Are there odd smells in your home that you are finding it hard to pinpoint? There are many reasons for a weird odour in the house, but if it’s particularly unpleasant it could indicate the presence of pests.
Some rodent related pest smells to look out for
Before we describe the stranger pest smells, let’s talk about some common pest smells. What we’re talking about here is the smell of urine, or ammonia. This is caused by rats and mice, who urinate in enormous quantities. Rodents also use it as a way to communicate and mark their territory. Basically, if you’re smelling urine, you could have a hidden rodent infestation.
Another smell which if often associated with rodents is the smell of rotting or decomposition. You may smell this if there is a dead rat, mouse or squirrel that has died somewhere in your home. This can sometimes happen in areas like crawl spaces, beneath floors, and inside walls. The smell of dead animals is a cause for concern and warrants a call to your local London pest control company, preferably one that deals with rodents.
Did you know that insects give off smells too?
Then you have cockroaches and bed bugs. These can also create strange pest smells. In the case of cockroaches, the smell is oily and musty. You may even detect a sweet or pungent smell. Bed bugs produce similar smells, although their scents are far sweeter. The smell of bed bugs can almost be sickly sweet and remind you of strawberries. This smell is caused by the bug’s pheromones.
What you should note here is that you won’t pick up on this when there are only a few of these insects. If you’re detecting a scent, it means there are large amounts of these pests nearby. This information can actually be extremely useful. If you ever go into a hotel room and pick up on these insect aromas, then leave immediately!
Finally, some species of ants can also leave a smell. These include the carpenter ant, which sprays an acid that smells similar to vinegar. Note that these ants chew wood, which makes them extremely dangerous. They can easily eat through items of furniture, structural timbers, and floorboards. If you detect the smell of vinegar near to these items, then keep a lookout for signs of these ants. The most obvious of these signs are piles of sawdust near to wood.