Before Do My Own Pest Control can offer product and treatment recommendations to homeowners, we need to know what pest they are dealing with and a good idea of where the pest is located or coming from. A large number of our callers do not have these answers or are unsure. We suggest a home pest inspection so homeowners can accurately treat problem areas, and so that they will not waste time, money and labor treating ineffectively for the wrong pest. In order to perform the home pest inspection, you will need to round up the following equipment:
- Very Bright Flashlight- to illuminate suspected insect hiding places
- Heavy Duty Screwdriver- to remove panels and tap on wood
- Flushing Agent or aerosol spray containing pyrethrins - to flush insects out of voids or crevices
- Small Hand Mirror- to look behind and under appliances
- Ladder- to check up high
- Magnifying Glass- to aid in insect identification
- Paper & Pen- to note problem locations and pests found
Do Your Own Home Pest Inspection - STEP BY STEP - Inspect the Perimeter. Slowly walk around the exterior of the home. Look for any obvious signs of damage from moisture or from pest activity. Look for ant trails on the home or leading to the home, and small holes chewed into the wood or siding. Check around eaves and vent areas for activity or damage. Shine flashlight into any cracks or crevices to look for pests. Use the flushing agent to flush out cracks and crevices as needed.
- Inspect the Crawlspace. Look under the house for termite mud tubes (please read our article Do Your Own Subterranean Termite Inspection at Home for full directions on termite inspections). Look for any other crawling or flying insect. Again use flushing agent to drive insects out of cracks, crevices, and voids. Look for small holes in wood joists or beams that may indicate powder post beetle activity. Check pipes for leaks which could lead to pest activity or dry rot on wood. Look out for any animal activity such as nesting materials or scat.
- Inspect the Basement. Check for any leaks or moisture related problems. Look for termite tubes and other insect activity. Again use flushing agent to drive insects out of cracks, crevices, and voids. Look for small holes in wood joists or beams that may indicate powder post beetle activity.
- Inspect Indoors. Check the attic for insect or animal activity. Look for any roof leaks that could cause moisture to build up and attract both insects and rodents. Inspect for insect and rodent activity under sinks, near the hot water heater and in food cabinets. Use the hand mirror to look under and behind appliances to check for activity or feces. Look near baseboards with the flashlight and use the flushing agent if needed.
- Try to identify any insects that were found. If you don't recognize the insect or are unsure of the identification, call your local Cooperative Extension Office. The employees at these facilities are well versed on the type of insects in their region and should be able to help with the identification and the service is usually free.
After the inspection is complete and all pests and problem areas have been noted, treatment can begin. Any leaky pipes or moisture conditions such as standing water should be addressed. Failure to correct high moisture areas or leaky pipes will lead to pest control failure in many cases. Select insecticides that are labeled for the type of insect that has been found and for the areas that it was found in. If help is needed to select the correct product, the staff at Do My Own Pest Control will be happy to help make selections.
Flushing Agents:
CB-80 Extra Aerosol
565 Plus XLO Aerosol
PI Aerosol
Insecticide Dusts:
Delta Dust
MotherEarth D
Tempo Dust
General Pest Control Spray:
Talstar P
Suspend SC
Demand CS
Tempo SC Ultra
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