One of the most common questions we get asked is, “how often do we REALLY need to have a pest control treatment”. Honestly, it depends and we wanted to let you know what it depends upon and what you can do to stretch it out.
Has something changed?
Have you just moved in? Have you just renovated? Are you about to sell? Are you about to renovate?
These major changes are a good trigger point to organise an inspection and general pest treatment. While the sale of a home requires a pest inspection, you’re best to do your own prior to purchase and a treatment while the home is empty (before you move in).
These major changes are a good trigger point to organise an inspection and general pest treatment. While the sale of a home requires a pest inspection, you’re best to do your own prior to purchase and a treatment while the home is empty (before you move in).
Location & how often you need pest control
Unfortunately, Adelaide is known for termite infestations. Live near gum trees or have a house within 100 metres with a termite problem? Then there’s a high chance you will end up with a termite problem.
Location is a selling point for real estate agents and it’s a nightmare for pests. Some pests prefer damp conditions, others enjoy open fields and dry grass. Some pests prefer large pools of water and others enjoy mounds of garbage.
All of these things impact how often you may need to have pest control treatments. If you live in an area of high pest activity you will want to ensure your home and family are kept safe from pests and their diseases, that means a more regular treatment schedule. You may often find that you have infestations of pests requiring more regular treatments.
If you’re a commercial client you may have legal requirements on how often and the type of pest control treatment you need.
Location is a selling point for real estate agents and it’s a nightmare for pests. Some pests prefer damp conditions, others enjoy open fields and dry grass. Some pests prefer large pools of water and others enjoy mounds of garbage.
All of these things impact how often you may need to have pest control treatments. If you live in an area of high pest activity you will want to ensure your home and family are kept safe from pests and their diseases, that means a more regular treatment schedule. You may often find that you have infestations of pests requiring more regular treatments.
If you’re a commercial client you may have legal requirements on how often and the type of pest control treatment you need.
 | Pest typeNot all pests are created equal. Termite damage can be expensive. Moth damage can be costly too. Not all pests cause expensive damage to property, some can cause health issues such as mosquito borne disease or reactions to spider bites. Depending on the specific needs of your family, having a certain pest infest your home can be a minor inconvenience or a major concern. If a particular pest is of major concern to you and your family then you may want to consider more regular preventative pest control. |
Size of pest infestation vs how often you need pest control
Sometimes, no amount of maintenance will stop an infestation.
Perhaps you brought in a packet of pasta not knowing it had weevils, silverfish or pantry moths. Perhaps you left a jumper out to dry overnight and didn’t see the eggs a moth laid on it. Perhaps the termites in a neighbouring street have finally broken through to the roots of the gum tree in your back yard and are quietly gnawing away and killing your tree from the inside out.
When you realise that this is what has happened, it’s generally too late. There is no way you could have known what was going on until one pest became an infestation that caught your attention.
The size of and type of infestation will determine the number and type of treatments you will need to control the pests. While we would like to be able to give a number, we just can’t say until we see it and see how the infestation responds.
Perhaps you brought in a packet of pasta not knowing it had weevils, silverfish or pantry moths. Perhaps you left a jumper out to dry overnight and didn’t see the eggs a moth laid on it. Perhaps the termites in a neighbouring street have finally broken through to the roots of the gum tree in your back yard and are quietly gnawing away and killing your tree from the inside out.
When you realise that this is what has happened, it’s generally too late. There is no way you could have known what was going on until one pest became an infestation that caught your attention.
The size of and type of infestation will determine the number and type of treatments you will need to control the pests. While we would like to be able to give a number, we just can’t say until we see it and see how the infestation responds.
What you can do to reduce how often you need pest control services
Monthly
Look for signs of increased pest activity. Perhaps you will see dirt tubes and build up near walls or timber storage that signal termites are active. Perhaps you will see a new web or nest for the spiders. Perhaps it’s a new ant trail into the dog’s kennel, or that your dog is now avoiding where it would normally lie down outside. Or maybe your cat has started scratching more and you think it could be fleas. Notice any of these things, then give us a call.
Quarterly
Do you spring clean your home? Your wardrobe? You should be looking for signs of pests. Are there moth holes in your favourite jumpers or blankets when you get them out or pack them away? Have you found weevils or moths when you’ve done a big clean of the pantry? Notice any of these things, then give us a call.
Six-monthly
Every six months we recommend that you get a pest controller in to do a general spray of your home. This is the most regular, outside of an infestation, that you should be seeing us. Many people like to have their service done at the start of Spring once the major rains have gone.
Yearly
If you’re not having us around twice a year to do a general spray, then you’re definitely going to want us to come around and check your termite baiting system (to keep your warranty active) and to do a general pest spray while we’re there.
We hope this gives you some idea on how often you really need pest control services. If in doubt, please give us a call.
Look for signs of increased pest activity. Perhaps you will see dirt tubes and build up near walls or timber storage that signal termites are active. Perhaps you will see a new web or nest for the spiders. Perhaps it’s a new ant trail into the dog’s kennel, or that your dog is now avoiding where it would normally lie down outside. Or maybe your cat has started scratching more and you think it could be fleas. Notice any of these things, then give us a call.
Quarterly
Do you spring clean your home? Your wardrobe? You should be looking for signs of pests. Are there moth holes in your favourite jumpers or blankets when you get them out or pack them away? Have you found weevils or moths when you’ve done a big clean of the pantry? Notice any of these things, then give us a call.
Six-monthly
Every six months we recommend that you get a pest controller in to do a general spray of your home. This is the most regular, outside of an infestation, that you should be seeing us. Many people like to have their service done at the start of Spring once the major rains have gone.
Yearly
If you’re not having us around twice a year to do a general spray, then you’re definitely going to want us to come around and check your termite baiting system (to keep your warranty active) and to do a general pest spray while we’re there.
We hope this gives you some idea on how often you really need pest control services. If in doubt, please give us a call.
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