From sealing up mouse holes to blocking wasp nests, our most instinctive responses to unwanted visitors can backfire. Pest experts explain what to do instead.
You hear scratching behind the kitchen cupboards, you find a few mysterious droppings in the loft, or horror of horrors, you spot a wasp disappearing into a hole in the roof. Your first instinct might be to reach for the spray, seal up the hole and hope for the best, but that could be exactly the wrong thing to do.
New research from Saga Home Insurance found that 42% of homeowners would first try to deal with a pest infestation themselves, while 14% would search online or on social media for advice. Just 31% would contact a pest-control professional first.
And while the internet is full of ingenious-sounding remedies, experts warn that DIY pest control can sometimes make a problem harder to treat.
If you’ve tried any of these, you’re far from alone, but knowing what to avoid could save you time, money and a lot of stress.
Finding a hole where mice or rats are getting into your home might seem like a problem that can be solved with a bit of DIY, but don’t reach for the filler just yet.
“Simply placing bait without understanding their entry points and behaviour is rarely a complete solution,” says Leigh Fowler, assistant general manager at JG Pest Control.
Saga’s pest expert Sophie Thorogood, technical training manager and field biologist at Pelsis, also warns against sealing rodent entry points before the infestation has been treated.
“Rats are highly suspicious of changes to their surroundings, known as neophobia,” she explains. “Disrupting their usual route could make them wary of traps or poison.”
If rodents are still inside when their usual entrance is blocked, they may start looking for another way out, potentially spreading into other parts of the property. The infestation should be treated first, Thorogood says, before holes and gaps are sealed to stop pests returning.
When you see wasps flying in and out of a crack in your brickwork or roof, it’s natural to want to plug it with whatever’s to hand. Unfortunately, that won’t solve the problem.
“Blocking the entrance to a wasp nest will not remove the infestation either,” says Thorogood. “The wasps may instead find another route and begin appearing elsewhere in the building.”
If wasps are repeatedly entering and leaving a hole in your home, it’s better to get expert advice rather than attempting to seal it up yourself.
Common wasps aren’t protected and can be dealt with like any other pest. Asian hornets are a different matter. These invasive insects prey on honeybees and other pollinators, so any suspected sighting should be reported. Look for a mostly dark body with a single yellow-orange band near the tail and yellow tips on the legs. They’re slightly smaller than our native European hornet.
Don’t approach or try to remove a nest yourself. Instead, report it via the Asian Hornet Watch app or the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat website, ideally with a photo.
One of the biggest problems with DIY pest control is that killing a few visible pests doesn’t necessarily deal with the reason they’re there.
“The biggest risk with DIY pest control is treating the symptom rather than the cause,” says Fowler. “You might kill the pest you can see, but if you haven’t identified where it is coming from, how it is getting in or where it is breeding, the problem can quickly return.”
Correct identification matters, too. Different pests need different approaches, and using the wrong treatment can waste time or even make an infestation harder to control.
“Understanding the type and scale of the problem will help you choose the right control strategy,” says Thorogood.
Cockroach and bed bug infestations, for example, can be particularly difficult to treat because the insects can hide in cracks and crevices and multiply quickly.
Flies, ants and wasps tend to become more common as temperatures and humidity rise, while rats and mice are more likely to enter homes in autumn and winter in search of warmth, shelter and food.
But don’t assume colder weather means you’re safe from insects.
“Before central heating became widespread, there was a decline in bed bugs over winter because it was more difficult for them to breed,” says Thorogood.
“Now, warm homes can support pests throughout the colder months and provide them with a refuge.”
Spotting a moth fluttering out of the wardrobe or an ant crossing the worktop can send you straight to Google, but it’s worth taking a breath first.
“One isolated sighting doesn’t always mean you have an infestation,” says Fowler. “The warning signs are repetition and evidence.”
That could include repeatedly seeing pests in the same area, finding droppings, gnaw marks, damaged food packaging, eggs or shed skins, noticing unusual smells or hearing movement in walls or lofts.
