How often should the exterminator come to my house is a very common question we get asked. There are many factors that determine how often you need pest control services.
Below we'll take a look at some of the factors that determine how often you need an exterminator in your home.
What kind of pest problem do you have?
The type of pest problem you have is a big factor in how often you need pest control services.
General household pests
I consider common household pests to be ants, spiders, centipedes, and other common insects found in homes. Sometimes a one-time treatment solves these types of pest problems. Below we discuss one-time treatments.
For most home pest problems, the frequency of maintenance is determined by the owner. If the homeowner only wants a one time treatment, we can treat it and you will see LESS pests.
Many customers with general home pest problems sign up for a year-round pest plan. We discuss this option below.
rodent problems
Rodent problems and infestations generally fall into 2 categories. The rodent problem occurs infrequently or is an annual problem.
For rodent problems that occur annually, the strategy is to reduce the rodent population around the home. This is best accomplished by installing outdoor rodent control stations around the home.
Depending on the severity of the infestation, these stations should be checked, cleaned and refilled 2-3 weeks after the first maintenance. The activity level after the follow-up visit determines the frequency of pest control visits.
Prudential Pest Solutions Rodent Focus
Our goal in rodent treatments is to eliminate rodents indoors and then reduce the rodent population outside the home. After our first visit, we do a follow-up service 2-4 weeks later.
If we find that rodent activity outside the home persists during the follow-up visit, we schedule another follow-up visit 4 weeks later. The goal is to reduce the rodent population so that we have to do maintenance every 3 months or 4 times a year.
Of course, the best method of dealing with rodents is prevention and exclusion. In addition to our inspection and maintenance of outdoor rodent control stations, we also inspect and seal potential rodent entry around the home.
Additional Rodent Information
- Chester County rodent control
- Frequent entrances of rodents.
- Rodent control starts outside
Cockroach problems
Cockroach problems are usually an ongoing problem. This means that after the first service, a follow-up service is usually scheduled 3-4 weeks later. After initial and follow-up care, roach activity is evaluated and additional treatments may be recommended.
It is very common to need monthly treatments for an ongoing roach problem. This applies in particular to multi-family apartment and house situations. With the plumbing and electrical wiring between units, it is very easy for roaches to move between units.
Many apartment complexes and multi-family homes hire regular pest control services. The frequency of pest control service depends on the number of units, the frequency of pest problems, and the rate of tenant turnover.
A monthly roach service is generally required in Pennsylvania. Sometimes the cockroach problem is resolved, and the frequency of treatment can be reduced to 3-4 times a year.
You can learn more about cockroach controlHere.
Bedbugs
As with cockroaches, the frequency of treatment for bed bugs depends on many factors. How bad is the infestation? Where do you think you caught bed bugs?
When evaluating bed bug infestations, we must consider these questions and many more.
On average, 2-4 treatments are required to control a bed bug problem. These treatments are usually scheduled every 2-4 weeks after the first few services.
Additional Information About Bed Bugs
- Bed Bug Control Chester County
- Where are the bed bugs?
- How to prevent bed bugs
- Heat treatments against bed bugs
seasonal invaders
Seasonal invaders are pests that are only a problem at certain times of the year. We have a lot of seasonal invaders in Pennsylvania.
Sometimes these pest problems can be resolved with a one-time treatment. For other pests, you may need a few treatments to control the problem.
Spotted Lanternfly Treatments
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Since the spotted lanternfly goes through different life cycles, treatments and treatment times will vary.
We offer Spotted Lanternfly treatments to our Chester County clients. Normally 3 treatments are needed when we do topical application. Systemic treatments may require only 1 treatment to achieve the desired result
Additional Spotted Lanternfly Information
- Spotted Lanternfly Treatments
- Spotted Lantern Fly 2018 Update
- Mass destruction of spotted lanternfly eggs
Where do you live
Where you live in the world and the US will play a role in how often you need exterminator services.
