What’s living under your floors?
Crawl spaces are dark, damp and quiet, which is exactly what many Kansas City pests are looking for.
Dry it out.
Moisture is the biggest draw, so fixing leaks and drainage comes first.
Close it up.
Screened vents and sealed gaps keep bugs and mice from moving in and moving up.
Keep watch.
Regular service and a free termite inspection catch problems before they spread.
Crawl space pests are the ones that love dark, damp, quiet spots. In Kansas City that usually means mice, spiders, crickets, centipedes, silverfish and termites. A crawl space gives them shelter right under your floors, with easy routes up into the house.
The fix is drying the space out, sealing gaps and keeping a treatment barrier in place. Our home pest control plans cover most of the bugs you’ll find down there, plus light mouse activity.
What crawl space pests are most common in Kansas City?
Camel crickets, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, silverfish and mice top the list. Termites are the one to watch most closely, because they can work on wood for a long time before you notice.
Spiders follow the crickets and other bugs they eat. Mice use the crawl space as a quiet base, then follow pipes and wires up into walls and cabinets.
Why do crawl spaces attract pests?
Moisture is the biggest reason. Crawl spaces stay cool and humid, and many bugs need that dampness to survive.
Other things that invite pests:
- Leaky pipes or water pooling after rain
- Torn or missing vent screens
- Wood or cardboard stored on the dirt floor
- Gaps where plumbing and wiring pass through the foundation
Watch for a musty smell, droppings, sagging insulation or mud tubes on piers and foundation walls.
How do you get rid of crawl space pests?
Fix the moisture first, then seal entry points and add a professional barrier. Treating bugs without drying the space out often means they come right back.
On each visit, our tech inspects your home, yard and entry points, then treats a barrier around the outside, plus inside where needed. Our general pest techs don’t go inside crawl spaces. They treat from the entrance, with rodent stations or spray right at the opening. For mice, techs seal small gaps with copper mesh. Our mouse control page explains how we handle them.
What about termites in a crawl space?
Termites are a separate service, and the first step is a free inspection. Crawl spaces are a common place to find mud tubes and damaged wood, especially where wood touches soil.
Our post on whether pest control covers termites explains the difference. We use Sentricon, and you can see how it works on our termite control page.
What if an animal is living under the house?
Rats, raccoons, squirrels and other animals under your home go to our wildlife team, not a general pest plan. They inspect, handle the animal and quote any bigger exclusion work.
Learn more about wildlife removal if you hear scratching or find a dug opening near the foundation.
Noticing a musty smell or droppings under the house? Call 913-735-5451, answered 24/7, or schedule online. Most services can be scheduled same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rock Pest’s home pest control plans cover common crawl space bugs like spiders, crickets, centipedes, millipedes and silverfish, plus light mouse activity. Termites and animals such as rats or raccoons are separate services.
Lots of crickets in a crawl space usually point to too much moisture. Drying the space out and sealing gaps cuts their numbers and the spiders that feed on them.
Mud tubes on piers, foundation walls or wood framing are the most common sign of termites in a crawl space. Rock Pest offers a free termite inspection to check.
Yes, mice often use a crawl space as a base and follow pipes and wires up into walls and cabinets. Rock Pest techs seal small gaps with copper mesh, and bigger exclusion goes to our wildlife team.
Rock Pest’s initial service starts at $289, then quarterly service is $56.50 a month on a 12-month agreement. Free re-service between visits is included.
