Introduction: How Often Pest Control Should be Done?
Pest control is an important part of home maintenance that many homeowners wonder about. With so many pests like termites, ants, cockroaches, and bed bugs that can infest your home, you want to make sure you are doing pest control often enough to prevent an infestation. But how often should pest control be done? What is the right schedule for pest control treatments? Read on to learn more about routine pest control services and how often they should be performed.
Getting regular professional pest control is the best way to keep pests out of your home or business and prevent damage from infestations. Pest control companies have the right tools and knowledge to fully eradicate pests and keep them from coming back. Trying to get rid of pests yourself with drugstore sprays and traps will likely fail, leaving you with a recurring pest problem. Hiring a trusted pest control professional to create a pest treatment program and plan for your home is key for keeping bugs away long-term.
How Often Should I Get Pest Control Treatments?
Many homeowners wonder how often they need to get professional pest control treatments. The answer depends on several factors:
- Type of pests in your area
- Proximity of your home to wooded areas or farms
- Age of your home
- Time of year and climate
Your trusted pest control professional can advise how often pest control treatments are needed for your specific situation after thoroughly inspecting your home and considering the pest pressures in your area. However, a good rule of thumb is to get preventative pest control treatments every 2-3 months.
For example, quarterly or every-three-month professional pest control treatments are very common to keep homes pest-free year-round. This involves getting your home treated four times a year at regular intervals. Many pest control companies offer quarterly pest control programs for homeowners that make treatments easy to schedule.
What Are Some Common Pests that Require Regular Pest Control?
There are many pests like termites, ants, cockroaches, spiders, and rodents that can require ongoing pest control treatments. Some of the most common pests that homeowners need to prevent include:
Ants
Ants are one of the most frequent pests that can invade homes. There are many ant species, but some of the most common include carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, pavement ants, and odorous house ants. Getting quarterly or monthly pest control treatments can keep these annoying ants at bay.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are known for living and breeding inside homes. Once cockroaches infest a home, they can be difficult to fully eradicate without professional help. Monthly or quarterly pest control treatments are often needed to get rid of roaches and stop them from multiplying.
Termites
Termites do costly damage to wood structures and can destroy homes from the inside out. Preventing termite infestation requires professional termite control. Depending on the climate and home, termite treatments are usually needed 1-4 times per year.
Rodents
Rodents like mice and rats can find their way inside homes through the tiniest of cracks. Once inside, they breed rapidly, contaminate food, and spread diseases. Monthly or quarterly pest control treatments are usually required to clear homes of rodents and prevent re-entry.
What Does Professional Pest Control Treatment Involve?
When you hire a pest control service to treat your home, the technicians will thoroughly inspect your home to check for any signs of pests both inside and outside. They will identify any pest activity and pinpoint how the bugs may be entering the home.
The pest control team will then do a tailored treatment using industry-grade pesticides and insecticides. Treatment usually involves:
- Spraying baseboards, cracks and crevices
- Applying gel baits or borate in wall voids
- Installing outdoor barriers and sprays
- Setting out traps or bait stations
- Treating crawl spaces and attics
- Fogging indoors or outdoors
The products, methods, and areas treated will depend on the specific pests invading your home. Ask your pest control professional exactly what the treatment will involve each time.
Factors that Determine How Often Pest Control is Needed
As mentioned, several factors affect how often pest control should be done including:
Type of Pests
Certain pests require more frequent treatments than others. For example, homes that have issues with fleas, roaches, mice or stinging insects often need monthly pest control. Pest control for termites can sometimes be done annually. Identify what types of pests your home is prone to and get treatments accordingly.
Infestation Level
Homes with severe, established infestations will need more intensive treatment scheduled more often to fully eliminate the pests. Monthly or bi-monthly treatments are usually needed to start in order to get heavy infestations under control.
Climate and Weather
Homes in regions with year-round warm weather and high humidity are prone to more pests than other climates. Monthly or quarterly treatments are often recommended to control pests that thrive in hot, humid areas.
Nearby Bodies of Water
Homes located near lakes, ponds, or rivers tend to have more issues with mosquitoes, ants, termites and moisture-loving pests. These homes will need more frequent pest control treatments than homes located in drier areas farther from water sources.
Home Construction and Age
Older homes or homes with cracks in the foundation are more vulnerable to pest entry than newer, well-sealed homes. Older homes often require quarterly pest control treatments while newer homes may only need annual or bi-annual treatments.
Questions to Ask Your Pest Control Company
When meeting with a pest control professional, ask them:
- What pests are most common in my area and in my home specifically?
- How often do you recommend treatments be done – monthly, quarterly, annually?
- What will the treatments you do involve – fogging, spraying, bait, etc?
- How much will it cost per treatment? Do you offer bundled pricing for quarterly/annual treatments?
- What can I do between treatments to help reduce pests?
The Takeaway – Prevent Pests with Regular Professional Treatments
To prevent pests like ants, termites, roaches and rodents from infesting your home, quarterly or every-three-month professional pest control treatments are usually recommended. This helps stop bugs and rodents from gaining entry in the first place and eliminates early invaders before populations grow. Always enlist a qualified pest control company, not a basic exterminator, to inspect your home and tailor an ongoing treatment plan based on your pest risks. With diligent pest control treatments, you can keep annoying and damaging pests out of your house and minimize the chances of needing expensive extermination of severe infestations.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Get preventative pest control treatments from a professional pest control company every 2-3 months
- Quarterly treatments can prevent most common invaders like ants, roaches, termites & rodents
- Homes at high risk may need monthly or more frequent pest control
- Ask your pest control technician how often they recommend treatments based on your home’s specific pest pressures
- Regular professional pest control is far more effective than DIY sporadic treatments
