Wichita Pest Control Inspection Checklist for Homes

A few weeks of Wichita rain can push ants indoors, and one cold snap can send mice hunting for warmth in Riverside or College Hill. The tricky part is that pests rarely announce themselves—your house just gets a little noisier at night, a little smellier in the garage, or you spot one “random” roach in the laundry room.

Regular checks help you catch the small stuff before it becomes a wall-opening, insulation-replacing project. You can do a lot yourself: scan for entry points, track moisture, look for droppings, and spot wood damage early. This Pest Control inspection checklist is built for what we see around Wichita homes—basements, slab foundations, big temperature swings, and those windy days that seem to blow everything (including insects) toward your doors.

Walk-through that catches most pest problems early

• Start outside, then move in. Walk the perimeter slowly, then repeat the same path inside. Consistency makes changes obvious.
• Foundation and siding line
  • Look for mud tubes (termite shelter tubes) on concrete, brick, or behind downspouts.
  • Check for gaps where siding meets the foundation, especially around utility penetrations.
  • Document: take a wide photo (context) and a close-up with a coin for scale.
• Windows, doors, and garage seals
  • Look for daylight under exterior doors; check cracked weatherstripping.
  • Inspect garage door bottom seal—common mouse/roach highway.
  • Document: note location (e.g., “north garage corner”), gap size, and whether it’s seasonal swelling.
• Eaves, soffits, and roofline
  • Watch for wasp activity under soffits and around attic vents.
  • Look for staining or greasy rub marks near roof returns (often squirrels/raccoons).
  • Document: photo from the ground plus a zoomed shot; avoid climbing if you’re not steady on ladders.
• Yard-to-house bridges
  • Trim branches at least 6–12 inches away from the roof/siding.
  • Check mulch depth against the foundation; thick mulch can hide termite activity.
  • Document: measure and note areas where mulch contacts siding.
• Basement/crawlspace/utility room
  • Look for moisture: condensation, rusted nails, damp cardboard, musty smells.
  • Inspect sill plates and joists for soft spots, blistered paint, or “maze” patterns.
  • Document: mark the room and wall (e.g., “basement east wall, 4 ft from window”).
• Kitchen and laundry “hot zones”
  • Pull out (or at least flashlight behind) the fridge and stove edges; look for droppings, egg cases, shed skins.
  • Check under sinks for leaks and swollen cabinet bottoms.
  • Document: capture droppings close-up and a wider shot showing which appliance.
• Attic and storage areas
  • Look for torn insulation, nesting, or small dark pellets along rafters.
  • Check around plumbing stacks and chimney chase gaps.
  • Document: write down any sounds you hear and the time of day.

Simple performance checks you can do without special tools

1. Sticky trap “mapping” (48–72 hours)

   • Place a few sticky traps along baseboards: near the pantry, under the sink, by the garage entry, and in the basement.
   • Normal: occasional small spiders or one-off insects.
   • Abnormal: repeated catches in the same spot, multiple roaches, or mice activity (fur, droppings near traps).
   • Efficiency indicator: fewer catches week over week after you seal gaps and reduce moisture.

2. Night check with a flashlight (5 minutes)

   • Do a quick scan in the kitchen and garage 1–2 hours after dark.
   • Normal: quiet, no sudden scurrying when lights flip on.
   • Abnormal: roaches running from sink areas, ants trailing along edges, or scratching sounds in walls.

3. Moisture “stress test” in problem areas

   • Run bath fans for 10 minutes; check if mirrors clear and whether moisture lingers on windows.
   • Normal: humidity clears reasonably fast.
   • Abnormal: persistent condensation (supports silverfish, roaches, mold that attracts pests).

4. Door sweep paper test

   • Close an exterior door on a strip of paper; tug gently.
   • Normal: paper resists pulling.
   • Abnormal: easy slip-out indicates a gap large enough for insects, and in some cases young mice.

Safety checks that matter more than catching a bug

• Know what you’re looking at before you touch it

  • If you suspect brown recluse activity (shed skins, webs in storage, bites), avoid reaching into dark boxes or under shelves.
  • Wear gloves when moving items in garages and basements.

