How Often Should I Get Pest Control Services?
Frequency Of Pest Control
Wondering how frequently you need professional pest control service for your home or business? The answer depends on a few key factors, but generally we recommend preventative treatments on a quarterly or at least annual basis.
Keep reading for details on how location, building size and age, and type of pest can impact ideal service frequency. And feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!
Why Regular Professional Pest Control Matters
Dealing with the occasional ant trail or fruit fly swarm is annoying but typically harmless. However, full-blown home infestations of termites, cockroaches, bed bugs and other common pests can rapidly escalate into nightmares if not managed properly by qualified experts.
Wood-destroying termites and carpenter ants can seriously compromise the structural stability of your home over time. Roaches, mice and rats contaminate surfaces and foods with their waste. Mosquitos and ticks spread nasty diseases like Zika, West Nile and Lyme disease.
And don’t get me started on the horrors of bed bugs – biting insects that can cause severe allergic reactions, invade the deepest corners of your mattresses and furnishings, and set off psychological distress for their victims.
Does this sound agonising to deal with to you? Of course!
The most cost and hassle-effective solution is preventing invaders in the first place through regularly scheduled pest control treatments. Professional pest technicians have industrial-grade products, detection tools and treatment methods beyond what you can buy at a hardware store. Routinely assessing your home allows them to spot risks early and take care of them before they get out of control.
Recommended Pest Control Service Frequency
As a general rule of thumb, pest control experts recommend interior and exterior home inspections about every 3 months or at least 4 times per year. This allows technicians to methodically check common problem zones room-by-room, set preventative measures like traps or gels if needed, and note any changes since the last visit.
However, pest pressure fluctuates considerably based on your unique property circumstances:
1. Location
Homes in heavily wooded, waterfront or agricultural areas tend to face higher threats from local wildlife, mosquitos, rodents and termite infestation. You may need service calls as frequent as monthly during peak seasons.
2. Age of Home
Older homes with aging roofs, siding, foundations etc. provide more entry points for pests to infiltrate. Quarterly checks are highly recommended.
3. Past Infestations
If your records show a history of pest invasions like bed bugs or roaches, continue monitoring closely every 1-2 months even after treatment to ensure they don’t return.
4. Weather Conditions
Heavy rains or drought conditions drive critters indoors seeking food and shelter. Schedule follow-ups accordingly during turbulent weather.
5. Time of Year
Warmer months see upticks in ants, stinging insects, spiders and other nuisances. Stay vigilant with exterior treatments leading into summer.
Carefully consider these aspects relative to your situation when planning pest control frequencies with your technician.
Signs That Immediate Pest Control Help Is Needed
While a regular calendar schedule helps keep risks low, certain scenarios should prompt an urgent call for professional assistance in between planned visits:
- Visible types of pests like mice, roaches or swarming ants
- Strange bites or skin irritation on occupants
- Unpleasant odors indicating contamination
- Odd noises in walls from rodents or insects
- Sudden spike in exterior fly/mosquito volumes after heavy rain
- Higher seasonal activity from stinging insects like wasps
- Shedding wings from termites around baseboards
- Frass dust from wood boring bugs around baseboards
Trust your instincts. Even if you aren’t 100% sure there’s a problem, quickly request an inspection when something seems amiss. Pests multiply rapidly once established, so every day of delayed response counts. Many exterminators offer discounted rates for subscribers enrolled in quarterly programs too, protecting your budget.
Why Preventative Pest Control Makes Sense
Rather than waiting to fix issues, it’s smarter to stop unwanted pests before they start. Preventative pest control has many benefits:
- Finds problems early so infestations don’t get out of hand
- Lowers risk of disease from germs pests carry
- Avoids expensive home repairs from structural damage pests cause
- Keeps your house extremely clean and hygienic
- Gives you peace of mind about health and money
Working closely with your pest control company protects your home now and later. Making regular service appointments ensures your house stays pest-free year-round!
The bottom line – don’t hope creepy crawlies fix themselves. Take charge! If you see or suspect unwanted guests, call a quality pest professional immediately! They’ll check things out and plan removal. Protect your family by taking quick action at the first sign of pest activity. You’ll be glad you did!
Pro Tip: The most valuable investment in protecting your home is having your pest control professional pay frequent visits. Regular pest inspections by a qualified pest controller give them a chance to set preventive measures and catch emerging issues early, before infestations take hold. Routine service appointments are the number one tactic for keeping them away long-term. Schedule quarterly walk-throughs with experts as a minimum safeguard for your property. Their frequent assessments and fine-tuned treatment plans are your best defense!
