How Long Will Pest Control Last?

Despite being small in size, pests can be a nuisance, and some may even cause diseases. Additionally, a pest infestation, especially when ignored, might cause severe structural damages to property. Hiring a professional pest exterminator is your best choice in dealing with them. It is, therefore, common to wonder how long a pest control treatment would last. After all, you have invested a lot of resources to ensure that the infestation is well treated. However, there is no constant answer to that question. Honestly, how long pest control treatment lasts dramatically depends on various aspects.

The type of infestation you are battling with mainly affects the frequency of treatment application. General pest control treatments handling spiders, cockroaches, moths, etc., infestations last a few months. This treatment involves the exterminator spraying high-grade pesticide to your home’s baseboards aiming at stopping insects from entering the house. However, one application does not guarantee a lifetime defense for common household insects. The treatment should be done quarterly.

Depending on the size of your premises, a severe ant infestation requires a regular monthly visit for three to six months from your pest exterminator. Surprisingly, it is common to find ants inside your home immediately after a pest control treatment as some take a longer time to die. Developing habits such as proper food storage and maintaining a clean house can ensure that the infestation does not reoccur.

 If you were battling a bed bug infestation, its eradication requires a specialized treatment that should last indefinitely provided the source of the infestation was correctly identified. However, if the bugs’ nests were not correctly identified, it might be difficult to eradicate them. Moreover, the bug’s tendency of hitchhiking on living things means that anyone, even you unknowingly, can bring them back into the premises after extermination. Habits such as decluttering can help maintain a bed bug-free home.

Another factor that can influence how long pest treatment lasts is the type of surface the treatment was applied to. Surfaces like stainless steel, glasses, tiles do not absorb insecticides. The pest treatment is mainly left on these surfaces for the pest to come into contact with. However, the method is relatively ineffective as the treatment is prone to removal through evaporation or cleaning.

Environmental factors such as temperature extremities, and humidity can also affect how long the treatment lasts. Generally, pesticides react differently when exposed to extremely cold or hot weather. Pesticides in liquid formulation may be rendered useless when applied in extremely cold weather as the active ingredients may separate. While dry pesticide formulators are not adversely affected by temperature fluctuations, they don’t fare well in humid environments. While every product is different, it is essential to discuss how well the pest treatment will perform with your pest control professional regarding environmental factors.

While professional pest controllers might try to choose the best type of pest treatment based on the above factors, one treatment application does not suffice. It is therefore recommended to have pest control treatments done regularly over a scheduled period. Regular visits from your exterminator include checks for signs of pest activity, reducing pest population, and adjusting traps. These visits will be beneficial as the professionals may identify new pest-related threats before the infestation gets out of hand. Also, you can take preventive measures such as decluttering, and keeping a clean house, and regularly maintaining the garden to ensure that you are not providing a breeding ground for pests. Generally, how long pest treatment lasts for your premise varies on the type of infestation, weather, and the size of the premises.