How Does Pest Control Work And What Does It Do? - Hipages

Do you have pests at home or a pest infestation at your work or premises?

Then you are going to need a pest control service to get on top of the problem.

Read this article to find out what you need to know - from identifying the pest, to practical questions like how much it costs and what you need to do to prepare for a pest treatment.

• How do I know if I have pests?
• How do I prepare for a pest control treatment?
• Can pest control be safe?
• How much does pest control cost?
• How often do I need a pest treatment?
• How do I hire a pest control expert?

How do I know if I have pests?

Each pest or animal will leave distinct signs, so you really need to know what to look for.

If you have termites you will usually notice a powdery residue in or around timber, or even see their tunnels. Possums are nocturnal, so if you have noises in your ceiling or roof at night, there is a good chance you have a rent-dodging tenant upstairs. If you have a bed bug infestation you may wake up with small bites or welts over your body - you may even feel them crawling around during the night. Other pests, like bees, wasps, snakes and spiders are usually fairly obvious, and you will likely see them - and need to call a pest control expect pronto to deal with them.

Read more: Complete bed bug treatment checklist

How do I prepare for a pest control treatment?

It really depends on what pest you have.

For example, if you have bed bugs you need to wash all your linen, curtains and clothing in hot water before they visit your home. The chemicals used to control a cockroach problem may necessitate you leaving your property while the treatment is administered. For rodent treatments you will usually need to remove your pets from treated areas until it dries.

Your pest controller should advise you before they arrive to conduct the treatment, and if they don’t be sure to ask them how you need to prepare.

Can pest control be safe?

If you are talking about the chemicals used to control or exterminate pests, the short answer is it depends. Some treatments use chemicals which can be harmful if you are in direct contact with them. Your pest control agent will brief you before any chemicals are used, and advise if you, or your pets, need to vacate the property.

Many homeowners are wary of strong chemicals that could harm pets, children or the whole family. Some pest control services advertise themselves as ‘green’, ‘eco’ or pet/family friendly. This could mean a few things. They could use chemicals that have no, or a low impact, on the environment or humans. It could also mean that they trap or capture a pest before removing it from your property - as opposed to exterminating it. This is the case with possum removal, which typically involves them being trapped and removed.  Possums are actually a protected species, so are not allowed to be relocated outside of their home territory. Maintaining and repairing your roof is therefore crucial, to prevent them coming back to your property.

Bee removal is another job which can be done with no use of chemicals or harm to these crucial insects. Hive removal is now considered the most environmentally friendly solution.

How much does pest control cost?

You can expect pest control to cost anywhere from $300 to $700, depending on the service. You may pay $130 for a 3 bedroom house, $170 for a 4 bedroom house, $250 - $300 for rodent removal, $225 for possum removal, $250 for a pre-purchase pest inspection and $300 - $700 for a combined building and pest inspection.

Read our article on pest control costs for a more detailed idea of what you could pay.

How often do I need a pest treatment?

Depending on where you live you should look to have a pest control treatment done at regular intervals, typically annually or more often if required.

This will also depend on if you get re-infested or need a repeat treatment. Pest inspections may need to be done regularly, and a pest control expert can help recommend a schedule, so your home stays pest-free.  

How do I hire a pest control expert?

When it comes time to hiring a pest control business, be sure to check what they include as part of their service. Be as thorough as possible in describing the type or types of pests you have and the extent of the problem. If there are access problems, mention those, too. This way you will get more accurate quotes.

Pest controllers are regulated and licensed on a local state/territory basis. Each have different licensing requirements, so you need to check with your local regulator where you live. If you’re hiring an exterminator to remove termites, ensure their treatment plan is compliant with Australian Standard AS 3660. Also check if the work comes with a warranty. Some questions to ask them before hire anyone include:

• Are you licensed?

• Are you insured to work in my home?

• How long have you been in business?

• What products will be you using?

• How long will they be effective for?

• Can you provide a written quote?

• Do you have references I can follow up?

No matter the size of your job, always request a fully itemised quote including the cost of all materials used. Then choose the service you think will do the best job, and try not to be too swayed by price - cheaper is not necessarily better when it comes to pest control.

Getting quotes for pest control

The best way of finding out the cost of pest control is to get quotes from local pest controllers. This will give you a sense of what market rates currently are.