Different climates mean different pest pressures
If you live in the southern US, the mild winters and hot summers cause much more pest activity than in the northern US.
herechester countyPennsylvania has fairly cold winters and hot, humid summers. Although wintering outdoors alleviates pests, the insects adapt to the cold and return in spring.
Many adult insects die in winter, leaving their eggs or larvae to survive until spring. While you may not think of needing an exterminator in the winter, there are many species of pests that are active during the cold months.
Additional Winter Pest Control Information
- Why do I need an exterminator in winter?
- Control of wildlife in winter
- Harassment of wildlife in winter
What kind of pest control do you want?
The type of treatment you expect also influences the frequency of pest control services.
regular pest service
A regular pest service involves the use of chemical insecticides to control and treat the listed pests. Chemical insecticides have a longer remaining shelf life than their natural counterparts. This means that chemical insecticides last longer than natural pesticides.
I would say that a liquid spray of chemical insecticide lasts about 30-45 days on average. This is affected by temperature, light and humidity.
In the case of insecticidal dust, the remaining time can be between 6 months and 10 years! These areas also vary based on temperature, light exposure, and humidity.
For a regular pest control service, a treatment frequency of every 3 to 4 months is fairly common in Pennsylvania. This would allow the pest control company to service 3-4 times a year.
Natural Pest Service
Natural pest control products do not use artificial chemicals to control pests. They are based on natural compounds such as diatomaceous earth, natural oils and boric acid.
While these products can certainly be effective in preventing certain pests, they do NOT last as long as their chemical counterparts.
For liquid applications of natural products, the remaining time may be one or two days. This is much shorter than chemical-based insecticides, which can last for over a month.
Powder forms of natural compounds last longer than liquid forms. Some can even last as long as their chemical equivalents.
If you want to follow a natural pest control program, you can expect the frequency of your pest control services to be much higher. Depending on the treatment and pest problem, this could mean servicing every two weeks or every month.
Like chemical insecticides, natural products are affected by light, temperature, and humidity.
Additional Information on Natural Pest Control
- natural pest control
- natural rodent control
Types of pest control plans
Every pest control company offers some type of pest control plan. We offer a variety of pest plans that can keep our clients pest free.
Protection against pests throughout the year
Year-round pest control involves performing preventative pest control services to stop infestations BEFORE they start.
We offer many pest control plans throughout the year. Our most common, and the most common in the pest control industry, is the quarterly service schedule. This plan includes a treatment every 3 months throughout the year.
Pest control service contracts
External treatments only
Some of our clients prefer only an external treatment. These types of treatment plans require maintenance every 2-3 months. Services can usually be distributed during the warm, insect-rich months.
one-time treatments
One-time pest treatments are when a service is performed once for a specific problem. Sometimes a one-time treatment serves as general pest control, although this is not the best pest control strategy.
I tell people that a single treatment will make you see fewer bugs. As we discussed above, the chemical or natural approach has a few months left at best.
This means that a one-time treatment will eliminate the pest problem, but it will not be a long-term strategy.
Pest control experts and exterminators
Call or text us at (484) 401-4361 to speak with an exterminator and pest control expert!
further reading
- lists
- pest discounts
- Pest control in residential areas
- Our pest process
FAQs
How often should an exterminator come? ›
However, most pest control services recommend quarterly visits (a minimum of four times - once every three months) spread out throughout the year to ensure you're fully protected from pests and rodents.
How long does exterminator spray last? ›A typical pest control application will last around 90 days. If outdoor applications see consistent or heavy rainfall, they efficacy may be affected and will last about 60 days. Pesticides used to treat flying insects like mosquitoes or flies will last around 30 days.
How often can pest control spray? ›How Often Should My Pest Control Company Spray? A customary bi-monthly service generally covers bugs like spiders, ants, crickets, silverfish, earwigs, and wasps. Any other insect may be measured a specialty pest. A bi-monthly service typically will work for specialty pests as well.
