How Often Do I Need Pest Control

How Frequently Should Pest Control Be Done?

Knowing how often you need professional pest control services is important for keeping your home or business free of unwanted pests. The frequency of treatments depends on several key factors that can vary significantly between properties.

Understanding what determines treatment frequency will help you make informed decisions on scheduling to get the maximum benefit.

Factors That Affect Treatment Frequency

1. Location of the Property

Where your property is located geographically can impact how often pest control treatments are needed. Properties in warmer climates or heavily wooded areas tend to require more frequent service. Access to exterior food and water sources also plays a role.

2. Age of the Property

Older homes tend to have more gaps, cracks and entry points that allow easier access for common pests. New construction may need less frequent treatments initially compared to a 60 year old home with aging weather seals.

3. Type of Pest

How often you need service depends partly on what pest type you’re dealing with. Cockroaches may need more ongoing treatments compared to occasional spiders or ants. Their reproductive and survival rates also vary.

4. Size of Infestation

If you have a heavy, widespread established pest infestation when you first call for treatment, you likely need continued service more often until the problem is eliminated. Catching issues early before they multiply reduces overall frequency.

5. Method Used

The type of products, rate of application and service protocol recommended can impact duration of control and need for retreatment. Using advanced gel baits for ant control may give longer relief between services compared to basic spraying.

How Often Do I Need Pest Control by Pest

Ants

• Initial service with follow-up in 3 months is recommended due to hatching cycles
• Gel baits can provide control 3-6 months depending on species and conditions
• Ongoing preventative exterior treatments ideal 2-3 times per year

Cockroaches

• Initial treatment with follow-up every 1-2 months while active infestation
• Reduce to every 3 months once under control
• Gel baits and IGRs provide the longest control

Rodents

• Every 2-4 weeks while active signs of mice or rats
• Reduce to monthly preventative treatments once under control

Spiders

• 2-3 exterior treatments during peak activity seasons
• Ongoing monthly/bimonthly services ideal for web-building spiders

Fleas

• 2-3 treatments every 2 weeks apart until under control
• Monthly service recommended during warmer months
• Also treat pets with vet-recommended prevention

Bed Bugs

• 2 treatments minimum 2 weeks apart once activity detected
• Another follow-up in 30 days based on inspection results
• Monitor closely 6-12 months after to catch reintroductions

Termites

• Minimum annual termite inspections are highly recommended
• More frequent chemical soil treatments if active signs near structure
• Install termite baiting system for ongoing control of termite infestation

Bees & Wasps

• As needed for nest removal until less activity with winter temps
• Treat tunnels and exterior entry points 1-2 times during peak seasons

Silverfish

• Initial treatment followed by another in 2-3 weeks
• Reduce frequency to bimonthly once under control

Mosquitoes

• Monthly treatments during warmer months
• Reduce frequency in hot dry periods with less activity

Birds

• Physical exclusion installation followed by bimonthly pest inspection

Conclusion

There is no one-size-fits-all rule for how often you need professional service at your home and business. It depends on several things we talked about in this article. The best way is to closely check for pest activity and adjust when you get service based on what’s going on at your specific environment. Working closely with your professional pest control company and letting them know what you see between visits helps make sure your treatments happen when they should. Doing regular preventive measures means you shouldn’t need emergency treatment if bugs spread out of control without you noticing.

Contact A Reliable Pest Controller

If you have any questions about service frequency needed for your situation or want a program customised to match your conditions, contact our experts at Pro Pest Control in Adelaide today. Our pest control experts have over 10 years of experience handling all types of pests and are happy to advise how often treatments are recommended.

Article written by Damien Michaelson.