How Often Should You Pest Control Your Home

You may have heard conflicting information about how often you should use pest control in your home. However, many experts recommend monthly pest control services to keep your home free from pests. That does not necessarily mean a visit from a pest control professional each month.

How Long Does a Professional Pest Control Service Last?

Professional pest control usually lasts about two months. So, if you do not have a pest problem and are only using pest control services for prevention, then having treatments every two months should keep you from ever developing a pest problem.

However, that assumes that pesticides will remain effective against pests. Pests are constantly evolving, which means that they can develop resistance to some pesticides. Having your pest control professional visit your home on a monthly basis gives them a chance to inspect the premises. They can determine whether the current treatments are working, and, if not, they can adjust them to help you keep your home pest free.

The Type of Pest Matters

It is also important to know what pests are a problem in your area. That can vary with the seasons. Plus, it may vary from year to year. If you have a rodent problem, then you may need more frequent pest control visits, especially if you opt for pest control programs that do not use poison to kill the rodents. On the other hand, if mosquitoes are your main problem, you can put treatment on hold during those parts of the year when mosquitoes are not a problem. So, you want to communicate with your pest control professionals about your concerns, so that they can tailor a program specifically for you.

Your Home Matters

Many newer homes are built to exclude and treat pests. They may have insecticides included in their construction or ongoing pest prevention things like borer prevention systems. Those homes may not require pest prevention as frequently as older homes. Likewise, homes with multiple pets may have great pest control needs.

Your Habits Matter

Just like your home matters, so do your habits. Do you travel frequently? If so, you want to make sure you are getting regular inspections for bed bugs? Do you hike in places where you could bring home fleas and ticks? Then, you want to include treatment for them. The more likely you are to bring pests into your home, the more important it is to have regular pest control.