Having a pest infestation in your home, professional property, or yard can be frustrating, expensive, and a hazard to your health. DIY pest control methods are often a waste of time and money, resulting in calling professional pest services much later than necessary. To save yourself the stress and cash spent on unsuccessful DIY attempts, you need to know the value high-quality services have to offer you and your property.
We’ll cover the scope of pest control services, including:
- Is it worth it?
- How does it work?
- How long do pesticides last in the house?
- How long does it take?
- Is it safe for humans?
- How often should it be done?
- The difference between pest control and extermination
Is Pest Control Really Worth it?
Yes, professional pest control is worth it!
The best pest services will be more effective and longer-lasting than their competitors or DIY solutions. If you don’t have to do the work yourself or pay for poor service repeatedly, a reputable pest control provider near you will provide the best value overall – no matter what metrics you use to compare with DIY pest control methods. To learn more if Pest Control Services are worth it, read here.
How Does Pest Control Work?
Professional pest control works to remove pest infestations that threaten your home, health, or commercial property.
Professional services often include:
- On-site inspection during the first visit to appraise the pest situation on your property
- Removal of pests infesting houses, plants, garages, or other spaces
- Chemical or trap treatments to eliminate and prevent future pest infestations
- Integrated Pest Management to maximize the long-term effect of treatment
- A long-term pest control plan catered specifically to your property
A high-quality local pest control company should also quantify and itemize each service they are providing while carrying out a plan suited to your current pest problem. An itemized list of their treatment allows you to see the services rendered and the professional products used, making clear – or not – how valuable and effective your service provider is.
How Long Does Pest Control Take?
The length of service for pest control will depend on the pest type, your property situation, and the treatments they use. This means a professional appraisal and specific plan become even more critical for planning your life around their services.
Read More: What Does a Field Tech Look for When Inspecting Your Property?
Typically, most treatments don’t take more than a few hours to provide, and it is usually safe for people to be back in the home within 24 hours. However, always talk to your pest technician about the proper procedure.
Regarding the type of pest, here is what pest control services often do for specific infestations:
What Do Pest Control Services Do for Mice and Rats?
Pest control technicians will typically use integrated pest management including pesticides, traps, and sealing of nest areas to remove mice from your home.
What Do Pest Control Services Do for Roaches?
Cockroach pest control services often use sprays and baits to eliminate cockroaches.
The best services will use eco-friendly treatments that are less harmful to your property and health.
What Do Pest Control Services Do for Ants?
Professional ant control services will identify nest locations and use treatments or casting methods to remove them fully.
What Do Pest Control Services Do for Ticks?
Ticks can be extremely harmful and hazardous to the health of their host – meaning you or your pets.
In order to effectively remove a tick infestation from your home, a pest control technician will appraise the interior, exterior, and landscaping of your property. They often apply specialized treatment to isolated areas that may contain a tick infestation.
Additionally, modifying the environment that the ticks have nested in is imperative. Removing debris and exposing the nested area to sunlight is key to long-term tick removal. A high-quality pest control service will do this for you and perform routine follow-ups during scheduled visits.
How Long Do Pesticides Last in the House?
Pesticides are often broken down into three categories:
- Low persistence: under 16-day half-life
- Moderate persistence: 16-59 day half-life
- High persistence: 60+ day half-life
The best pest control companies will use pesticides with low environmental and human impact, meaning even as they exist in your home, you can safely live around them.
Always make sure to talk about the specific treatments used on your property so you can make the safest choices.
Do I Need to Move Furniture For Pest Control?
Moving your furniture for professional pest treatment is not often required. If you have to move furniture for them to access potential problem areas, your pest technician will let you know before treating that area of your home.
Is Pest Control Safe For Humans?
The best modern professional pest treatments are typically safe for humans. This is why we recommend them so strongly vs. DIY options that can contain harmful chemicals.
Do You Have to Leave the House for Pest Control?
During treatment, it is advised that you leave your home.
Additionally, your pest technician will let you know when it is safe to be around the treatments used, depending on the pest problem.
For most pest control services, this can be as quick as a few hours after they finish.
What to Expect From a Pest Control Company?
When hiring the best local pest control company near you, we recommend asking about the following items:
- Modern treatments safe for humans and property
- Eco-friendly and organic treatments
- Full-property appraisal on the first visit
- A set appointment time guaranteed
- Itemized treatment plan and detailed costs
- A service warranty or repeat treatments until success
Clear communication and licensed professionals are the minimum expectations of a great service provider. Make sure to find a pest service that is honest, reputable, and cares about the quality of the job they do. To learn more about what pest control companies use, read here!
How Often Should Pest Control be Done?
Ideally, pest control should be done at intervals appropriate for your home. Because of Arizona’s harsh climate and high pest occurrence, this might be as often as quarterly scheduled services. However, most pest control companies recommend annual or bi-annual checkups, which seem very appropriate if you are not experiencing an active infestation.
What Kind of Pest Control Do I need?
DIY and home-remedy pest treatments can be effective for certain intruders and minor pest problems. However, there is a good chance that over-the-counter pest control products will not often be effective, will take up your time, and will cost more money than they’re worth.
We recommend using a blend of preventative practices and efficient responses in between professional pest control visits, including:
- Keeping your surfaces clean and dry
- Storing all food in air-tight containers, including pet food
- Removing any standing water or spills from your home and property
- Trimming back any foliage or trees that lean onto your home
- Following any instructions from your professional pest technician
We’ve found that supplementing your pest control services with these best practices is extremely effective in removing and preventing pests from entering your property long-term. If you want to know what to do after pest control, read our guide here!
Find Out What Insectek Pest Control Can Do For You
At Insectek, we understand how frustrating Arizona pests can be.
We also know that without the best professional pest control services, you can end up spending too much time, money, and effort trying to get rid of critters.
That’s why we create a plan unique to your home and execute it for the long term.
If you’re having pest problems, sign up for a first visit and consultation today!
