🏠 Pest-Proof My Home

Walk through every room with our expert inspection checklist. Flag issues, get a score, and download a printable action plan.

🍳 Kitchen —

🚿 Bathroom —

🏠 Attic —

🏚️ Basement —

🚗 Garage —

🌿 Exterior —

🍳

Kitchen Inspection

The highest-risk room in any home — cockroaches, ants, and pantry pests thrive here.

🪳 Cockroach Risk Factors

Check under/behind refrigeratorCockroaches nest in the motor cavity — pull out and inspect with a flashlight

Inspect under the sink cabinetLook for droppings, egg cases, and pipe gap entry points

Check behind stove and ovenGrease accumulation attracts and sustains cockroach populations

Inspect wall outlets near appliancesGerman cockroaches nest inside electrical boxes for warmth

🐜 Ant Entry Points

Seal gaps around all plumbing penetrationsThese are the #1 ant entry point — caulk any gap around pipes under the sink

Check where countertop meets wallGaps in caulk or tile grout allow ant access along plumbing routes

🦟 Pantry Pests

Inspect all dry goods — flour, cereal, riceLook for webbing (Indian meal moths) or small beetles (grain weevils) in forgotten items at the back

Check under/behind dishwasherMoisture and food debris accumulate here — prime pest harborage

🚿

Bathroom Inspection

Moisture, drains, and hidden leaks make bathrooms a top pest zone.

💧 Moisture & Leaks

Check under sink for drips or water stainsEven a slow drip creates ideal cockroach and silverfish conditions within weeks

Inspect caulk around tub, shower, and toilet baseFailed caulk lets moisture into walls, creating silverfish and mold mite habitat

Test exhaust fanShould pull steam away within 5 minutes of a hot shower — poor ventilation sustains psocids and drain flies

🪰 Drain Flies & Cockroaches

Check floor drain and shower drain for biofilmOrganic slime inside drain walls is the breeding site for drain flies — use enzyme cleaner, not bleach

Inspect behind toilet tankPrime cockroach hiding spot — warm, dark, rarely disturbed

🐟 Silverfish

Check baseboards and under bath matsSilverfish hide in dark, damp gaps — look for pepper-like droppings and shed skins

🏠

Attic Inspection

The most overlooked entry point — rodents, squirrels, bats, carpenter ants, and termites.

🐭 Rodent Entry Points

Inspect soffit vents for gaps or damageStandard screen is not rodent-proof — upgrade to 1/4-inch hardware cloth

Check gable ventsMost common wildlife entry point — inspect from inside attic with a flashlight

Look for chewed insulation, droppings, nesting materialCompressed trails through insulation batts indicate active rodent runs

Check for chewed wiresRodent-chewed wiring is a fire hazard — requires immediate attention

🐜 Carpenter Ants & Termites

Tap wood joists — listen for hollow soundHollow thud in solid-looking wood indicates termite or carpenter ant damage inside

Look for sawdust-like frass near wood jointsCarpenter ant frass resembles sawdust; termite frass is tiny pellets

Inspect ridge vent for gaps or missing coversAlso check that tree branches are 10+ feet from roofline — squirrel bridges

🏚️

Basement Inspection

Moisture, foundation cracks, and darkness attract silverfish, crickets, centipedes, and termites.

💧 Moisture Control

Check relative humidity with a hygrometerAbove 60% RH sustains silverfish, camel crickets, and mold mites — target below 50%

Inspect foundation walls for cracksCracks 1/4 inch or wider can allow mouse entry and provide termite mud tube pathways

Check floor drain for drain fly activitySmall moth-like flies hovering near drain indicate biofilm breeding site

🐜 Termite & Ant Inspection

Check sill plates and rim joists for mud tubesSubterranean termites build mud tubes from soil to wood — typically pencil-width

Look for wood-to-soil contact outsideSiding, door frames, or wood touching soil is a direct termite bridge

🐭 Rodent Entry

Check all utility penetrations (pipes, wires, HVAC)Gaps around pipes as small as 1/4 inch allow mice entry — seal with copper mesh + caulk

🚗

Garage Inspection

Rodents, spiders, stored product pests, and wasps — the garage is a pest superhighway.

🐭 Rodent Exclusion

Inspect garage door bottom sealStandard rubber seals often leave a gap — press a 1/4 inch folded card under the door to test

Check door sweep on interior access doorThe door from garage to home is a critical exclusion point — no light should show under it

Look for rodent droppings, gnaw marks, nestingCheck corners, behind shelving, and inside any cardboard boxes

🕷️ Spiders & Wasps

Check corners, under shelves, and inside gloves/shoesBlack widows and brown recluse spiders favor undisturbed storage — always wear gloves when moving items

Inspect wall void openings and under door rails for wasp nestsWasps return to previous nest sites — even empty nests attract new colonies

🌽 Stored Product Pests

Check pet food, birdseed, grass seed storageOpen bags are infested within weeks — transfer to sealed metal containers

🌿

Exterior Inspection

Most pests enter from outside — this is your first and best line of defense.

🏚️ Foundation & Entry Points

Walk entire foundation perimeter looking for cracksCracks wider than 1/4 inch need hydraulic cement or polyurethane caulk immediately

Inspect all window frames and door frames for gapsUse a dollar bill test — if it slides through without resistance, the seal needs replacing

Check where utilities enter the home (electric, gas, cable)Even small conduit gaps are used by spiders, ants, and mice

🌿 Landscaping & Drainage

Check for standing water within 20 feet of homeMosquitoes breed in as little as a bottle cap of water — even clogged gutters qualify

Ensure mulch is 6+ inches from foundationMulch touching the foundation is a pest superhighway — especially for termites and carpenter ants

Trim shrubs and branches away from exterior wallsBranches touching the home give squirrels, ants, and rodents a direct bridge

Check downspouts discharge away from foundationWater pooling near foundation creates moisture-pest conditions — extend downspouts 6+ feet out

🏠 Your Home Pest-Proofing Report

⚠️ Issues Found

✅ Priority Action Plan

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Published: Jan 1, 2025 · Updated: Apr 7, 2026