If you’re a homeowner or a landlord, chances are you’ll have to deal with a pest infestation sooner or later. But whether you’re attacking an army of fleas or fighting a losing battle with roaches, pests aren’t just annoying and disruptive. They’re health hazards too. Here’s how.
Pests compromise the integrity of your home.
It might make you squirm just thinking about it, but pests can lurk in your drains, under your house, and even in your walls, living rent-free and destroying your home in the process. Termites busily chew through the wood in your flooring, walls, and framing, making your home unstable and unsafe. And other pests like mice and rats munch through insulation and electrical wiring, creating fire hazards in their wake. If left unchecked, these pests can cause some serious long-term damage to your home and put you and your family at risk.
Pests make your home unsanitary.
It’s no secret that pests carry diseases, and the pests that plague your home are no different. Roaches and ants carry and transmit bacterial and fungal infections such as E. Coli and Salmonella because they crawl through your drains and then walk across countertops where you prepare food, putting you and your family at risk for contracting diseases. If your toddler or baby gets sick often and you have pests, the two are most likely correlated. Kids crawl and play on the floor regularly, so they are at risk for picking up whatever germs the pests have left behind.
Pests threaten the health of your pets.
Pests affect the health of every member of your family, including your pet. Ticks, for example, can cause bacterial infections and diseases, and fleas can cause weight loss and anemia. Sadly, these health issues can be fatal to your pet if left untreated.
Pests aggravate pre-existing health conditions.
If someone in your household has a pre-existing health condition, you need to be particularly vigilant against pests like:
- Bedbugs
- Fleas
- Mosquitos
- Wasps
- Spiders
- Ants
A pest that causes one person to itch might cause another to have an allergic reaction. Pests that bite cause even greater concern, as just one bite from a pest can send some individuals into life-threatening, anaphylactic shock. To allergy-prone individuals, pests aren’t just a nuisance, they present a serious health risk.