Can Plumbing Leaks Cause Pest Infestations?

Every homeowner deals with a plumbing leak at some point in their life. Whether it’s the kitchen faucet or underneath the bathroom sink, it’s inevitable that a leak will eventually happen. But what many homeowners don’t realize is that plumbing leaks can attract pests into the home, creating an even bigger issue.

While there are a variety of reasons why pests can enter your home, water is a huge culprit because pests are attracted to moisture and will find a way to enter your household through your plumbing system. In this blog, we’ll be sharing the most common sources of plumbing leaks and how you can keep the nasty pests away from your home.

Pests That Are Attracted to Water

To give some background, let’s start off with a few common pests that are attracted to moisture:

• Termites
• Mice
• Rats
• Cockroaches
• Silverfish
• Carpenter ants

Sources of Plumbing Leaks

Now that you have an idea of the types of pests that are attracted to moisture, you’ll want to make sure you’re always carrying out routine leak inspections to prevent water damage and reduce the risk of pests entering your home. Some of the most common sources of plumbing leaks that you’ll want to keep your eye on include:

FAUCETS

Luckily with leaky faucets, you don’t have to do much in terms of inspection because these leaks are easy to access and you’ll most likely physically see the leak happening from the faucet. If you notice your faucet leaking, there could be an issue with the fixture itself or your water control valves.

UNDERNEATH SINKS

It’s important to get into the habit of checking underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks regularly for leaks. These leaks can often go unnoticed as they are most likely coming from the pipes behind the cabinet door. Not only can these leaks cause mold and mildew growth if they go unfixed, but they will also attract creepy crawlers into your plumbing system.

If you notice a leak or unexplained moisture underneath your sinks, it’s time to call Bell Plumbing for premier leak detection services. We can detect and repair all types of leaks to prevent further water damage to your home and keep the pests away.

UNDERNEATH APPLIANCES

If there’s water collecting underneath kitchen appliances like your refrigerator or dishwasher, this can attract an entire colony of pests if it’s not taken care of right away. Until you have a professional come out and repair the leak, slide a pan underneath your fridge or dishwasher and let it collect the water so it doesn’t spread across your flooring. Be sure to empty the pan regularly.

Signs of Pests in Your Home

Now that you know what types of pests are attracted to water and the common sources of leaks, here are a few signs that pests have already entered your home:

BITE MARKS OR HOLES

If you notice bite marks or holes in your furniture, floors, or walls, you might have a rodent problem. Rodents are also great at climbing, so keep an eye out for droppings on your furniture as well.

FURNITURE AND FABRIC DAMAGE

It’s no secret that rodents like to chew away at things. If you see unexplained damage to your carpets, curtains, couches, or walls, fabric pests and rodents might have gained access to your home.

NESTS

Shredded paper or fabric make great nests for rodents. If you see signs of these, specifically around appliances or in dark corners of cabinets where mice or rats would typically hide out, the rodents might have created nests for themselves in your home.

San Mateo Leak Detection and Repair

At Bell Plumbing, we understand how frustrating leaks can be, let alone if the leaks are attracting pests into your household. Give us a call at 650-206-7672 or fill out our online contact form at the first sign of a leak. We’ll be right out to locate the source of the leak and offer a lasting repair.