Some homeowners get monthly visits from their pest control professionals. Others only call the pest control person when they think they have an infestation. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when you’re in need of a pest control person to come to your home. Is it better to wait until you’ve got a pest problem? Or is it better to prevent the pest problem from ever happening?
When you’re trying to decide, it’s important to take several factors into consideration. Your home’s history of pest problems, the times of the year when you’ve most often had problems with pests, and how much effort you put into pest prevention are all factors to consider when you’re trying to decide how often you should have pest control treatments performed at your house. Here’s what to know.
How Often Should You Have a Pest Control Treatment?
Pest control treatment isn’t an exact science. The population of pests around your house may be different from the pests around the homes ten miles from your house, which means that you may need more or less pest control treatment than other people in your community. Finding the right frequency is a matter of trying one schedule, and then adjusting it as needed.
- Seasonal treatments. Some homes have seasonal pest problems and need more pest treatments in winter or fall than at other times.
- Bi-monthly treatments. Homeowners with moderate/occasional pest control needs often opt for bi-monthly treatments to keep their home pest-free.
- Monthly treatments. Homeowners with frequent pest problems may opt for monthly treatments as needed. If you live near many restaurants, near water, or near a wooded area, you may need more frequent pest treatments.
What Are the Signs You Need Pest Control Treatment?
Once you’ve picked a pest control schedule, it’s important to watch for signs that you need more frequent treatments. Once you’ve noticed these signs, call your pest control company as soon as possible for a reassessment of your pest control schedule.
Pest Feces
If your home has a pest infestation, you’ll start seeing pest feces in areas where pests spend their time. Some pest feces, like mouse feces, are easy to spot. Other pest feces, like cockroach feces, can be a little less obvious.
Mouse feces are approximately the shape and size of a grain of rice, dark brown, and relatively symmetrical. You’ll notice mouse feces in places like your kitchen cabinets, pantry floor, under your refrigerator, behind doorways, along walls, and underneath items of furniture. Mice like to stay out of sight, so you likely won’t see much feces in places out in the open.
Cockroach feces from small roaches look like small coffee grounds or little bits of pepper. You may not recognize cockroach feces for what they are, but these feces can pile up in areas around cockroach nests.
Holes and Small Openings
Mice and other rodents tend to chew holes through walls for easy access to areas of the house. You may notice a small hole chewed in your drywall, near the floor or baseboards. This could be a sign of an old rodent infestation or a new one.
Noises
Rodents and other animals tend to make noises in the walls and ceilings when they invade a house. Often, pests are more active at night than they are during the daytime, so you’ll hear these noises when the animals are most active. You may hear scrabbling in the walls, quick little feet racing through your attic, or chewing and grinding noise at night as the pests eat.
Scraps of Things
Pests can be destructive, especially when they’re looking for food and nesting materials. You’ll see scraps of things in areas where pests have invaded – either in your pantry or in areas around the nest.
Visual Sightings
If you have an infestation, you’ll likely have sightings of the pests themselves. You may notice a single mouse run by a doorway, or you may see cockroaches in your kitchen when you turn on the lights. It’s important to remember that seeing a single pest one time doesn’t mean that you’ve got an infestation, but you should always call your pest control company if you see a pest in your home. It’s probably time for a pest treatment!
How Can You Prevent Pest Infestation?
Working with pest control in Spokane is one of the most effective things you can do to avoid a pest infestation in your home. In addition, there are other things you can do to keep pests out of your house.
- Empty the trash at night. Store outdoor trashcans in a location away from the house, if possible.
- Don’t leave dishes in the sink overnight.
- Sweep nightly.
- Avoid eating in bedrooms or in the living room. Keep food in the kitchen and dining room.
- Seal your house every fall. Install caulk on seams, patch holes as needed.
- Weatherstrip windows and doors.
- Store food in hard containers, like glass or plastic.
Call Us for Pest Control in Spokane
Maintain your home by keeping it pest-free. Work with a pest control company that uses environmentally-friendly safe practices to keep your home free of pests. Are you noticing signs of a pest infestation in your home? Call EcoTek Pest Control in Spokane to make an appointment for a pest treatment!
