Ah, pests in the home; is there anything more infuriating? Coming home to discover a new infestation can be the source of much anxiety, whether it’s rats chittering away in the walls, a wasp nest in the garage, or cockroaches scuttling around your bathroom. But, what should you know about pest control? When should you call an expert? And do you really need to worry about monthly pest control?
In this article, we’ll aim to answer as many of these important questions as possible, including whether you can do pest control yourself.
What do I need to know about pest control?
“What do I need to know about pest control?” – One of the most important things that you should know about pest control, is that when done properly, you shouldn’t have to worry about having your home infested by unwanted visitors.
Certainly, even with quality pest prevention tactics, avoiding an infestation isn’t always possible. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, when pests want in, they’ll get in. However, there are a number of preventative steps that you can take which will significantly reduce the chance of that happening (which we will get to shortly).
When should I call a pest control company?
“When should I call a pest control company?” – Ideally, the best time to call a pest control company is when you feel threatened or uneasy. Even if there is no clear evidence of an infestation, if you have your suspicions then there is no harm in calling the experts in for them to confirm for you, either way.
In fact, many pest control companies offer an emergency call-out service, so, even if it’s 3 am on Christmas morning, if you are in desperate need of some assistance then do not hesitate to contact your local pest control company.
Of course, emergency call-out services, particularly over the holidays will be more expensive. However, if you are up to your eyeballs in rodents, then there’s never a better time to call for expert assistance.
That being said, if you don’t feel immediately threatened and would prefer to try and tackle the pest problem yourself, then you can hold back on calling for expert advice. Depending on the severity of the situation, and indeed the type of pest that you are dealing with, there may be certain things that you can try by yourself.
Do I really need monthly pest control?
“Do I really need monthly pest control?” – This really depends on you. It’s not a requirement, of course, to get monthly pest control, but there are many benefits of doing so.
For apartments and homes, it is recommended that you carry out regular pest control treatments on a quarterly, or bi-monthly basis.
If you want to effectively prevent common pests from entering your home, then monthly pest control treatments are certainly a recommendation. If you never treat your home for pests and fail to carry out the necessary pest prevention tactics, then there’s a good chance that your home will be invaded by unwanted pests, which can be an incredibly stressful and traumatic experience.
If you have recently suffered a serious infestation, then a monthly treatment, over the course of at least three to six months is advisable. This can help to ensure that the pests don’t return in a hurry!
Can I do pest control myself?
“Can I do pest control myself?” – The short answer is yes. But, it’s complicated. The fact is, without the proper experience and equipment, taking on pest control by yourself is difficult and in many cases, will result in failure.
Often, the best approach is to simply contact your local pest control specialists, such as Expert Pest Control in Marsden Park, to come and rid your home of the problem immediately.
Certainly, you can attempt pest control by yourself, invest in traps and repellents, and all manner of other necessary pest control products – however, if you are unsuccessful and have to call in the pest control experts anyway, then you’ll have wasted a lot of time and money.
Yes, it’s always tempting to try and tackle a pest problem by yourself in order to save money, but often, the best and easiest approach is to simply have it taken care of professionally.
One thing that we will recommend, however, is pest prevention. This is something that you can indeed take care of yourself and if done properly, will prevent any pests from entering your home in the first place, or returning once more. Here are some of the pest prevention steps that you can take:
- Remove sources of food (clean your kitchen after use and put cereals and pet food in sealed containers, etc.)
- Dispose of garbage regularly and invest in a trash can with a tightly closed lid (pests will be attracted to the odours of trash if left overnight. Our recommendation is to empty the trash can of an evening before you go to bed)
- Reduce the amount of clutter in your home (pests absolutely love a mess! If your home is cluttered and untidy then you just as well stick a sign outside on your doorstep that says: “free lodging – all pests are welcome”)
- Seal off cracks and holes around your house (pests can get through the tightest of spaces. If you’d like to eliminate these points of entry, go around the outside of your home with some poly-filler and fill in any cracks and holes – check windowsills, facia and guttering – you can also cover vents with mesh)
- Routine cleaning from the roof to the basement (don’t neglect to clean your basement and attic/loft areas – these dark and dusty places are perfect for pests to go unnoticed)
Conclusion
In conclusion, you should never be afraid to call for expert assistance. If you suspect that you have a pest problem and would like an expert to confirm for you, then rain or shine, call for help! Otherwise, if you would like to try and tackle pest problems by yourself, remember that your first and best line of defence is pest prevention!
The Labyrinth Garden
