Silverfish control in Port Elizabeth
Silverfish, also commonly called fish moths, are often first noticed in cupboards. Kitchen cupboards are one place, but we also find the problem in bedroom cupboards and elsewhere in the house.
On our True Clean jobs in Port Elizabeth, I start with where you're seeing them and where the moisture is. A cupboard is sometimes only the first place you've noticed the activity.
Written by Diederik Visser
Operations, marketing and pest control at True Clean. Seven years in pest control.
First-hand information recorded .
What do you check during the inspection?
A kitchen cupboard might be where someone first spots them, but I also want to know about bedroom cupboards and the rest of the house. I start where they are seeing the most, then check the other reported areas. That gives us a better picture of the extent of the infestation.
On some properties we find damp areas around the floors or under tiles, with a lot of activity there. Moisture coming from the ground or problems with the building can be part of that picture. Finding the cause of the damp is its own job; I explain what we have noticed without diagnosing a structural defect from seeing silverfish.
What does the treatment involve?
We work from the affected areas found during the inspection. In bedrooms, that often means the skirtings and the cupboard areas. The outside of a cupboard, the inside panel of a door and the space inside it are different surfaces to assess for treatment, according to what the product allows.
We then look through the other affected parts of the house, including the kitchen skirtings. A problem reported in a bedroom cupboard can still need work elsewhere. We may also use ULV treatment alongside the work in those areas as part of the plan.
The point is to work through the activity we have found, with access to the places that need attention. We'll explain which cupboard areas need preparing and which surfaces can be treated, including the arrangements for food, clothing and return to the rooms.
What should I do before you arrive?
Close and store food in containers before the work. That is the main preparation I mention when arranging the visit.
If there is a really bad infestation in a clothing cupboard, we may ask for the clothing to be removed. That gives us access to the inside of the cupboard. I know that is a heck of a job, so we'll explain which cupboards need clearing before you start.
Is there usually a second visit?
Our usual silverfish service involves two treatments: the initial visit and another about a week later. We'll confirm the plan for your property when booking.
Tell us where activity continues between visits so we can check those areas when we return. We'll also explain whether any affected cupboards need preparing again before the follow-up.
Does the moisture need attention too?
If there's a plumbing or moisture problem, it needs assessing alongside the pest work. A treatment doesn't repair a leaking pipe or fix a damp building. If the area stays damp, that needs discussing with the owner as part of the inspection findings.
We explain what we notice so the underlying issue can be followed up. That might mean arranging someone to investigate the plumbing or building condition as well as carrying out the pest treatment.
Questions we get asked
Do I have to clear every clothing cupboard?
Not necessarily. If a cupboard is badly affected, we may need the clothing removed for access. We'll tell you which areas need preparing.
Does finding silverfish prove the house has a foundation problem?
No. Moisture can have different causes. We look at the activity and damp areas, but we don't diagnose a specific building defect from the insect alone.
What does the work cost?
Silverfish treatment is quoted for the property. The areas affected, access and work needed determine the quote. Ask us to assess the problem and explain the two-visit plan.
See the travel charges by area for work outside Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha.
Prices can change. We keep the site up to date as best we can, and the price we quote you before we start is the one you pay.
What else might help?
Tell us what you're seeing
Tell us where the problem is and what you've noticed. We'll take it from there.
Or phone 061 905 0514 if you'd rather talk to a person.