• Chemical and bait safety

  • If you use store-bought sprays or baits, keep them away from HVAC return vents and food prep areas.
  • Never mix chemicals (especially bleach + anything). If you feel dizzy, get fresh air immediately.

• Stinging insect risk

  • Watch for heavy wasp/bee traffic at one spot on siding, soffit, or in a shrub—this can indicate a nest.
  • If anyone in the home has allergy history, don’t “test” it with a broom.

• Rodent contamination

  • Droppings in drawers, pantry shelves, or HVAC closets are a health risk.
  • Don’t vacuum dry droppings. Lightly mist with disinfectant, wipe with paper towels, double-bag, and wash hands.

• When to evacuate or call emergency help

  • Strong, persistent chemical odor after treatment, breathing trouble, or burning eyes.
  • Aggressive swarming insects inside living spaces.
  • A wild animal trapped indoors or in a wall where scratching is intense and continuous.
  • If you suspect gas or electrical damage while investigating (chewed wires smell like hot plastic), leave and call emergency services/utility company.

A Wichita seasonal schedule that matches how pests behave here

Spring (March–May): moisture and colony starts

• Inspect grading and downspouts after storms; fix pooling near the foundation.
• Check for ant trails on warm afternoons, especially near patios and driveways.
• Look for early termite signs: mud tubes near expansion joints and porch steps.

Summer (June–August): high activity, fast reproduction

• Re-check door sweeps; heat warps seals and garage doors loosen.
• Inspect around outdoor faucets and irrigation lines for leaks (roach and ant magnets).
• Watch for wasp nests under eaves and in playsets or sheds.

Fall (September–November): the “everybody moves in” season

• Seal gaps around utility lines before the first real cold front.
• Check attic vents and soffits for openings; squirrels and mice get persistent now.
• Clean up leaf piles against the house; they hold moisture and shelter insects.

Winter (December–February): quiet outside, noisy inside

• Monitor for rodent signs in the garage, pantry, and basement edges.
• Check the furnace room for droppings and stored cardboard (nesting material).
• After snow/ice events, inspect for new water intrusion that can drive pests to drier areas.

A simple documentation template you’ll actually keep using

Use one note per inspection so you can compare month to month.

• Date/Time:
• Weather (last 7 days): rain, freeze, high winds, heat wave
• Areas checked: exterior perimeter, attic, basement/crawlspace, kitchen, garage
• Findings (list by location):
  • Location (room + wall or exterior side)
  • Evidence type (droppings, mud tube, chewed material, live insect, odor, noise)
  • Severity (1–5) and whether it’s new or ongoing
• Photos to take:
  • Wide shot showing the area (so you can find it again)
  • Close-up with a coin/ruler for scale
  • Any entry point (gap under door, crack, vent opening)
• Actions taken: sealed gap, cleaned spill, set traps, fixed leak
• Follow-up date: set a reminder in 7–14 days to check if activity changes

When to call a professional in Wichita (and why it’s worth it)

Call an expert when you see:

• Termite indicators: mud tubes, blistered paint, hollow-sounding wood, or swarms near windows.
• Repeated roach sightings (especially daytime), or multiple sticky-trap catches in kitchens/basements.
• Rodent activity: droppings in food areas, scratching in walls/ceilings, chewed wiring or insulation.
• Stinging insect nests in soffits, wall voids, or high-traffic areas.
• Mystery bites or persistent insects you can’t identify.
• Moisture problems you can’t solve (leaks, poor ventilation) that keep re-triggering pest activity.

Wichita homeowners have 18 inspectors available locally, and a professional visit can do what DIY can’t: confirm species, find hidden entry routes, assess wall void/attic activity, and build a targeted plan that avoids over-spraying. If your notes show the problem spreading or returning, it’s time to hand the file over.

If you want a quick next step, bring your photos and notes and ask a local company to check Pest Control Wichita style—start with identification, then exclusion, then treatment. That order saves money and keeps the fixes from being temporary.