Best Pest Control Services

What kind of work do pest management services do?

In treating pests, a pest control technician carries out a pest inspection on a home or commercial property, identifies the pest problem, and applies the appropriate pest control method.

There are a variety of treatments available, but here are some that are widely used for common pests.

• Pesticides are chemicals that are generally used to eradicate insects - such as ants, cockroaches, and spiders - as well as animals, fungi, and plants. They’re fast acting and are particularly effective in small spaces.
• Fumigation involves using a gas pesticide to kill pests, and is often used for termite control and other bug infestations. Fumigants are used in a sealed environment, which is why tents are sometimes set up around the home or area that needs to be treated.
• Poisoned baits and traps are generally used for rodent control, such as for exterminating rats and mice, and sometimes bugs. After being baited or trapped, the pests are then carefully removed.
• Animal capture or removal is usually used for larger animals, and doesn’t involve killing the pest. For example, possums are usually removed from the site, and then entry points in the building are repaired so that the possum can't get back into it after its release.
• Heat treatment is usually used for bed bug treatment, and involves raising the temperature of a room to kill bugs - no chemicals needed.

Here are some benefits and drawbacks of pest control.

Who needs pest control?

Below are some signs that it’s time to call a pest control expert - however, they don’t necessarily mean that you have an infestation on your hands, so it’s a good idea to provide more details to a specialist and seek their advice.

• When you see mud tunnels, as this could point to termites, or white ants.
• When you get bitten in bed. This means there may be a bed bug or flea infestation.
• When you hear scratching, tapping or chewing sounds coming from the walls or roof. This could indicate that rodents, birds, or bats are present.
• When you see trails of ants in clean environments.
• When small holes appear in clothes or papery items. These could be silverfish damage.
• When you see small droppings in the corners of your house, or small gnaw marks on things in the kitchen. This could mean you have mice or rats in your home.
• When you see nests or hives, or there is a swarm of insects or bees around your ceiling - this usually indicates that there is either a food source or a nest.

Before deciding on whether pest treatment is necessary, try to find out more about the species of pest you have. For example, the mud-dauber wasp is a harmless native that is a great pollinator and can also help keep spider and bug numbers at bay, so you might want to reconsider whether removal of a mud-dauber nest is necessary.

What to look for in a pest control company

Experience

See how many years of experience a company has. Of course, you can feel free to give someone who’s relatively new to pest management a shot, but some people have more peace of mind entrusting expert technicians with their home.

Don’t just check how many years they’ve been operating, but also how much experience they have in the services you need.

Licensing

It’s important to check that the company you’re considering is licensed, to ensure both optimal safety and that the services they provide are legal. It also helps ensure that the company is environmentally responsible, and performs humane pest control.

Licensing requirements vary across states, so you should check local laws against any pest controller you’re thinking of hiring - in most cases these licences are issued by the health department of the state they’re operating in.

For extra peace of mind, you can also check for certifications and affiliations. For example, PestCert Accreditation is only given to businesses who have been strictly vetted by the organisation and are accredited to the highest industry standards.

Insurance

Accidents can happen even when you’re careful. What’s more important is how a company handles any damage done to your home or possessions. Make sure you ask them before the treatment what kind of insurance they provide, and what happens in the event of an accident.

Customer service

Ask what you should do before and after the treatment - a pest control company should be clear about what’s needed from you during the whole process.

They should also be prompt and timely with their communication - if they take a long time responding to your questions or concerns, then chances are that they won't provide an efficient service either.

Also avoid pushy pest control companies that try to quickly get you to secure a job with them - they tend to be more money-minded than service-oriented, and you’ll likely have a less pleasant experience dealing with them.

Transparency

If a company isn’t upfront with aspects of their service such as their fees, what treatment entails, and their business guarantees, then take caution.

You should also be wary of companies who say that one pest control treatment will solve all your pest problems. If you have different types of pests, then you’ll likely need a variety of treatments to control the different infestations.

Job satisfaction

A company may not always be successful in eradicating the pest the first time round, so see if they offer a guarantee on the work they do. If they do, ensure you’re well-acquainted with the terms of the guarantee.

Word of mouth is as good as gold when it comes to choosing who to manage your pest problems. Ask the friend, neighbour, or family member who has managed to control the pests in their home about which company they used and what their experience with them was.

Online pest control reviews are also a valuable tool to see what previous customers have had to say about a business. Of course, the closer to 5 stars a company is, the better, however the way in which a business responds to negative reviews can let you know how committed they are to ensuring 100% of their customers are satisfied with their service.

How much is a pest control service?

The price of a pest control service varies greatly depending on the nature of your infestation and the nature of the treatment required for it. For example, the cost of termite treatment, particularly subterranean termite treatment, can go into the thousands because they can be difficult to locate, whereas wasp nest removal can be as little as a few hundred dollars.

To see whether you’re getting a fair price and aren’t being overcharged, try to get at least 2 or 3 quotes - most reputable companies will offer this free of charge, no strings attached.

Tips for keeping your home or office pest-free

Whether or not you’ve enlisted the help of a pest control technician, there are a few methods of natural pest control you can do to help keep your home or business pest-free and prevent the need to call a pest control company in the first place.

• Ensure the roof, eves, and fascias of your building are well maintained, and that any gaps or holes are repaired.
• Avoid keeping large amounts of rubbish indoors overnight, to avoid attracting rats and mice.
• Fix mesh over holes in screens, walls, doors, and other building openings to prevent rodents and insects from entering.
• Ensure any leaking pipes or broken gutters are fixed, as the moisture around them can attract termites.
• Remove discarded timber from the home and seal untreated timber - this works as a form of termite protection.
• Check that any grocery bags and cardboard boxes you bring into your home are free from cockroaches and their egg cases - this is a common cause of infestations.
• Keep all food items in your pantry in an airtight container, clean food scraps off surfaces promptly, and wipe down your sink every day to avoid attracting ants.
• Install a termite barrier (either physical or chemical) around your home.

Keeping your home or office clean and well maintained, treating minor problems yourself with pest control products, and consulting an expert as soon as you suspect you may have an infestation will help you avoid a huge headache down the road, and will help you keep comfortable at home and at work.