Table of Contents
Types of Pest Control
The type of pest control you need is divided into a few different factors:
- Type of Pest
- Size of Property
- Method of Control
- Residential or Commercial
Some pests are more costly to exterminate,but pests can often cause more damage to your home and wallet than it costs to get rid of them. Now let's look at each of these factors individually so you can know what the different types are, how to spot an infestation, and how the type of pest affects the cost of pest control.
Type of Pests
Whether you are battling home devouring termites, pesky mice, painful wasps, or scavenging ants it is important to look at the way the type of pest can affect cost.
The type of pest is generally broken down into three categories:
- Arthropods- insects, spiders, and other bugs like termites or bed bugs
- Mammals- common mammal pests include rats, mice, and bats
- Birds- birds like pigeons and seagulls are common, but other species can be annoying too
Arthropods
Different types of bugs cause a variety of risks to you and your home. Some can damage the house itself, while others pose a risk to your health. There are also certain things you can do to reduce your risk of an infestation or to ensure the bugs do not return.
Termites
Termites are dangerous because they can feast on your property 24/7. Their destructive nature means you need to eliminate them as quickly as possible because they can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home.
Termites are attracted to dark, wet areas and often find refuge in the area around the foundation To reduce your risk you should eliminate standing water and dehumidify. You can point gutters and downspouts away from the structure of your home and repair any leaky pipes or faucets.
Signs that you may have termites include sawdust, hollow wood, scattered wings, and mud tubes. If you suspect termites, call an experienced pest control professional immediately.
The typical range for termite control is $500 to $3,000 making it one of the more expensive types of pests. However, the cost for control is nowhere near the cost of damage and stress they can cause.
Cockroaches
Termites may be destructive, but nothing compares to the hatred most people have towards roaches. Cockroaches can spread disease and contaminate everything they touch. It doesn’t help that they are often attracted to your kitchen!
There are literally thousands of species of cockroaches, but there are certain things you can look for if you are wondering if your home or business is infested. Since cockroaches usually come out while you are sleeping, the signs are easier to notice than the bug itself.
Cockroaches are attracted to all food and eat just about anything. You may have cockroaches living with you if you notice:
- Droppings - look like pepper or coffee grounds
- Smears - roaches sometimes leave behind marks where they walk
- Eggs
- Skin - roaches shed their skin, so you will likely see these around the property
- Odor - roaches leave behind a musty smell and the worse the infestation gets, the stronger the smell
Like other bugs, cockroaches like to live in moist, dark places. To reduce your risk of infestation you should remove all dirty dishes from your kitchen, clean up any crumbs, efficiently take out all garbage, and eliminate any excess water.
Cockroach infestations can quickly get worse and more expensive, so it’s important to treat the problem as soon as possible. A single cockroach extermination job costs between $100 and $400.
Mosquitos
Is that citronella candle not cutting it? Mosquitos can be annoying and their bites can drive you crazy. They also can spread serious diseases like the West Nile Virus.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Removing all the standing water can reduce the population size, but sometimes it won’t get rid of them completely. It is also a good idea to keep a well maintained yard because mosquitos tend to hideout in tall grass.
To eliminate and control mosquitos, multiple treatments are almost always required. Each treatment can cost anywhere from $70 to $100 per visit and should be done every three to four weeks during the Summer months. This adds up to an average of $350 to $500 for an entire season.
Spiders
You are sitting around watching T.V. and minding your own business, when suddenly you see a spider scurry across the wall. Is it dangerous? Are there more of them?
Spiders come in many shapes and sizes and their infestation can grow quickly because they lay hundreds of eggs. Most are harmless, but you still want to get them out of your home!
A few species, like black widows and brown recluses, can cause serious medical issues. If you suspect you have venomous spiders in your property, contact an expert immediately.
Also, spiders eat insects so having spiders may be a sign that you have an infestation of another pest. Getting rid of spiders’ food source, insects, can help you get rid of the spiders themselves.
Other signs of spider infestations are webs and egg sacs. Spider pest control services cost around $150-$300 depending on the severity and recurring treatments.