“Seeing one ant outside is very different from finding a continuous trail of ants entering a kitchen every day,” Fowler adds. “Likewise, one moth is less concerning than regularly finding adult moths alongside damaged fabrics or larvae.”
Saga’s research found that ants were the most commonly encountered pest, reported by 49% of homeowners, followed by mice (38%) and wasps or hornets (33%). Rats were reported by 20%, while 19% had encountered silverfish, 15% fleas and 14% clothes or carpet moths.
Some pests are remarkably good at keeping out of sight. Rats and mice tend to be hidden during the day, while bed bugs can conceal themselves in tiny gaps around beds and furniture.
That means it’s worth paying attention to the evidence they’re leaving behind.
According to Thorogood, warning signs include:
When you discover a pest problem, it’s tempting to search for a quick fix online, but just because something has gone viral doesn’t mean it’s going to solve your problem.
“There can sometimes be a hint of truth behind remedies shared online,” says Thorogood, “but the advice is often exaggerated or taken out of context.”
Even if a remedy appears to work temporarily, it may not address the source of the infestation.
And if you’re using a pesticide or rodenticide, Fowler says it should always be used exactly as instructed, particularly in homes with children or pets. If you can’t identify the pest or aren’t confident the treatment is safe and appropriate, professional advice may be the better option.
Pests don’t confine themselves to the kitchen. Lofts, under-stairs cupboards and the back of the wardrobe can suit them just as well.
“Kitchens are an obvious hotspot because of food, warmth and water,” says Fowler. But he also recommends checking behind kitchen units, underneath sinks, around boilers and pipework, as well as lofts, garages and utility rooms.
Dark, quiet areas that aren’t disturbed regularly can be particularly attractive. Cardboard boxes, cluttered cupboards and lofts can also provide hiding places for insects and rodents.
And don’t forget the outside of the property. Gaps around pipes, damaged air bricks, rooflines and spaces behind appliances can all provide potential routes inside.
Some pests aren’t yours to remove.
“Bats and their roosts are protected by law, including under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so homeowners should not attempt to disturb or remove them and should instead seek specialist advice,” advises Anna Thunstrom, head of home insurance at Saga.
Bees aren’t legally protected, but as crucial pollinators they’re worth sparing. A local beekeeper may collect a honeybee swarm, while bumblebee nests are usually best left alone until they die off naturally at the end of summer.
Small changes around the home can make it more inviting to unwanted visitors than you might realise. Fowler says to look out for:
A few simple habits can help, such as keeping food sealed, dealing with leaks, keeping bins secure, reducing clutter and checking your home regularly for gaps that need repairing.
If you can’t identify what you’re dealing with, the problem keeps coming back or it’s somewhere you can’t safely reach, it’s time to get professional help.
Some pests are harder to tackle than others. Cockroaches and bed bugs, for example, hide in the smallest cracks and breed quickly, so shop-bought treatments rarely get to the root of the problem. And if you suspect bats, leave them be and seek specialist advice, as they’re protected by law.
The sooner you act, the better. Problems caught early are usually quicker, cheaper and less disruptive to fix.
Saga Home Insurance’s research found that 27% of homeowners don’t know what their standard home insurance or optional Home Emergency cover may provide, while 15% believe standard home insurance usually covers pest removal.
Pest damage isn’t typically covered by standard home insurance, and Saga’s standard Home Insurance follows this approach. Saga Home Emergency is an optional add-on that can provide treatment for certain household pests, subject to the policy’s terms, conditions and exclusions.
Thunstrom says: “It is important to act as soon as a problem is identified and check the policy before arranging treatment.”
She adds that homeowners shouldn’t assume every pest problem will be covered, particularly if it was already known about or has developed gradually.
“A small wasp nest and extensive woodworm throughout a property would be viewed very differently,” she says.
Cover varies between insurers, but Saga Home Emergency typically doesn’t cover infestations that were known about before the policy began, developed gradually, or involve protected species such as bats and bees.
Whether you're looking for straightforward insurance or cover that's packed with extras, our home insurance has plenty of options for people over 50.
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