Infestation is the last thing anyone wants in their home. Not only is it thoroughly creepy to think you have hoards of insects running around your house, but it can also be quite embarrassing. The last thing you want creeping around your kitchen during the holiday season is a stream of ants, marching their way towards your perfected buffet.
Luckily, there a plenty of pest control options available in most cities that can expertly handle the situation, wherever you are in the country. There are pests everywhere out there, such as ants, spiders, rodents, stinging insects, and cockroaches (and these are just some common pests in the Boise area and other places like it).
Granted, calling out pest control isn’t a frequent occurrence (thankfully!) so many people reading this may be experiencing their first infestation, or may even be preparing preemptively, so here’s a list of things you should know before pest control call round.
Pest Control is an Inside/Outside Process
No one likes having someone unfamiliar in your home, but unfortunately, it’s sometimes a total necessity, and pest control is one of those times. Pests don’t usually set up their homes in one particular portion of the house. They’ll set up camp in your walls, in your kitchen, and potentially underneath the outside decking.
This means the professional that you’ve called out to clean them up will be in and out of your house quite frequently, so make sure you’re comfortable with their presence. Most pest professionals will introduce themselves thoroughly before beginning work so you feel at ease, but be mindful of this before rushing into any particular service.
Entry Point Inspection and Yard Inspection
One of the very first things any pest control professional will do is inspect all of the entry points of your house where pests may have gained entry, be them insect or rodent. This includes the obvious locations, such as doors and windows, but can also include drainpipes, attics, garages, and crawlspaces.
Due to how sneaky pests can be, crawling through the smallest of cracks, this inspection process can take some time. Once all of the entry points have been thoroughly inspected, pest control will move into the yard to inspect the outdoor spaces and check if there are any obvious openings where pests may have gained entry (usually exclusive to rodent pests).
Moisture Evaluation
Excess moisture has a lot to answer for when it comes to the health of your home’s infrastructure. Usually associated with mold, moist portions of your home are far more susceptible to pest infestations than dry areas. For this reason, a pest control professional will perform a moisture evaluation of your home to see where the most critical points are located and how you can reduce the likelihood of severe moisture being an issue in the future.
Overall Report and Discussion
Once the professional has completed all of their checks, they will compile all of the information they have found into one simple report that you can then both look over. This will cover some of the weaker points in the house and include steps to move forward from there. Luckily in most cases, you will not need to evacuate your home for the process to take place. It isn’t as intrusive as it used to be, no hazmat suits are required for you and your pets.
Having said that, extermination can be a lengthy and sometimes costly process. It isn’t simply a case of taking an extinguisher to the main hive of pest activity, a lot of thought goes into the process of removal. With this in mind, have patience, and take steps to reinforce your house afterward to prevent it from happening again. Once you’re pest-free, it will all feel worth it!
