them before they cause damage to your home.
What Pests Crawl Into Your Roof?
There are three groups of pests that like to use attics. Rodents, such as squirrels and mice, nest in the insulation and leave their babies inside while they go out to forage. Flying insects, such as wasps and bees, like to use the dry spots under your soffits or your rafters to build their nests. Crawling insects, such as ants and termites, use the open wood as highways to infest the rest of your home.
How Do You Know if Pests Are in Your Roof?
When pests enter your roof, the first thing you will probably notice is the sound. This could be a scratching and thumping noise as squirrels race around inside or a buzzing sound as bees or wasps leave for the day. However, with the crawling insects or if louder pests are in a distant corner, you may not hear them. A few times a year, when you're retrieving holiday decorations or changing an air filter in the attic, do a spot check around your attic for droppings and the mud trails of termites and other insects. If you walk around the outside of your home and notice holes in your soffits, it's also safe to assume there is a good chance pests have gotten inside.
How to Get Pests Out of Your Roof
As with most infestations, prevention is better than finding a cure. It's far easier to cut off access points by installing wire mesh over vents and sealing cracks than it is to get pests out. Using traditional pesticides in tight spaces can be dangerous as you risk both spraying yourself and having angry pests rushing towards you. Sealing your roof while pests are inside could leave them decaying in your attic or causing more damage as they try to get out. If pests have already gotten into your roof, request a free consultation today to get professional help.
