If you have ever had pests and gotten them under control, you can still be left wondering how often you should do regular pest control to keep it from happening again.
There is no real hard and fast rule of how often to do pest control in and around your home. Most times, pest control is not a one-time thing. If you wait to do pest control until you have a problem, it is often challenging to get the infestation under control.
The pest control products that you buy at the store or hardware do not have the same level of strength that professional products have, and so it is often an exercise in futility to attempt to do this type of pest control yourself.
THE BEST APPROACH: REGULAR PEST CONTROL
Having a regular pattern of pest control is often the best way to go. Regular pest control is not just the key to control; it is the key to pest prevention. It is always best to prevent damage before it happens rather than deal with the often expensive aftermath. Most pest control services offer a discount for scheduling regular applications.
TYPES OF PEST CONTROL
When deciding how often you should schedule pest control frequency in your home, it is always best to consult with the experts first. Professional pest control will usually cover common pests such as ants, cockroaches, earwigs, wasps, spiders, silverfish, crickets, and pill bugs.
There will be factors that they consider, such as the location of your home, the size of your house, the time of year, weather conditions, and the type of pests in question.
Several factors will influence pest control frequency and the time between follow-up treatments.
WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE PEST CONTROL FREQUENCY
THE TYPE OF PEST
It would be nice if one treatment would be the end to any creepy crawlies that invade your home. Unfortunately, most pests and bugs are prolific reproducers.
As hard as it is to believe, a single army ant queen can lay thousands of eggs in just one day. This queen ant will produce millions of eggs in her lifetime, which is one reason you would want to make that a short lifetime.
Many pests lay eggs that won’t be affected by pest control measures. Those unaffected eggs will hatch, and it will look as if you have the same problem, while in reality, it is a whole new crop of invaders.
This is the main reason why, if you have an initial problem with pests, you will most likely need follow-up treatment to dispatch the new generation of offspring.
PESTICIDE APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS
The best way to deal with a pest infestation is to prevent it from happening in the first place. When you see the pests, they had already set up camp a while ago.
Regular preventative pesticide application will stop the infestation before it begins and will keep damage from happening. It is unfortunate that the damage from these tiny insects can have a hefty price tag to remedy.
THE LOCATION OF YOUR HOME
Depending on where you live, that might also dictate how often you need pest control. There are some places, likeSouth Florida that pest control is an absolute must.
The weather conditions of heat and humidity are ideal for pests like termites, rodents, cockroaches, fleas, and bugs. Areas of high humidity like Florida will need an ongoing form of pest control as regular maintenance in a home.
RESIDENTIAL LIVE BAT REMOVAL
Northern climates will see an invasion of bats, mice, rats, and spiders who will seek the warmth of a dwelling in the colder months. Not only do you not want to share your home with these critters, but you will also want to get bats out as soon as possible.
Bats do a lot of good, as they feast on insects every night and eliminate those bugs for us. However, bats can squeeze into tiny vent openings and they seem to like attics the best.
While in an attic, the waste (guano) left behind by bats can sicken humans who breathe in the fungus from their waste.
So if you discover bats have taken up residence anywhere in your home you will want to get those bats out. There are services that will do that for you safely, without harming the beneficial bats, but rather relocate them to a suitable location.
SIZE OF YOUR PROPERTY AND AREA OF APPLICATION
If you have a large property or several outbuildings or structures, those are all places where pests can set up shop. You can have your home sprayed for pests, but if you ignore the other structures on your property, you will still be drawing those pests to your property like a magnet.
Unfortunately, your property can also be affected by neighboring properties. If neighboring houses or businesses do not keep their properties clean but have trash or debris buildup, it can be detrimental to your location.
IN CONCLUSION
Your home is your investment and probably the singular most significant investment you will make in your lifetime. You want to be comfortable and have a clean environment for your family.
Having a regular pest control program will keep your home free from invasive pests and avoid costly repairs for the damage that they can do.
FAQ
DO NEWLY BUILT HOMES NEED PEST CONTROL?
Yes, newly built homes should have pest control protection. New homes will often have cracks or gaps along the foundation as the new lumber settles. During construction, the house is open to the elements, and pests have easy access to the home during the construction phase.
HOW DO YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FLYING ANT AND A TERMITE?
There are three ways to tell the difference between a flying ant and a termite.
- Wing size. Termite wings are equal in length and extend past the abdomen. Ants have wings that are unequal in length and end at the tip of the abdomen.
- Antennae shape. Antennae on termites are straight and bead-like, but on ants, they are elbowed.
Waist size. Ants have a pinched waist, but termites have no constriction in the body and are more streamlined.