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No one wants to think about having unwanted pests in their home. After all, our homes are supposed to be our respite from the outside world. But sometimes, our best efforts to maintain a clean, pest-free home simply aren’t enough. Spiders, ants, termites and many other bugs can, and do, enter homes, especially those that are older or don’t have tightly fitted doors and windows.
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If you find yourself dealing with a pest infestation, it’s usually a good idea to call a professional to handle it. They’re able to get into tight spaces and find hidden pests you may never be able to find. But how much does pest control cost?
Here, we’ll break it down so you’re able to determine the average pest control cost, and what you can expect to pay to make your home free from pests like mites or other bothersome insects.
Pest Control Prices
When you hire a pest control company, you have a few choices. You can hire for a one-time service, or ongoing service. The pest control price for a one-time visit is between $250 and $600. This cost is much higher than an ongoing visit, since the technician will have to complete an investigation in order to diagnose the problem, and then provide treatment in the same visit.
There are times, however, when the entire treatment cannot occur in one visit. If you need several different treatments for your pest control problem, the price for the initial visit may be lower—between $150 and $300. In this visit, the professional will begin by assessing the problem. They will locate the nest and the entry point, and determine how extensive the problem is.
Next, they will create a plan to eradicate pests from your home. These follow-up visits will likely cost less: pest control prices for quarterly visits average $100 to $300 and monthly visits average $45 to $75.
In general, pest control prices can be different based on the type of pest you have in your home. Pest control prices for some of the more common pests you may have in your home vary. Keep in mind that these are average prices, and can be affected by the extent of your infestation.
Factors that Affect Costs of Pest Control
If you’re wondering how much pest control costs, it’s usually not as simple as just a flat rate. These are many different factors that can influence the final cost of your pest control service. If you’re looking to hire a pest control company, consider the following factors when it comes to pricing:
- Type of service
- Frequency of service
- Type of pest(s)
- Type of treatment
- Size of house/property
- Severity of infestation
- Experience/skills of the provider
- Location
When to Call a Professional Pest Control Company
Most of the time, you can handle a minor pest issue on your own. Many pests that enter homes are simply seasonal invaders looking for a warm place to bed down. Many homes see a seasonal rotation of ants in the spring and spiders when the weather begins to cool down.
For these types of pest control problems, sticky traps, bait or even sprays can work effectively. Always use caution around kids and pets when using these types of products, and be sure to follow directions carefully. But in some cases, a pest control problem can get out of hand, and pests can begin to threaten your home’s condition.
In these cases, professional service is definitely called for. Below are some signs you may have a pest control problem that’s gotten out of control.
How to Spot a Carpenter Ant Infestation
Carpenter ants shouldn’t be considered benign invaders like regular ants are. These larger ants can quickly multiply and cause extensive damage to the inside of your home’s walls. Here are some signs to look for if you’re wondering whether to contact a professional to handle carpenter ants in your home:
- You’ve spotted an increasing number of large, black ants in your home. Though they may be few, these ants can signal a much larger problem. They act as “scouts” for food sources, then alert the rest of the colony once they’ve had success.
- Presence of frass, which looks like sawdust, in door jams, under baseboards, in basement areas or crawl spaces. Termites eat wood, but pests like carpenter ants and bees push it out of the holes they’ve bored in your walls. You’ll see sawdust-like evidence to indicate that you may have ants taking up residence where you can’t see them.
- If you ever notice winged ants on the outside of your window panes, you should know that this is an indication of a pervasive carpenter ant infestation. It’s time to call a professional immediately.
How to Spot a Termite Invasion
Termites are one of the most common pests in households, and they can be extremely difficult to eradicate. If the problem is extensive enough, you may even need to have your home tented and fumigated in order to get rid of termites. Here are some signs that you have a severe termite issue:
- Appearance of water damage to wood flooring. As termites destroy the subflooring, your wood floors can take on the appearance of having blistering or water damage.
- Damaged wood in your home. Whether it’s a window frame, a bedroom door or a baseboard, any type of otherwise unexplained wood damage in your home could be a sign of termites.
- Termite parts. Seeing lots of small, white wings? This is evidence of a termite swarm, so it may be time to have a professional investigate the source.
- Evidence of “mud tubes.” A small, brown vertical line at the base of your home’s exterior may not seem like a big deal, but this is a classic sign of a termite infestation.
How to Spot a Bed Bug Infestation
Despite only making the news in hospitals and nursing homes, bed bugs are surprisingly common, even in a residential setting. According to Invader.net, nearly 97% of pest control professionals had dealt with bedbugs in the year the latest data was available. Here’s how to know if you’re dealing with a bedbug invasion.
- Bite marks on your skin. If you’re noticing itchy bites that are otherwise unexplained, you may have bed bugs.
- Reddish stains on your sheets. Disgusting as it is, this is an indication of bed bug excrement, which means they’ve taken up residence in your linens.
- Brown or yellow flecks on your sheets. Similarly disgusting, these are bedbug eggs. One way to tell? They won’t go away when you shake the sheets vigorously.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the most difficult pests to get rid of?
No pests are a walk in the park to get rid of. Any infestation takes time and effort to eradicate. But pest experts seem to agree that the three worst bugs to deal with are termites, bed bugs and cockroaches.
This is largely due to two factors: their amazing ability to hide from human eyes, and their incredibly speedy reproductive rates. These two things combine to work against your best efforts to control the spread. As such, a pest control professional is almost always recommended for removal of these three types of pests.
Which pests require more than one treatment to control?
Pests that invade your home and lay eggs are ones that often require more than one treatment to control. This includes pests like flea, ticks and bedbugs. This is often because the first treatment will kill the live, mature bugs, and the treatments after that will help kill off the eggs.
What is the worst type of pest?
Termites are one of the worst types of pest to have. This is because they can cause serious structural damage to you home.
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