When pests become a nuisance, they cause damage to property and can lead to health issues. Generally speaking, the sooner pests are controlled, the less damage they cause and the less money homeowners will have to spend repairing damage caused by pests. But determining when to call for pest control can be difficult for some people. Often, it comes down to time and effort invested. Some people try to tackle pest issues themselves before calling in the professionals. This can often lead to even worse problems. In addition, DIY pest control can end up costing the home or business owner more money than if they had just called a professional in the first place.
When it comes to pests, most experts agree that there are three different levels of action that need to be considered when developing a pest control strategy: prevention, suppression, and eradication. Prevention involves keeping a pest from becoming a problem; suppression refers to reducing the number of pests to an acceptable level, and eradication means destroying an entire pest population.
Many pests are continuous, requiring regular maintenance; others are sporadic and need to be controlled on a more irregular basis. It is important to determine what kind of pests are present on a property, and what their activity threshold is before taking action. This is why most people who work in the pest control industry recommend regular inspections of properties to identify pest problems.
Some pests when pest control is needed can be prevented by simply blocking their points of entry into a structure. This can include sealing cracks and crevices, using caulking or sprayable foam around pipes, drains, and vents, and putting in new screens on doors and windows. In addition, regularly cleaning up discarded trash cans and removing food from outdoor areas can help prevent pests from finding their way indoors.
Other pests require the use of chemical controls. Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and rodenticides can be used to kill or control pests, but it is important that they are applied in a manner that does not harm humans, pets, or plants. The proper application of these chemicals depends on the pest and its environment, and it is recommended that homeowners or commercial property owners contact a professional for assistance in choosing and applying the right products for their pest control needs.
Other types of pest control involve the use of physical controls such as traps, barriers, fences, and radiation. Chemicals can also be used to alter the environment, such as changing the amount of water or temperature, in order to inhibit pests. These methods are sometimes referred to as biological pest control, and they usually have less of an impact on the environment than conventional pesticides. When the proper environmental conditions are created, biological pest control can be very effective.