Corrected! Termites, Pests, Moisture Issues, and More with Andrew Dixon

Homes in the Upstate have personality. Some have charming front porches, others have sunlit kitchens, and nearly all of them sit in a climate where bugs, moisture, and the occasional uninvited critter come with the territory. These challenges aren’t glamorous, but they matter deeply for long-term home health.

That is where expert insight becomes invaluable. This episode features guest Andrew Dixon, owner of Dixon Pest, whose decades of on-the-ground work in crawl spaces, attics, and everything in between have made him a trusted name among homeowners and investors. His stories and explanations cut through the myths and deliver a clear-eyed look at what really happens behind the scenes with termites, pests, and moisture issues in South Carolina homes.

What emerged was a surprisingly relatable, occasionally jaw-dropping, and often funny look at the problems homeowners face and the solutions that actually work. (And yes, there is such a thing as a “bat bug,” and yes, the explanation gets wild.)

Understanding Termites, Pests, and Moisture Issues

The focus on termites, pests, and moisture issues matters because these three elements shape the hidden ecosystem beneath almost every home. They affect foundation stability, indoor air quality, long-term maintenance costs, and even resale value.

Termites quietly eat wood from the inside out. Pests range from seasonal irritants to prolific indoor invaders. Moisture sets the stage for mold, fungus, and structural deterioration. When these factors overlap, small issues can multiply quickly.

Andrew emphasizes one thing repeatedly: problems begin when homeowners stop paying attention. Moisture builds, pests settle in, termites follow softened wood, and suddenly a small oversight becomes a major repair. The goal is not fear but awareness. Catching problems early is the difference between a brief service call and a five-figure renovation.

The Unexpected Road That Led Andrew Dixon Into Pest Control

Andrew’s entry into pest control wasn’t a straight path. It began with the 2008 recession, a lost job, a borrowed pressure washer, and a willingness to take on any honest work available. Those early days led him into lawn care, foreclosure cleanups, and eventually a short stint with another pest control company.

Years later, a simple customer request changed everything: “Do you spray for bugs?”

One job became several, demand kept growing, and Andrew eventually sold his lawn care side of the business to work in pest control full-time. It was a natural fit, and as he puts it, far less chaotic than maintaining temperamental lawnmowers. (Anyone who has ever tried to start a reluctant weed eater at 7 AM knows this pain.)

Today, Dixon Pest has developed a reputation built on reliability, education, and genuine care for homeowners. It is a business shaped by experience, long hours, and an honest desire to help.

What Most People Don’t Realize About Pest Control

For many homeowners, pest control looks like a single treatment—someone shows up, sprays a perimeter, and leaves. But Andrew explains that the real work lies in routine and relationships.

Modern homeowners can buy products online, watch DIY videos, and handle small problems themselves. Because of that, pest control professionals focus on consistency, maintenance, and preventing conditions that invite pests in the first place.

A major shift in the industry involves what Andrew calls mechanical control. Chemicals play a role, but the real magic happens when the environment becomes less inviting.

It is structured, intentional, and surprisingly strategic—not just a quick spray and goodbye.

Cockroaches: The Southern Introduction No One Wants

South Carolina residents know the drill. The moment an out-of-state homebuyer sees their first palmetto bug, they ask the same question: “What is that thing? ”

American cockroaches, commonly called palmetto bugs, live outdoors and wander in from gutters, mulch, and humid yard debris. They are large, fast, and always seem to appear at the exact worst moment. (Usually when someone is barefoot.)

German cockroaches are the real threat. These tiny indoor roaches reproduce rapidly and thrive in kitchens, pantry areas, and warm, moist appliances. They arrive through boxes, groceries, packaging, or even produce.

Once German roaches settle in, they do not go away on their own. Andrew says waiting even a few weeks can turn a manageable issue into a widespread infestation.

A Pest Control Story Straight Out of a Movie

One of Andrew’s most memorable calls involved a tenant insisting that her home was infested with bat bugs. Not bed bugs, but bat bugs — a nearly identical species that often emerges when bats are living overhead.

