Residential Pest Control | Exterminators And Prevention
The cost of residential pest control
Residential pest control is big business. The annual cost for termite control alone in my part of the country is about $400.00 per year, and the cost of other pest management, such as that for ants and roaches is not included in that figure. If you tack on other pest control costs, like those for outdoor pests and rodents, the cost can skyrocket.
Don't blame the exterminator
Nationwide, the cost is into the billions, but don't blame your exterminator. The cost of maintaining a license for a residential Pest Control Operator has grown, and that cost includes not only labor, chemicals, and equipment, but also the ever increasing cost of insurance for those who work in the field of pest control.
The safety of residential pest control
There is another factor to consider when looking at your home pest control needs. That is safety! Most residential pest control operators and exterminators are safe and meticulous about their work, but continuous exposure to insecticides is still a physical hazard. Limiting such exposure can be an important factor in the continued health and well being of your family. Even your exterminator would prefer to limit his exposure, and is required to wear and use personal protective equipment during the mixing and application process. Less exposure means less chance of pesticide related illness.
Alternative residential pest control options
Home pest control products have made significant advancements in the area of safety, and there are products available for residential pest control which do not contain the nerve damaging chemicals used in standard pest control products used by exterminators. Many of these "green" pest control products are good, but they often lack the residual effect of the standard insecticides. There are, however, other means of pest management which offer excellent results, and can help to limit the need for any type of pest control product and service.
Residential pest control and pest prevention
One of the best ways to limit the need for using pesticides and their attendant cost and safety issues is to practice pest prevention.We have a few tips on using pest prevention as pest management listed below. and links to pest prevention resources on this site and others for a more thorough study of the subject.
- Don’t plant climbing vines around your vents or windows providing a way for a pests to get into your home. Climbing vines can gradually invade your window openings, spreading them open, and allowing insects to travel through.
- Don't allow shrubs and tree branches to touch your homes exterior. Like vines, bugs can use them to get onto, and into your home.
- Seal around all doors, windows, air conditioning, and plumbing coming into the house. Do this on the inside as well as the outside. Pay close attention to cable inlets, and all inside plumbing inlets.
- Be sure that your door sweeps are all the way to the edges of the door opening, and that they reach all the way to the floor.
- Check all weather stripping to make sure bugs can’t crawl through any gaps. Replace if needed.
- Keep brush and weeds as far away from the house as possible, so that the pests don’t have a staging area near your home.
- Rotting wood is the roach’s natural food, make sure that your immediate outside area is free of it, and anything else that might hide pests.
- Move your landscaping mulch away from the edge of your home by a foot or more. Like rotting wood, it can hide insects, and like vines and shrubs it provides an easy cover for travel onto and into your home.
- Check houseplants before you bring them inside when first purchased or brought in from your greenhouse, or after watering outdoors.
- Check all shopping bags, fruits and vegetables carefully for insects.
- It goes without saying, that your home should be clean, with no food sources for pests.
- Keep your trash can lids on, and the can away from the house as far as possible to keep flies away.
- If you have indoor pets, check them when they return from trips outdoors, for hitch hikers.
- Check for wet spots and puddles in your lawn which might become breeding areas for mosquitoes and other undesirables.
Residential pest control resources:
Science: Pests and Diseases: Integrated Pest Management
Pest Prevention Principles and Practices
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