Plumbing Problems & Pest Infestations

Discovering a leak in your home can be a nightmare. Discovering pests like termites or cockroaches can be even worse! The bad news is that these two instances usually go hand in hand. Pests are very drawn to areas with a lot of excess moisture, which is why they’re frequently. So, when you have a leaky faucet or a broken pipe, you can be sure you’re inadvertently creating a haven for pest activity. For this reason, it’s important to always be on the lookout for leaky pipes or issues in your home if you want to prevent pest problems as well. The experts at Russell’s Pest Control are here to tell you everything you need to know about leaky pipes and pests in your Knoxville TN home.

Water: A Pest’s Best Friend

Water is one of the main pest attractants. While most need water just for survival, many others are drawn to the environment caused by excess moisture. The four most common pests that are known to dwell in areas with excess moisture are as follows:

• Termites: If a broken pipe has caused water damage in the very structure of your home, you can be sure termites are to follow. Subterranean termites in particular are attracted to moist wood and soil. When there are unattended-to leaky pipes or plumbing issues, you could be leaving your home vulnerable to termites.
• Ants: These tiny pests will appear seemingly out of nowhere when excess moisture is abundant. Leaky faucets or spilled water from a pet’s bowl can bring ants out in the hundreds. In addition to your typical house ant, water can be a main attractant to the wood-destroying carpenter ant as well.
• Cockroaches: Roaches may be known for their resiliency, but they aren’t as strong as you’d think. Without water for a week, a roach will not survive. Cockroaches also love to linger inside of pipes and plumbing fixtures. An issue can quickly introduce roaches into other parts of the house.
• Rodents: Rats and mice alike are always looking for a water supply. Leaky pipes or broken faucets in your crawl space or laundry room can provide a haven for rodents. The last thing you want is rodents scurrying around when you have a plumbing issue, making it important to prevent them.

How to Prevent Pests When Leaks Happen

In order to prevent pest problems in your home, you need to know how to prevent the conditions that would attract them in the first place! Here’s how:

1. Regularly inspect to ensure your faucets aren’t dripping, your drains aren’t clogging, and there are no leaks from your fridge, washing machine, or dishwasher.
2. If there are problems, get them fixed right away with the help of a licensed professional.
3. Consider running a dehumidifier in areas of your home that are more prone to moisture!

Need Help Getting Rid of Pests After a Leak?

Whether you’re already dealing with pest infestations that resulted from a plumbing leak in your home, or you want to prevent pests altogether, the experts at Russell’s Pest Control can help—contact us today!