A slow drip under the kitchen sink doesn’t feel like a pest problem. Give it a month, and it is. Moisture is the single biggest attractor for ants, roaches, silverfish and even termites, and the cabinet under a sink is dark, warm and rarely opened. That’s a nursery.
What we find under sinks
Swollen particleboard, a faint musty smell, and ant trails along the back wall of the cabinet. Sometimes German roaches, which need water every few days and will set up wherever they can find it. In older Central Jersey homes, a long-term leak against a foundation wall can also be the moisture source that draws subterranean termites into the framing.
What to do about it
- Fix the leak first. No treatment holds if the water keeps coming.
- Dry the cabinet out completely and replace any swollen wood.
- Seal gaps where pipes pass through the wall or floor with copper mesh and caulk.
- Keep the cabinet clear so you can see what’s happening in there.
Most of the ant calls we get in spring trace back to a moisture source the homeowner didn’t know about.
Rudy, Fuessel Pest
If you’ve already got activity, that’s what we’re here for. A free inspection tells you what it is and what the least you need to do about it is.