Pests are undesirable organisms that damage or destroy crops, food stores, gardens, lawns, houses, and other human buildings and structures. They also displace native plants and disrupt ecosystems.

Rodents such as rats and mice carry diseases, while flying pests like moths and mosquitoes can sting or bite. Crawling or walking pests include rodents, arachnoids and insects such as cockroaches and centipedes. Click Here to learn more.

The goal of pest inspections is to identify and address pest infestations before they get out of hand. Pests can cause a variety of issues, including damage to property, health concerns, and emotional distress. By identifying and addressing pest problems early, you can prevent them from escalating into larger infestations that require more extensive treatment and cost more money to resolve.

Pests are a common problem in homes and businesses. They can contaminate food, destroy surfaces, and taint or transmit diseases. In addition, they can be a serious safety risk for people with sensitive respiratory systems. Regular pest control inspections can help you protect your family’s health by removing unwelcome guests from your home or business.

A pest inspection involves a thorough walkthrough of your property, starting from the outside and moving indoors. Specialized tools, such as moisture meters and infrared cameras, may be used to examine hidden areas where pests might be hiding or feeding. Detailed reports are then generated, highlighting areas of concern and detailing recommendations for treatment. Immediate action may be required in severe cases, while ongoing monitoring and maintenance may be recommended for less urgent issues.

The most important aspect of a pest inspection is its ability to detect early signs of infestation. Paying close attention to areas more prone to pest infestation, such as garbage storage, basements, and garages, can reduce the likelihood of pest problems. Regularly removing clutter from these areas can also reduce their attractiveness as hiding spots for pests.

Whether it is a rodent, an ant, or a termite, pests can cause significant damage to residential and commercial properties. Their chewing, gnawing, and biting can wreak havoc on wood, wires, and insulation, while their droppings can contaminate food and other surfaces. Pests also pose a threat to human health, carrying pathogens that can taint food or cause disease. Regular pest inspections can ensure that your property is safe for both employees and patrons.

A well-documented system for recording pest logs, cleaning schedules, and pest exterminator receipts can make it easier to pass inspections. Having these records organized reflects a commitment to sanitation and pest prevention. It can also ensure that your staff is aware of proper pest management practices and able to answer inspectors’ questions with confidence.

Treatment

Pests cause a variety of problems, ranging from a nuisance (bird droppings) to property damage or health risks (rodent urine). No home is immune from pest invasion, and many invade through cracks, crevices, and entry points that aren’t properly sealed. Fortunately, most pests are manageable with regular pest control treatments.

After identifying the pests and assessing their severity, your technician will craft a treatment plan based on your unique needs. They may use chemicals, including insecticides, rodenticides, or herbicides, to kill or repel pests from your property. They may also employ mechanical, physical, or environmental controls to prevent or remove pests.

While some pests can be eliminated with one treatment, most require multiple treatments over a period of weeks or months to fully eliminate them. This is because most treatments target pest populations over time by contaminating their harborage areas, disrupting reproduction, or poisoning them directly.

Many pests are able to resist some of these treatments, which is why consistent pest management is key. It includes reapplying treatments to ensure their effectiveness, monitoring for early signs of activity, and following recommended preventive measures.

Preventive measures include sealing gaps and cracks to stop pests from entering your home, modifying landscaping to discourage rodents and other pests, and regularly inspecting the property for signs of infestation. It also involves reporting any new pest sightings to your technician, allowing them to adapt your treatments as needed.

Consistent pest management also accounts for seasonal shifts in pest behavior and activity. Summer heat often drives pests indoors, where they can be more easily controlled. As fall approaches, rodent activity usually slows and long-term treatments can be placed in the cracks, crevices, and voids where pests tend to nest and hide during winter. These long term treatments can prevent pests from emerging as spring approaches. It’s important to report any changes in your property or its surroundings to your technician, as these can affect the efficacy of your treatment.

Prevention

Using pest control methods that prevent pests from entering and growing in a location is far more effective than trying to kill them after they’re there. Preventative measures include inspections, monitoring, and education.

In the home, reducing food sources and water for pests can help to prevent them from entering. Regular cleaning and sanitation practices are also essential. Keeping trash and garbage cans tightly sealed, and removing debris and clutter can help prevent pests from finding shelter and breeding areas. Sealing cracks and crevices in walls and foundations is another way to reduce entry points for pests.

Maintaining plant health can prevent disease and insect problems in the garden, and mulching regularly is a great preventative measure to consider. The use of organic compost and natural fertilizers can also help to keep plants healthy and disease free. In addition to maintaining plant health, choosing varieties that are resistant to insects and diseases is a good way to help avoid pest infestations.

A preventative approach to gardening also involves mulching, planting flowers and vegetables that attract beneficial insects, and releasing beneficial insects in the garden (such as ladybugs) when possible. Pesticides are more dangerous and corrosive than many other household chemicals, so it’s important to understand their hazards and follow safety instructions when applying them.

Pests are unwanted organisms that harm humans or property, devalue crops and landscapes, and displace native plants and wildlife. These organisms may be insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, or weeds. Some plants, such as noxious weeds, are considered pests because they are considered invasive and interfere with the health of other ecosystems.

Suppression tactics are used when indicators call for action to reduce the probability of damage from a pest. These can include the use of barriers, physical controls, cultural practices, biological controls, or pesticides described on our Integrated Pest Management tactics page. It is important to assess the success or failure of any suppression tactic, so that proper corrections can be made if needed in the future. This can be done by assessing pest population numbers, signs of pest activity, detection of resistance to the control tactic, indications of activity from natural enemies, and the effects of the suppression tactic on the environment.

Maintenance

Facing the villainy of pests in your home or commercial property can feel like you’re on the set of a black-and-white horror movie. These uninvited guests are the unseen actors who can cause structural damage, health hazards and significant financial burdens. Maintaining a vigilant Pest Protection Plan is the real movie-making magic that keeps pest problems rolling credits before they can escalate into full-blown infestations.

Adding pest control to your list of annual maintenance services is an important step to help prevent the kinds of issues that can reduce the value of your property over time. In fact, it’s often cheaper to address pest issues proactively rather than waiting for them to get out of hand, especially in terms of home repairs and restoration costs.

Pest control professionals are familiar with pests and the conditions that allow them to thrive, and they know how to target the specific conditions on your property to minimize their impact. For example, pests like to take refuge in moist environments where mold and mildew growth can threaten indoor air quality. Pest control services can target these moisture problems to help keep your environment clean and dry.

As part of a routine service, your pest control expert can also offer advice to you on how to further protect your property. For example, he or she can provide guidance on how to seal cracks and crevices that could serve as entry points for pests. A huge portion of pest problems can be traced back to these openings in your building’s structure, including expansion joints, floor-wall junction cracks and gaps around windows and doors.

In addition, pest control professionals have the unique perspective of looking over, under and behind equipment, providing a window into your staff’s cleaning and sanitation practices. Insights into these areas can be invaluable for preventing pests from accessing food, water or shelter in your facility. This information can be shared with staff to ensure all employees are on the same page regarding the prevention of pests in your facility. By working with Rentokil, you’ll receive a complete pest control solution that includes pest inspections and treatments, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and preventative measures.