There could be a tiny silver insect lurking in your home that could lead to a very expensive problem if you're not careful.
Silverfish are strange, shiny silver (hence the name) insects, shaped almost like a teardrop (and you might shed a tear if you find some in your home).
The insects are harmless to humans and they themselves don't damage your house. It isn't the insects themselves that are the problem and you don't need to kill them.
If you find these small insects in your property it means you have a damp problem, which can be costly if it goes unchecked.
Silverfish love damp conditions and thrive around water and moisture.
If you see one darting in or out of your skirting boards, or on gaps around windowsills, it's a pretty good sign that you have damp and that there's moisture inside your property.
If left unchecked, damp can cause myriad issues. It can cause bricks to crack, joists to rot, plaster to decay and mould spores to spread, destroying the very fabric of your house and the air quality too.
Of course, damp can be caused by all sorts of things from leaky drainpipes to condensation, ageing damp proofing or just poor ventilation, especially around bathrooms or kitchens where a lot of water is left hanging in the air.
The cause can be hard to pin down but either way, spotting silverfish indoors can be a sign that there's damp to be sorted out.