Bed Bugs
The best way to make sure the bed bugs don’t bite, is to get rid of them entirely!. These blood sucking creatures live inside your bed and come out to bite at night. They can also spread throughout the room or house. Contrary to common belief, a dirty home does not make bed bugs more likely.
The bites, like those from mosquitos, are irritating and itchy. Signs of bed bug infestation include:
- Blood stains on your bedding
- Musty odor
- Egg shells
- Skin that bed bugs shed
The average cost to eliminate bed bugs from your home is $350-$500. It is a small price to pay for restful sleep without the fear of being bit.
Mammals
Mammals can invade a home suddenly and can spread disease and eat your food. As quiet as a mouse is not always true because it is common for mice, rats, and other animals to make loud scratching noises in your chimney, walls, or attic.
Other signs of an mammal infestation include:
- Garbage cans knocked over
- Urine Stains
- Strong Odors
- Feces droppings
- Gnaw marks
There are a lot of problems associated with mammal infestation. They can be very noisy, smell terrible, damage property, carry parasites, or spread disease. It is important to have an expert inspect the situation as soon as possible.
The most common mammals to infest homes are mice, rats, bats, squirrels, racoons, and opossums, but other mammals can also develop into infestations. Most mammals can be removed from your home or business for $150-$500. Some mammals are more expensive to eliminate than others. For example, bat removal can cost anywhere from $400-$600.
Birds
Birds aren’t typically thought of as pests, but they can cause major problems in your home or business. They can damage property and their droppings can spread diseases. Not only that, but they can cause a mess which means your time and money has to be dedicated to cleanup.
The most easily identifiable signs of a bird infestation are:
- Birds settling around the property
- Excess bird droppings
- Bird noises
- Bird nests
- Feathers
The species that are most likely to cause an infestation are pigeons, sparrows, starlings, gulls, and myna. Large birds can dislodge roof tiling or cause other damage. Birds also spread insects that can cause a separate infestation.
Bird removal can cost $150-$500, and preventative measures like spikes can add on to the cost. This range depends on the number of birds you have as well as the species.
Size of Property
The size of your home or business is a significant factor to consider. The costs above are referring to an average size home (1500 to 2300 square feet). Many pest control companies will give discounts on larger homes since they will be there anyways, but you can always expect to pay more for a larger property. The larger the house, the longer it takes for pest control professionals to complete the job.
Method of Control
The method of pest control depends on the type of pest, severity of the situation, and other factors. The methods are divided into three main categories:
- Extermination
- Removal
- Prevention
Extermination
If you have an infestation, it has to be dealt with quickly. Extermination is the fastest and most effective method of dealing with most pests. Treatments kill off all the pests that have invaded your home or business.
Types of extermination methods include:
- Insecticidal spray
- Fumigation
- Traps
Today, there are a number of eco-friendly and natural treatment options available to you. If this is important to you, be sure to ask your pest control professional.
Removal
Some pests can not be eliminated with sprays and traps. This is especially true when it comes to mammal and bird infestations. With pest removal, an expert will use traps to carefully remove all pests from the property. Occasionally, it takes some time for the trap to work and the pest control professional has to make a few visits to your home or business.
Prevention
The first thing you should do to prevent infestations is to take the necessary precautions on your own. However, pest control services offer a number of professional prevention methods.
Regular treatments can help to repel pests and prevent a damaging or costly infestation. Spray repellent is used to keep pesky insects away from your home or business. Larger pests, like rodents and birds, can be prevented from entering your house by filling or covering access points.
Commercial Pest Control
Pests can invade any property and cause damage, spread disease, or be a downright nuisance. However, it is important to take the necessary measures to control pests around a business. Pests can contaminate food, damage stock, and make your commercial property appear unkempt. There is no reason to risk an infestation, or even a lawsuit, if you can help it.
Commercial pest control ranges from $50-$150 for the initial service and then it will be $35-$150 a month after that.
Should You Hire a Pest Control Professional?
You may have tried and even succeeded in getting some of your pests in control. However, if the pests continue to return, it is probably time to hire a professional. A good exterminator or pest control professional will assess your particular situation and offer you unique services.
An expert can recommend the best way to treat your specific pests and show you the best ways to prevent the infestation from returning.
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