5 Common Entry Points (And Hiding Places) For Pests In Your Office
Pest control for your home is almost always a no-brainer. After all, no one wants pests crawling around their home uninvited. So why should your office building be any different? Unlike home pest control, commercial pest control is generally an afterthought. Especially when you consider the long list of to-dos and responsibilities property owners have on their plate. However, having pest control for your office building is just as important as it is for your home! Think of all the people who come and go from your office building every day. From tenants and guests, to clients and vendors, you are responsible for keeping these people safe in your building! An important part of that is implementing a commercial pest control plan. But how are you supposed to keep pests out if you don’t know how they’re getting inside in the first place? Pests will find all kinds of creative ways to come inside, so it’s best to stay alert and proactive in your efforts to protect your building against pest damage. When checking for pest damage, or possible signs of an infestation, inspect these common pest entry points (and potential hiding spots).
1. Window Cracks or Openings
Maybe the office is a little stuffy, or someone brought a stinky lunch, so everyone decides to open a window. No problem, right? In most cases, no! Opening the window for a few minutes during the workday shouldn’t cause too many problems when it comes to pests. However, when windows are left unattended, or open overnight, you’re bound to notice some pests crawling around your office. Windows that are left open for long amounts of time, or that have cracks in the seal or tears in the screen, make an easy entry point for pests. If windows aren’t kept closed or damages aren’t repaired, pests will definitely find their way in. Also, make sure all lights are turned off when everyone goes home for the night. Bugs are drawn to lights, so an open window accompanied with a light source can mean big trouble for your office building. Make sure tenants are keeping windows closed, lights off and keeping you informed of any noticeable damage to windows that may be letting pests in. Where pests might be hiding: Spiders are known to make their way inside through open windows or torn screens. Check areas between the screen and window, and in the corners of your office for spider webs. It’s also important to note that spiders live off of eating other insects. So, if you have spiders, chances are you have another pest problem, too!
2. Open Doorways
People are coming and going from your office building all day. Whether it’s employees going to lunch, or clients coming for a meeting, doors are constantly opening and closing. While keeping doors closed is impossible, open doorways are an extremely common entry point for pests. To see if pests are coming in through your front doors, maintain a close eye on your lobby. If pests are crawling in through your building’s front door, chances are they’re hiding out somewhere in your lobby or on ground level floors. Tenants may begin to complain about extra pests crawling around your front door, so check to make sure weatherstrips are intact and there are no cracks for pests to get in. If you find something needs to be repaired, fix or replace it immediately. Where pests might be hiding: Pests like ants are likely to go unnoticed when trooping in through a doorway. Once inside, they will search out any type of food source which could be in kitchens, garbage cans, food spills and more. Advise tenants to keep food stored appropriately, and to keep spills and leftover crumbs to a minimum to help fight an ant invasion.
3. Hitchhiking on Employees (And Their Pets)
Some pests may unintentionally find their way inside by hitching a ride on an employee. Normally these pests are smaller and would be more difficult to spot with the naked eye around the office. More offices are becoming pet-friendly, too. While wagging tails around the office can be a healthy distraction, office pets could be bringing in office pests. Establish a pet policy with your tenants to make sure pets are up to date on vaccines and preventatives like flea and tick medication. Where pests might be hiding: One pest that is known to accidentally hitch a ride is the bed bug. While it’s a common myth that bed bugs only live in beds, the truth is they can live just about anywhere—as long as there’s a blood supply. Bed bugs could infest rugs, carpet, couches, cushions… just about anything in your office! Bed bugs are also typically hard to spot, making them even more of a threat to your office. To catch bed bugs before they infest your office, you need to have a commercial pest control plan in place.
4. Incoming Packages
Pests may be on—or inside of—incoming packages too. For example, an incoming shipment of paper products may be attractive to pests like termites or silverfish. Not to mention the appeal of the cardboard boxes alone! If the boxes aren’t properly recycled or are just piled in a corner somewhere, you might be giving pests the perfect place to hide. Be sure your tenants are eliminating clutter like this around the office to give pests one less place to go. Where pests might be hiding: If termites or silverfish do get into your office, you could end up with a big problem on your hands! Termites will seek out anything with cellulose, so keep an eye on cardboard boxes, paper products, materials made of wood and office plants. Silverfish, on the other hand, will infest bindings, paper, and boxes. However, they also love moisture, so they could be hiding out around your kitchen or bathroom drains.
5. Foundational Flaws
As a property manager, you should be checking your property periodically for signs of flaws or damage. If not repaired quickly, cracks in the foundation could lead to bigger issues—like a pest infestation. Cracks or holes don’t have to be big either. Pests like mice and rats can get inside through a hole the size of a dime! By keeping an eye on foundational flaws, and making necessary repairs, you can help protect your property from pest infestations. Where pests might be hiding: Cracks in your foundation are the perfect entry point for cockroaches. Once inside, they’ll seek out food and water, so be on the lookout for cockroaches in kitchens. Cockroaches are sneaky, too, so they may be difficult to spot. Plus, if you find one cockroach, you probably have more so always call a specialist when it comes to cockroach removal!
When To Give Killingsworth A Call
While you can do your best to guard your property against these pest entry points, pests will almost always find a way to get inside. So, before pests start setting up shop in your office, give Killingsworth a call! We specialize in pest control and removal, so we can quickly spot, identify and treat the areas of your office that are affected by pest damage. We want to help you “Get Your Killingsworth” by creating and implementing a commercial pest control plan that protects your property, tenants, and investment! Schedule a service with us so we can help kickstart your commercial pest control plan—and don’t forget to ask about our current specials!