Because the lease required the owner to pay for bat bugs but not bed bugs, the situation spiraled. Andrew made multiple trips, searched the attic, dug through insulation, and spent weeks trying to confirm an infestation that didn’t match what he was seeing.

The case ultimately required Clemson University’s Department of Pesticide Regulation to examine the insect under a microscope. The result: bed bugs, not bat bugs.

The tenant lost the deposit. Andrew gained a story that now lives forever in pest-control legend. (Somewhere in the Upstate, someone is still adamantly insisting they met the first real bat bug.)

The Real Story Behind Termites in South Carolina

Termites are unavoidable in this region. Andrew describes them as “everywhere, always,” with one to three colonies per acre in some areas. Their ability to digest wood comes from organisms in their gut, making them one of the few creatures in the world capable of eating cellulose.

South Carolina deals primarily with subterranean termites, while the highly destructive Formosan termite has not yet reached the Upstate.

What surprises homeowners most is that termites are slow. They do not destroy a home overnight, and discovering them early is actually good news. The danger lies in the years when crawl spaces go unchecked. Moisture builds. Wood softens. Termites take advantage.

Prevention plans, annual inspections, and bonded treatments are the best defense. They protect property value and give homeowners peace of mind.

Moisture Issues: The Most Confusing Part of Upstate Homeownership

Moisture confuses more out-of-state buyers than anything else. Certain regions of the country simply do not deal with crawl spaces, humid climates, or moisture-related fungus.

Andrew breaks it down simply: • Moisture is everywhere in South Carolina. • Mold spores exist in every environment. • Problems occur when moisture levels stay high long enough to saturate wood. • Wood readings above 28 percent indicate potential fungus growth.

He has seen everything from mild dampness to crawl spaces with moisture readings so high the insulation dripped like a soaked sponge. Some homeowners live comfortably in those conditions for decades, while others walk in and get a headache in five seconds.

Humidity monitors help, but the real game changers are proper HVAC function, good drainage, and regular crawl space inspections.

Critters: The Guests No One Invited

Rodents are another common issue in the Upstate. Mice and rats slip through openings far smaller than most people realize, while squirrels have the determination of Olympic athletes once they locate an entry point.

One of the biggest myths Andrew debunks is the idea that cats prevent rodent activity. In many cases, the presence of pets actually attracts mice because it signals food, water, and shelter. (Cats everywhere are offended.)

Once a rodent learns a route into a home, it will continue returning unless the access point is sealed and the pattern is broken. Andrew has seen everything from snakes in crawl spaces to HVAC systems destroyed by feral cats. No home is immune, but prevention keeps small problems from becoming costly ones.

Practical Prevention Homeowners Should Use

Andrew’s advice is rooted in real-world experience: • Open shipped packages outside to prevent bringing pests in. • Check hotel mattresses before unpacking luggage. • Don’t place suitcases on beds. • Watch groceries and produce for surprise hitchhikers. • Maintain routine pest control services. • Keep moisture readings in a healthy range. • Get annual termite inspections and maintain a bond.

These steps save thousands of dollars and prevent many of the situations that keep pest control providers up at night.

Contact Andrew Dixon

For inspections, moisture assessments, termite protection, or pest control services, Andrew Dixon can be reached at:

Phone: 864-704-8512E

mail: dixonpestcontrol@gmail.com

His local expertise and level of care have made Dixon Pest a trusted resource across the Upstate.

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Bottom Line

Termites, pests, and moisture issues are not signs of a bad house. They are simply signs of a normal home in a warm, humid region where nature never really takes a day off (if only bugs observed business hours). The difference between a minor inconvenience and a costly repair often comes down to awareness, routine maintenance, and knowing when it is time to call in a professional before something small becomes a full-blown saga.

With practical guidance, early inspections, and the right prevention habits, homeowners can protect their investment and sidestep the kinds of surprises that like to stay hidden until the worst possible moment (because of course they do).

Ien Araneta

Journal & Podcast Editor | Selling Greenville