What are the signs of pests in your home?
Signs of pest infestations vary by the type of pest. Here are a few signs to watch out for when it comes to some of the most common pests:
Ants: Stray ants walking around or large numbers congregating, wood shavings, ants emerging from hidden crevices, ant nests
Rats or mice: Droppings, chewed objects and wires, scampering noises, holes in walls and floors
Cockroaches: Cylindrical droppings, brown smear marks, live cockroaches
Fleas: Small and dark spots on your pet’s skin, your pet starts scratching excessively, pepper-like “flea dirt” in bedding, carpet or furniture
Bed bugs: Droppings in the seams of your mattress, rusty/reddish stains on bed sheets, bites on your skin
Termites: Mud tubes, wood-scented droppings, small holes in walls, peeling or bubbling paint, wood damage
Bees or wasps: Excessive number of bees and wasps, dark patches on the walls or ceilings, and papery nests or hives under roof eaves, behind shutters, on balconies or in garden sheds
If you notice any of these signs in your house, contact the best exterminators near you.
Do I need to leave the house for pest control?
It depends on the type of pest control service you require. Your exterminator can often tell you beforehand which products they’ll be using and where they’ll be applying it.
If the pest control company will be applying toxic chemicals, limit your exposure, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. For example, consider leaving your house during application and ventilate your home thoroughly when you return. And always keep your pets and their supplies away from the applied pesticides.
Talk to pest control companies near you for advice on what you should do while they’re treating your home for pests.
How long do you have to stay out of your house after pest control?
It depends on the type of pest control you’re receiving and what the company recommends.
For some treatments, they might recommend you leave the house for a few hours or for a few days if your home is getting fumigated. In other cases, the exterminator may tell you don’t need to leave your house at all — just stay away from the area that was sprayed with pesticide until it dries.
Before they arrive at your home, ask the exterminator if you should plan to leave your house for a certain period of time.
How often should pest control be done?
This depends on several factors, including:
The type of pest
The severity of the invasion
Your home’s characteristics
The quality of the pest control company’s work
In some cases, you might require pest control services three to four times a year. Or, you might need services monthly or every few months.
Talk to the best exterminators near you to get an idea of what type of service you need — and how many times you’ll need follow-up treatments.