The short answer for most Pretoria North callers: rats in the roof, cockroaches in the kitchen or the shop, termites in older timber, and fishmoths in cupboards that haven't been emptied in years. All four are fixable, and none of them are fixed by spraying what you can see. We find the source first, then treat it.
What makes Pretoria North different
Pretoria North is one of the older parts of the northern side of the city, with plenty of freestanding houses on proper stands and a lot of businesses mixed in. Houses that have stood for decades have had time to settle: fascia boards pull away, air bricks crack, roof tiles shift. Those are the gaps rodents and insects use. Next door, a takeaway, workshop or small warehouse may be producing waste and warmth that pests like.
So we often find that a problem in a house is linked to something on a neighbouring property, and the other way round. That's worth knowing before you spend money treating only your own side of the wall.
Pests we're called out for most
Roof rats
The scratching overhead after dark, usually from May onwards when the cold sets in. Roof rats climb walls, trees and cables to get under the tiles. We bait outside in lockable stations, trap inside the roof, and show you the entry points. See how we handle rats in Montana and the north for more detail.
Cockroaches
In homes it's often the big American cockroach coming up from old drains and sewer lines, especially in summer. In shops and food businesses it's the small German cockroach living in the warm parts of equipment. They need different treatments, so we identify them first.
Subterranean termites
Older houses with timber floors, door frames and roof trusses are at real risk. Mud tubes on foundation walls or inside cupboards are the sign to watch for.
Fishmoths
Silver, fast and fond of paper, stored clothing and old books. They're a sign of dark, undisturbed storage, and a targeted treatment plus some clearing out deals with them.
Running a business here
If you run a shop, kitchen, workshop or warehouse, the cheapest pest problem is the one you never have. We set up scheduled monitoring with bait stations, insect checks and a record of every visit, which also helps when a health inspector or client asks what you're doing about pests. Commercial work is the same process as a home, just with more paperwork.
How we go about it
- Look first. Roof space, kitchen, drains, garage and garden, or for a business the storeroom, bins and back door.
- Identify. German or American cockroach, roof rat or brown rat, subterranean termites or something that just looks like them.
- Treat the source. Gel baits for cockroaches, bait stations and traps for rodents, registered soil treatment or baiting for termites, odourless residual sprays where they make sense.
- Close the door. We point out the gaps, drains and storage habits that let the pest in, so it doesn't come straight back.
What people get wrong with older houses
People tend to assume that because a house has been fine for thirty years, it will stay fine. But older soil treatments wear off, and new paving or a flowerbed against the wall can give termites a fresh way in. If you're buying in Pretoria North, a termite inspection is money well spent. Our page on termite control in Montana covers what we look for.
A local tip
Many older northern homes still have open drain gullies in the yard. Keep the grids on, keep them clear of leaves, and pour a bucket of water down any drain that isn't used often, such as an outside basin or a spare bathroom. A dry trap is an open door for American cockroaches coming up from the sewer. It's free, and it works. If they're already in, cockroach control across Pretoria explains the next step.
What does it cost?
A straightforward rodent or cockroach job in a house costs less than a termite treatment or a business on monthly monitoring. The price depends on the size of the property, how many rooms or stations are involved, whether we need follow-up visits and, for termites, how far the activity has spread. We'll quote after seeing it. For one or two fishmoths in a cupboard, clearing it out and airing it may be all you need.
The rest of our northern work, including the newer estates, is on the Montana pest control page, and if you're just up the road, see pest control in Wonderboom. We're SAPCA registered and our 3-month guarantee means a return visit if the pest comes back in that time. Call 012 012 5526, or WhatsApp us a photo and we'll tell you what you're dealing with.
Questions we get asked
Do you treat small businesses in Pretoria North?
Yes. We treat shops, food outlets, workshops and warehouses, either as a once-off or on a scheduled monitoring contract with a record of each visit.
Why do big cockroaches appear in my bathroom at night?
They're usually American cockroaches coming up from the drains. Dry drain traps, broken grids and cracked pipes let them in. Keeping water in the traps and treating the drains stops most of them.
Are fishmoths harmful?
They don't bite or carry disease, but they damage paper, books, photographs and some fabrics. They point to damp, dark storage that hasn't been disturbed for a while.
Is my older house more likely to have termites?
Often, yes. Timber floors and roofs, worn-out soil treatments and decades of garden against the walls all raise the risk. An inspection will tell you for sure.
Can the shop next door be the cause of my rat problem?
It can. Rats travel between properties for food and shelter, so if a neighbouring business has open bins, the pressure on your house goes up. We'll show you which side they're coming from.