Is Regular Pest Control Service A Good Investment?

Pests are inevitable. 

Everyone will find a pest or two in their home or business. Investing in regular pest control services armors your home or business against potential infestation and clears out existing pests.

This blog on regular pest control will answer the following questions:

• Why invest in pest control?
• Should pest control be done annually?
• How should I prepare for routine pest control?
• What should I look out for when investing in pest control?

Why Invest in Pest Control?

When you invest in pest control services, you give your home or business the most robust protection against infestations. You can schedule pest control bi-monthly, bi-annually, etc., to ensure that you don’t have undetected pests and to set up preventative measures against potential pest infestations.

Whether you’re considering pest control for your home or your business, there are solid reasons to invest in professional services, including:

• Preventing Property Damage. Insects and rodents can cause damage to your home or business structure. For example, subterranean termites, common in Arizona, can consume 2 to 3 percent of their body weight in wood daily. Pests also put plants and vegetation at risk. For some people like farmers, this kind of harm can negatively affect their business.

• Health and Safety. Pests carry all kinds of diseases, let alone traces of their own feces. Cockroaches can spread various bacteria, including salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus. Bed bugs can cause allergic reactions and secondary infections like ecthyma and lymphangitis. Likewise, rats are no strangers to disease. The CDC reports that rodents can directly spread monkeypox, hantavirus, and many others. Even if you don’t come into contact with a pest, they can infect your counters, food packages, bed sheets, etc.

• Business Reputation. If word gets out about a pest problem at your business, this can damage its reputation and decrease overall revenue. Regular pest control gets ahead of possible infestations and keeps your business’ reputation pest-free.

• Peace of Mind. Scheduling regular pest control allows you to maintain a space free of infestations. You won’t have to question if there are undetected pests in your home or business because that’s the professionals’ job. 

Should Pest Control Be Done Annually?

Pest control professionals typically recommend that you schedule services monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly. It comes down to your unique situation. Insectek offers the 365 Pest Prevention Program for our clients in Maricopa County. We’ll base our recommendations on your infestation history and the types of pests you deal with. 

Monthly

You should consider monthly pest control if you deal with high-infestation pests like cockroaches or if your home or business gets dangerous pests like black widows and scorpions.

Bi-Monthly

Bi-monthly is the most popular choice for our clients and is recommended to those who deal with common pests like bees, ants, and wasps. Consistent pest control is especially important if your property sits near still water, like lakes and ponds, or has high volumes of vegetation.

Quarterly

If your pest issues are seasonal or infrequent, quarterly services might be enough to keep infestations under wrap. Some Arizona properties are prone to specific pests like cockroaches which seek shelter indoors during the hot summers, or mosquitoes, which are most active during the monsoon season.

How Should I Prepare for Routine Pest Control?

Taking the proper measures before a pest control session allows the appointment to go more smoothly and helps the technician. 

Consider incorporating the following steps into your routine as you prepare for each pest control appointment:

• Confirm your appointment before you take further preparation steps to check you’re still scheduled and that neither you nor your pest control company needs to change the time.

• Clean and declutter your property.
  • Vacuum carpets
  • Sweep floors
  • Wipe down surfaces
  • Clear dishes from the sink
  • Eliminate food crumbs and puddles
  • Pick up clutter and toys
  • Seal food and belongings

• Move furniture that will be in the technician’s way (e.g., bed blocking wall where pest problem is located.) Giving your technician full access to the problem area is essential so they thoroughly inspect and apply needed treatments.

• Keep pets and people away from the property or area where services will occur. Always communicate with the technician to know how long the appointment will be and whether people and pets need to be entirely out of the space. They may need you to stay out of the house for a certain amount of time, so plan ahead and have a place to stay if overnight maintenance is required.

• Cover surfaces if needed. Some pest control procedures may require spraying chemicals or other substances that can get on surfaces. Be aware of what treatments your technician plans to execute so you know if any surfaces need to be covered, like couches, tables, beds, etc.

What Should I Look Out for When Investing in Pest Control?

There are more than a hundred pest control companies in Arizona alone. Choosing which one is the best for you to go with can be overwhelming. Make sure you’re researching each company you’re considering to verify they’re reputable, experienced, and offer the specific services you need.

To make an informed decision about a pest control company, look for the following factors:

• A well-established company with a solid reputation and several years of experience.

• Positive reviews and references. Look at the site’s customer reviews and other reviews like Yelp and Google reviews.

• Integrated Pest Management approach. IPM focuses on using a combination of strategies to control pests, including preventive measures, monitoring, and targeted treatments to minimize the use of pesticides and promote environmentally friendly solutions.

• Warranties to address issues that arise after an appointment.

• Affordable and fair pricing. Confirm they’re setting their services at a price that fits the treatments they’re providing.

• Liability insurance to protect your property from accidental damage.

• Proper licensing and certifications of technicians and company.

You don’t want to go with the first pest control company that pops up on Google. Do your research and ask the necessary questions to know you’re working with the right team.