Pests are, unfortunately, very much a fact of life. From spiders and roaches to ants and flies, we’re rarely ever far away from a pesky creepy crawly ready to spoil the mood and ruin our day. However, is there anything that we can do to significantly reduce the chance of pests invading our personal space at home?
For example, how often should you pest control your home? And, more importantly, how much does pest control cost on average?
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know – including some very handy tips on how to control pests and prevent them from invading your personal space!
How often should you pest control your home?
So, how often should you pest control your home? You should only ever pest control your home when you have a pest infestation. Certainly, there are some pest prevention tactics that you can employ at all times (which we will cover later in the article), however, you shouldn’t be spraying insecticides all over the place when you do not have an active infestation.
That said, most pest control professionals recommend that you have quarterly inspections at the least (in other words, 4 pest inspections a year).
That way, a professional can look for any potential signs of infestation and spot them before they become problematic. For example, a rodent issue in your walls and floorboards or a wasp’s nest in the loft – all of which can be very harmful both to your health, and the structural integrity of your home.
How much is pest control on average?
So, how much does pest control cost on average in the UK? The prices can vary significantly from one region to the next – and depending on the type and severity of the infestation.
For example, the average cost of fumigation in the UK is between £120 and £160.
- Wasp control is roughly £55+ (for the nest only).
- Bedbug treatments start from £130 – upwards of £220 depending on the number of rooms.
- Ant control starts from £100.
- Flea control begins at £80 and can go upwards of £120 and £140 for a three-bedroom house.
- Cockroach treatment is roughly £120 and higher for multiple rooms.
- Rodent control starts at around £120.
- Mole treatment begins at £90.
- Squirrel pest control can be anywhere from £100 to £175.
- Bird control starts at £60.
Bear in mind that these prices are merely averages. They do not reflect the most accurate representation of pest control costs in the UK. ‘
If you are looking for accurate estimates, we highly recommend that you contact some of your local pest control companies for a few different quotes.
Again, the prices will vary depending on what kind of pest problem you have and the severity of the infestation.
If you do not have a pest infestation but you are wanting a site inspection to confirm this, the cost will be lower.
What are the best ways to control pests?
If you want to know the best ways to control pests, there are few things quite as effective as prevention.
First of all, an effective pest prevention method is having quarterly home inspections as mentioned earlier. That way, you can have an expert come to your property to look for any signs of a potential pest problem.
In any case, here are a few pest prevention tactics you can try to keep those pesky pests at bay:
- De-clutter your home: pests love clutter. The more places they have to hide—and indeed the more nesting materials they can find—the more likely they are to move into your home without invitation. This is a great excuse to de-clutter your space and do a bit of a spring clean. Go through all of your possessions and start getting rid of those things you really don’t need. Take to e-Bay and sell your old shoes, donate unused clothes to charity, and keep your home as clear as possible.
- Keep your home clean: make sure you regularly clean your home. Dust and hoover throughout, clear cobwebs, and don’t give those pests an excuse to come in and start nesting.
- Keep your kitchen immaculate: pests love free food and drink so don’t give them an excuse to stop by for a feast. After use, clean your kitchen thoroughly. Clean up all food waste, wipe up those spillages, and you’ll significantly reduce the chance of having pests come into your home.
- Store food properly: keep food in sealed containers – including pet food. Again, pests love a free feast and can find their way into almost anything.
- Wash your dishes after use: it may be tempting to leave the dirty dishes until tomorrow but the sooner you clean them, the less likely they will be to attract pests.
- Take out the bins: empty your bins in the evening and take the sealed bags outside to your brown bins. If you want to make the most of your food waste, you might want to consider composting to save you from taking the trash out every night.
- Seal entry points into your home: go around the house and identify any potential entry points for pests. Gaps in doors and window sills are the biggest culprits.
Conclusion
To recap:
- ● You only need to ‘pest control’ your home when you have an infestation. However, quarterly inspections are recommended by a professional.
- Pest control averages between £120 and £160 depending on the type and severity of the infestation.
- The best way to prevent pests is by having regular inspections and taking the pest prevention steps mentioned above.
We hope you’ve found this article insightful. If you’d like to learn more about pest control and how the experts tackle home infestations, visit a reputable website like SWAT Pest Control for some inspiration.
