Get Expert Advice When Dealing with Pests

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by Jason Neale

Hiring a Licensed Pest Control Expert

Pest control should always be done by a licensed expert to successfully remove pests such as cockroaches, ants, spiders, silverfish, termites. This requires the understanding of where these pests harbour and also knowing what type of pesticide to use to effectively get rid of them.

Customer Relationship

Talking to the customer is one of the most important aspects of a pest controllers job. This will help to build an understanding of any problems within the home. By asking things like where and if anyone in the house is being bitten, this will identify the type of pest and also where to look for them. If there are bite marks on the lower legs, this is usually a sign of fleas. Once this has been established, it is important to find out if the customer has any pets in the house. This is vital to successfully get rid of fleas. If the house is treated for fleas, but there is a pet that hasn’t been treated by the owner with a good flea product like Front line or Advantage, the success rate will be reduced. So it is important to make sure all pets are treated before the pest treatment is carried out and the only way to guarantee this is by telling the customer over the phone prior to arrival.

Good Communication

Good communication is very important with all aspects of pest control. It’s easy to mistake fleas for other pests such as bed bugs or bird lice. The main difference with these three pests is the position of the bites on the body and the time that the bites are occurring. If there are bite marks all over the body, this is usually a problem with either bed bugs or bird lice. Bed bugs will come out during the night and attack their host and then disappear before day light and a tell tail sign is small blots of blood on the sheets after a night’s sleep. If bed bugs are found, it requires an intense treatment and not one area can be missed or the problem will persist. In many cases, the pest control company may have to return for more than one visit. This is why using a proficient company is important.

Bird Lice

With pests like bird lice, they are generally brought into the home via the roof void by birds. Most birds have lice. When they nest inside homes, it can cause problems with itching because the lice can fall down into the house through cracks. This is made even easier if the home is fitted with down lights. The old Queensland houses with VJ roofing is also a problem as they can just fall through the panelling. If there is a bird nesting inside the roof void, it must be removed and the entry points sealed so they can’t get in again. With bird lice problems, the treatment is much the same as that of bed bugs – a thorough clean of the affected areas must be done along with a spraying of a pesticide, paying particular attention to cracks and crevices and all edges of the rooms.

Spiders and Ants

Spiders and ants are the two hardest pests to get rid of permanently. This is because they can come from just about anywhere. If a home is sprayed along with the garden, a spider can easily just spin a web from the neighbour’s house and be back the same night. Also, spiders nest inside bushes and plants, and this makes it very difficult to get a direct hit when spraying. The same goes for ants. Ants can come from miles around and are very resilient. In general, these type of pests can be stopped for a short time but regular spraying may be needed to prevent them for longer periods. With major spider and ant problems, there is usually a reason and this generally comes down to the environment the house is in. They will be easier to keep away if in suburbia. But if in a bush setting, it is going to be very difficult to control. Educating customers is important, and this should be done by all licensed pest control companies.

Rats and Mice

With rats and mice, it is very important to do a thorough inspection of the premises before laying any baits or traps. Once a good inspection has been carried out, a decision can be made as whether to lay baits or place traps. Both methods are very effective, but knowing the thinking of rodents is important to gain control of any problem. Rodents like to use the same route and are creatures of habit, so once the entry points have been identified the baits or traps can be set. Rodents carry all sorts of diseases and should be dealt with straightaway by a professional pest control Ipswich technician.

Pest Control Sunshine Coast

Pest control is not only done for homeowners; it is also a requirement of tenants moving out of a rental property at the end of a lease. In most cases, a tenant who has had a cat or dog on the premises will be required a fleas treatment inside and outside along with a carpet clean and may also need a treatment for cockroaches. It’s best to ask the property manager what is needed before getting the service done because having it done twice will just cost more. Using a company that does both carpet cleaning and pest control will save money and time by having the same technician do both jobs at the same time. When having a pest treatment done when vacating a rental, a receipt should be issued to show the property manager that the services have been done and completed by a professional. On the receipt should be written the pests that were treated along with the products used and the warranty period.

Pest Control Ipswich

With a pest control Ipswich job, its best to use an expert that offers a warranty on the work and that can also explain the processes that have been carried out. This will help the customer to understand what they should expect from the service and also what they need to do to help keep the pests away.

Termites

Using a professional pest controller cannot be over stated when dealing with termites. Termites can destroy a house in a very short time so it’s not worth the risk. Always have a licensed and reputable company do this service. Using a company that has the latest infrared cameras to see through walls and detect moisture is vital in identifying a termite nest early. All homeowners should have a termite inspection done once a year; this will help to reduce the risk of attack. A back up of the barrier treatment should also be kept up to date. With the new homes today, a termite mess is put down. But in the older homes, a physical barrier treatment is needed and it will need to be redone or topped up every 5-10 years depending on where the property is located.