How Do You Know if it’s Time to Call in Pest Control?

Pest control is one of those things that no one wants to have to worry about. For one thing, you don’t want the beasts in your house in the first place. For another thing, you don’t want to have to pay to get rid of them. And, perhaps equally importantly, you don’t want other people to know that they’re there!

Household pests still – ridiculously – carry all kinds of stigma. But the truth is, most people will experience pests of some kind in their home at some time. From fire ants to raccoons, if they like the look of your home, they’ll find their way in. And it’s no reflection on your housekeeping. The question is, how do you know if it’s a DIY problem, or time to call in pest control?

Is It Time to Call in Pest Control?

How do you know if you have an infestation?

Pests can infest any or all rooms in a home. Kitchens, crawl spaces, closets, basements and bedrooms are all open to unwanted guests. And they can reveal themselves in all sorts of ways:

• All animals defecate. If you keep finding unaccountable poop, you know that you have a problem.
• The scratching of mice, the drumming of termites.
• Damage in your home. Whether the tearing of food packets, the staining or nibbling of furniture, or the more serious signs of structural damage caused by bats, termites or larger mammals, many pests are vandals.
• If you or your family are regularly being bitten, the chances are that you probably have pests in your home.
• Nesting materials. If mammals are in your home, they will usually be looking to nest. Hoarded fabric, shredded paper and holes in your insulation could all indicate a nesting pest.

When to call in pest control

Once you know that you have a pest problem, the next decision is what to do about it. In some cases, pests can be easily dealt with without outside help. Fleas are a pain, but it can be done.  A couple of rodents can be easily lured and trapped (ideally using non-lethal methods). But sometimes, the sensible course is to call in professional pest control.

These are the scenarios where professional pest control provides the best solution.

Dangerous pests

Few pests are fun to deal with. But if you’re confronting potentially dangerous pests – snakes, spiders, aggressive wildlife – it’s never worth risking your safety. A professional pest management provider will have all the necessary personal protective equipment. And know the safest way to approach the problem.

Children and pets

Go to any hardware store and you will see shelves of pest control solutions. Look closer, and you’ll see that 99% of them are hazardous to kids and household pets. If you have children or pets in your home, it’s always best to seek professional help. The danger is too great to ignore.

Awkward pests

Yep, no one ever said that getting rid of pests was easy. These critters like your home, they don’t want to go. And some of them are extremely good at avoiding extermination tactics. Termites, bedbugs, and protected species like bats all need professional handling.

Recurring infestations

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again… Which is a great little motivational platitude for anything other than pest control. If the beasties keep coming back, it’s probably because you’re doing something wrong. You might have the wrong product, the wrong application, or you might not be as thorough as you think you’re being. But if pests keep coming back, you need professional help.

Having pests in the home isn’t just unpleasant. It can prove a genuine health threat too. From asthma and allergies to really nasty bacterial infections – pests can bring them all. Some of them are also very good at helping to destroy perfectly good homes. So, if you do think that you have a pest problem and you’re unsure about how to remedy it, call in a professional. It’s never worth leaving it and taking the risk.

Live in Charlotte and worried about pests in your home? Call Noosa Pest Management Today: 704-499-9922