Tuesday, October 18, 2016

How to Know When it’s Time to Call in a Pest Control Professional

Perhaps you're concerned about the cost, having a stranger in your home, or you're unbothered by the idea of the occasional mouse or ant sighting in your home. Whatever the reason, we’ve heard plenty of excuses for why people tend to put off calling in a pest control professional. However, the truth is, pests can pose serious health and safety hazards to you, your family and your pets if not promptly taken care of. While you may be inclined to try to deal with these kinds of problems on your own, it's usually a job best left to the pros to ensure the extermination process is thorough and complete. Here are a few ways to tell that it's time to call in a pest control professional to take care of your pest problem.

  1. Nothing you've tried has worked: Pests are frightening to some and no big deal to others, so if you're someone who isn't fearful of bugs or animals, it's possible that you've decided to tackle the infestation on your own. Full traps may indicate to you that the problem is being taken care of, but if you're still noticing signs of pests living in your home, there are far more pests in your home than a few traps can accommodate. Remember that killing the bugs or rodents you see is only a small part of alleviating the problem. If you've tried all of the DIY methods and still have pests in your home, it's time that you seek professional help to effectively take care of the problem. 
  2. You've noticed mud tubes: Mud tubes are a clear sign of a termite infestation, and if you have termites in your home it's imperative that you don't try to handle the problem on your own. Termites can cause detrimental damage to your home, leading to costly repairs and safety concerns. Mud tubes are made of small pieces of soil and wood and are pencil-sized tunnels that can be seen on the foundation of your home. If you find mud tubes around the base or structure of your house, call in a pest control professional to assess wood damage and fumigate your home for termites. 
  3. You can hear pests in your home: Just because you haven’t seen any bugs or animals doesn't mean they aren't in your home! If you can hear scurrying or buzzing in your home, it's likely that there are pests within your walls or crawl spaces of your attic or basement. Needless to say, if you aren't able to locate the pests, you won't be able to get rid of them. A pest control professional can identify where pests are entering your home and in what areas of your home they are nesting. 
  4. You can see pests: Spotting the occasional spider in your home is nothing to be alarmed about, but when you start to see nocturnal pests scurry across your floor or counter, you’ve got a problem on your hands. Since many pests, such as cockroaches and bed bugs, sleep throughout the day, seeing them during daylight hours can be a sign of a heavy infestation. The few you spot are surely not the only ones in your home! 
  5. It's getting colder outside: Though it remains pretty warm in our area throughout the year, as winter approaches we will be starting to see a drop in temperature. Like humans, most pests do not flourish in the cold weather and will inevitably seek shelter in warmer places such as your home! If you've experienced pest problems during the colder months of the year in the past, it's not a bad idea to be on high alert as the temperature starts to drop. At the very first sign of an infestation, call in a professional before the problem gets out of hand. 

If you're experiencing an infestation, or are worried about the potential threat pests pose to your home this winter, give us a call today at (800) 229-2888 or visit our website. We've been serving homes in Orange and Los Angeles Counties for over 20 years.