Pest problems
The signs that matter most are swarming insects indoors, wood that sounds hollow when probed, droppings, live sightings in daylight, and unexplained bites. The EPA recommends probing exposed wood for hollow spots and watching for termite swarms as termite indicators. What a sign means depends on correct identification, so get the organism identified before buying treatment.
Swarmers indoors. Winged insects emerging inside are worth taking seriously, and the ant-versus-termite distinction decides everything that follows. Per the EPA, termites have wings of roughly equal length and straight, sometimes drooping antennae; ants have longer front wings and bent antennae. Collect a few and keep them.
Hollow-sounding wood. The EPA suggests probing exposed wood for hollow spots. That's an indicator to investigate, not a diagnosis, and it certainly isn't a basis for agreeing to structural repairs on the spot. If a company tells you your framing is damaged, ask to see it, and consider an independent inspection before authorizing anything structural.
Droppings and noise. Droppings, gnaw marks, and scratching in walls or ceilings point to rodents. This Old House puts rodent treatment at $180-$600 in 2026. The durable answer combines removal with sealing entry points.
Bites and stains. Bites are unreliable as identification - people react differently and many things bite. For bed bugs, look for the insects, shed skins and staining around mattress seams and bed frames. Given whole-home treatment runs $1,500-$5,000 (This Old House, 2026), confirm before you commit.
Choosing pest control a fix
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- Confirm before you spend Every sign on this page has more than one possible cause. The EPA's IPM framework makes identification a formal step for exactly this reason.
- Never authorize structural repair off a pest inspection alone If wood damage is claimed, get it shown to you, photographed, and where the amounts are significant, assessed by someone who isn't selling the repair.
- Keep specimens and photos They cost nothing and settle arguments about what you actually have.
- Note where and when Time of day, location and season all help a professional narrow the species and the entry route.
- Act early on rodents Populations grow. Early exclusion is cheaper than a whole-structure problem later.
All pest control problems
Termite Swarmers Indoors
Mosquito Yard Infestation
Mice in Attic
Rats in Crawlspace
Ant Trails in Kitchen
Cockroaches in Bathroom
Bed Bugs After Travel
Wasp Nest Near Entry
Ticks on Pets and Yard
Wildlife in Chimney
Fleas After Pets
Recurring Pest Infestation
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- EPA - Termites: How to Identify and Control Them · retrieved 2026-07-25
- EPA - Introduction to Integrated Pest Management · retrieved 2026-07-25
- This Old House - How Much Does Pest Control Cost? (2026 Pricing) · retrieved 2026-07-25
- This Old House - How Much Does a Bed Bug Exterminator Cost? (2026 Guide) · retrieved 2026-07-25
You know more than the last homeowner they quoted.
That is worth something only while you are still choosing. Tell us what is going on and we will match you with a few pest control pros whose licence and insurance we have already checked - free, no obligation.
Free · No pressure · Only your matched pros get your details