The saying goes that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This adage rings true when it comes to pest management: Once an infestation has started, it’s difficult to control. Instead, preventative pest control can save time, money, and a whole lot of headaches. Read on for everything you need to know about preventative pest control.
1. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) might be great for craft projects, but it has its limitations for preventative pest control.
DIY efforts often fall short of managing pests. There are quite a few natural pest repellants that can be used at home, including peppermint castile soap mixed with water to keep most pests from entering your home; essential oil blended with grain alcohol to stave off mosquitoes, flies, fleas, and ticks; and vinegar to keep spiders at bay. However, these methods generally take longer, cost more, and are not as effective as industrial chemicals.
Employing industrial chemicals yourself has pitfalls, too. As a layperson, you may not know the best places to deploy insecticides to reach visible and hidden pests. Additionally, using these chemicals without professional knowledge may cause you to harm yourself, your family, or your pets.
2. Preventative pest control begins with hiring a professional to perform an assessment.
Professional exterminators are nerds about insects. They use this knowledge to evaluate your home for potential pest risks. Evaluations begin with identifying the type of pest or pests on your property. Assessments will also identify entry points that need to be sealed off to prevent pests from entering the home and will prescribe a plan to rid your home of existing creepy crawlies. A professional will also assess whether the bugs can be prevented, merely suppressed, or eradicated entirely. If your management plan includes spraying, professional exterminators have access to professional-grade industrial chemicals that aren’t available to the public. These chemicals work quickly and effectively when deployed by an experienced professional.
3. Preventative pest control creates a management plan.
Preventative pest control isn’t a one-and-done event. It requires ongoing management. A plan is necessary to manage insect life cycles. Just because you don’t see a roach today doesn’t mean you won’t see them again 100 days later when juveniles mature and crawl out of a crack in your garage wall. Professional pest control predicts how often and when to spray again, including managing continuous, sporadic, and potential pests. Ongoing monitoring of your home can also spot new, emerging pest problems and keep them in check before a full infestation can explode. Finally, a professional management plan will prevent pests from developing resistance to certain pesticides so mitigation efforts can continue to be effective.
4. Professionals guarantee their services.
That spray bottle you mixed with vinegar doesn’t come with a guarantee, nor does the bottle of wasp spray that you picked up at the big box store. Contracting with a professional does. Pest management companies such as BrockStar promise to deliver results you can count on — and if you aren’t pleased with the results, we offer return visits at no additional cost. As pest control service experts in Austin, Buda & Kyle, Dripping Springs, and Round Rock, we’re probably in the neighborhood anyway!
Still on the fence about whether preventative pest control is worth the cost?
It’s time to evaluate the risks vs. rewards. While some bugs are just annoying, others can cause financial damage or health risks. For example, termites gnawing into wood causes American property owners $5 billion annually. It affects around 600,000 homes with the average cost to repair termite damage at each home running $3,300. Preventative pest control can save money in the long run when compared with these potential costs.
Pests can also threaten your health or that of your family. Roaches can carry bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, and cause harm to allergy and asthma sufferers simply through their presence. And mosquitos? Those buzzing pests can carry everything from encephalitis to dengue fever to malaria. What’s the price tag of your family’s health when compared to preventative pest control?
How BrockStar Pest Services Can Help
BrockStar has been keeping it local since 2012, so we’ve been there and seen that. We can create a comprehensive pest control plan of attack for your home. Call for a free estimate! 512-800-0437
