Mice, scorpions and termites are a few of many pests your Phoenix, AZ house may play host to. There are many steps that you can take to minimize the risk of an infestation such as getting rid of food crumbs, sealing cracks and laying traps. However, it can also be beneficial to schedule regular inspections to find signs of unwanted guests, remove them and ensure they don’t come back.
Most Pests Hide Well
Like any other creatures just trying to survive, mice, ants and other pests that get into your house want to remain hidden. Announcing their presence opens them up to being killed or could potentially open their young to being harmed in some way. Therefore, you might not even know that a problem exists until an infestation is well underway.
Typically, when you see a rodent or insect scurrying across your kitchen or living room, it’s coming from a nest hidden somewhere in the house. In fact, there may already be multiple colonies in place. Therefore, it’s important to seek out professional guidance to put an end to the issue quickly and safely.
The Clues of a Potential Infestation
There are many clues that a professional may be attuned to in the search for potential pest problems. For instance, most rodents tend to run around the perimeter of a room as it’s easier to navigate unseen that way. Therefore, they tend to leave droppings, fur and other artifacts along the baseboards or molding.
Termites and carpenter ants will shed their wings in areas where they frequent. They will also leave behind shavings of the wood that they have hollowed out for food or to hide their young.
Increased bee or hornet sightings in a particular area of your house might indicate the presence of a nest in your house. It may also indicate the presence of a nest near your home and the presence of a food or water source inside where you’re seeing the flying insects.
Finally, holes in the walls could be a sign that rodents or larger animals have gotten into your home. You may also hear scratching, running or other noises inside of walls, ducts or other areas where they have gotten inside.
Where Do Pests Hide?
Rodents will often hide inside walls, in vents and in any other location where they have access to food and water. It’s important to note that mice and rats can fit through spaces about the size of a pencil eraser. Therefore, even the smallest of cracks can be an entry point into your house.
Bees and hornets will often create nests under eaves or similar locations that are easy to access. They may also build nests inside of walls, under floors or inside of HVAC equipment. In some cases, hornets will get inside after establishing nests inside trees and other parts of your yard.
Termites may start out by eating away at siding or other vulnerable material on the outside of your house. Ants, mosquitoes and other insects or other pest animals such as birds or squirrels will do the same thing. A professional will be aware of these strategies and come prepared with ways to eliminate a current problem and exclude future pests.
What Can a Professional Do to Stop an Existing Infestation?
A professional will likely take many of the same steps that you might to stop an existing infestation. However, a professional will have the right tools and experience to ensure that their efforts are effective.
For instance, a pest control technician will likely lay traps in areas where rodents or other animals have been spotted. Sprays may be used for infestations located inside of walls while gels might be used on the outside of your house to get rid of ants or other insects.
It may be necessary to physically remove a wasp or hornet nest or remove any animal nest inside of your house. Of course, you might be able to simply relocate any birds, squirrels or other animals instead of killing them. However, it is worth noting that some animals remember where they live and might simply return.
Other steps might include sealing cracks or using mesh wire to keep most pests out. You’ll also be advised to keep garbage lids sealed and to regularly clean surfaces that might be covered with sugar or fat that pests crave. Finally, you may need to have water leaks or other moisture issues fixed within your home.
What Can a Professional Do to Stop Future Infestations?
A pest control technician will employ a number of techniques to help keep pests away for many months or years. For example, spikes may keep birds from roosting on top of your house. Long-lasting sprays, traps or similar tools may also be used to ensure that bugs or rodents aren’t allowed to come back.
In some cases, a professional might use basic materials such as peppermint oil to keep rodents or bugs out because they hate the smell. Termites generally don’t like the smell of mint or clove, so anything that contains those scents may be a useful repellent.
How Often Should You Schedule Service?
The late winter or early spring months are a great time to schedule routine pest inspections. This is because our team will likely have a shorter lead time, which means that we’ll be able to help immediately. Furthermore, this is generally the time of year when most insects and animals will emerge from their winter nests.
However, your home is likely warm enough for bugs, rodents and other pests to live comfortably even through the winter months. Therefore, you should simply give us a call whenever you think that there is an issue that needs professional help to solve.
If your home has seen recent pest activity, you should consider scheduling at least one or two follow-up appointments. It may take anywhere from several days to several weeks to see a significant reduction of critters in your house. It’s also possible that they won’t be fully eliminated the first time, which may make it necessary to schedule additional treatments.
Typically, once the initial infestation is gone, you shouldn’t have too much to worry about. The easiest way to prevent a new infestation is to take common-sense actions such as not leaving food out or making sure that your yard is properly maintained. Long grass and dead wood provide hiding spots for rodents, termites or other pests to thrive before making their way inside your house.
Of course, if you’d like, we can provide regular service at regular intervals throughout the year. Having inspections done once or twice a year can help you spot issues while they’re still relatively easy to fix.
Your Trusted Phoenix Professionals
If you are in need of pest control services in Phoenix, don’t hesitate to call the team at Green Home Pest Control today! We can help with infestations impacting residential and commercial properties and can help with a range of pests from bed bugs to scorpions and more. Ask us how we handle rodents too! Our team can also provide termite inspections for your property.