Is recurring pest control worth it? ›At the first signs of a pest infestation, you might be tempted to buy some sprays or traps to take on the problem yourself. However, hiring a pest control professional will often save you time, money, and effort in the long run.
Do you really need monthly pest control? ›It is highly recommended that you utilize a pest control service monthly or bi-monthly. This will allow you to keep spiders, silverfish, other insects, and rodents away from your home interior.
How many times a year should you get your house sprayed for bugs? ›As long as you have no new infestations or pest problems, your home only needs to be treated once a year, preferably at the same time in early spring. Keeping on top of these pest spray treatments will keep your pest numbers low and allow you to enjoy your home year-round.
Should an exterminator spray inside the house? ›If you have a new or an on-going infestation, your home must be sprayed inside because some pests have already built their nests inside your home. Applying pesticides inside will help in lessening the presence of pests inside because it kills live ones, eggs, and larvae.
Is spraying for pests worth it? ›Professional exterminating provides faster and more effective results than do-it-yourself methods, in most cases. They can also save you money in the future by identifying pest problems early and eliminating them fast, preventing a costly infestation and/or damage in the future.
Will bugs come back after pesticides being sprayed? ›No need to be concerned, it is completely normal to see more bugs after receiving a pest control treatment. More often than not, simply giving the treatment time to kick in will remedy the situation. Besides timing, there are plenty of other reasons why you may see additional creepy crawlies after a treatment.
How long does it take for exterminator spray to work? ›In most cases, you can expect to see a significant and noticeable reduction in pest activity within one to two days. The exact timeframe depends on the pest we're dealing with along with the choice of materials necessary to provide the best long-term results.
How long do pesticides last in house? ›
The half-life can help estimate whether or not a pesticide tends to build up in the environment. Pesticide half-lives can be lumped into three groups in order to estimate persistence. These are low (less than 16 day half-life), moderate (16 to 59 days), and high (over 60 days).
Can you spray too much for bugs? ›Symptoms of overexposure to bug sprays can occur up to 12 hours later. It can be mistaken for heatstroke or heat exhaustion with the following symptoms: Headache, fatigue, dizziness. Loss of appetite, nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea.
Should I do monthly or quarterly pest control? ›When it comes to regularly scheduled pest control, we suggest having your home treated once a quarter or every two to three months.
Do exterminators actually help? ›A professional pest control company can provide quicker and more effective results than if you tried to fix the infestation yourself. They have the know-how to implement extermination plans and eliminate all pests in a relatively short amount of time.
What is the difference between pest control and exterminator? ›Exterminators rely on pesticides to eliminate the unwanted pests, using chemicals that could be more toxic than necessary whereas a pest control professional will focus on why the pests are present and look to alter the conditions that attracted them in the first place.
Do I need to wash everything after pest control? ›Whenever you get a pest control treatment, it's always a good idea to clean your home after the treatment has dried. Cleaning serves a two-fold purpose—it eliminates any possibility of incidental contact with the chemicals. However, it also makes your home less appealing to pests returning or new arrivals.
How much is a pest control service? ›| Payment Time Frame | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Annual | $400–$950 |
| Monthly | $30–$50 |
| Per visit | $80–$120 |
| Initial visit | $130–$350 |
Try mixing a few drops of peppermint oil with some hot water and place it in a spray bottle. A good ratio is 5 to 10 drops of essential oil per ounce of water. Use the mixture to spray down countertops, furniture, curtains and blinds and hard-to-reach areas of the home where insects are often present.
Do bugs like clean or dirty houses? ›Do bugs like clean or dirty houses? They'll happily hunker down in someone's home regardless of how clean it is. All they want is shelter from the elements and a convenient place to find other pests to feed on.
Is it worth calling an exterminator? ›When you see the first signs of an infestation, you should call an exterminator. The longer you wait to call and get treatment, the worst the pests will get. Where there is one, there will be many, and an exterminator can take care of the problem before it gets too out of hand.
How often should you exterminate roaches? ›
Roach Problems
This means that after the initial service, a follow-up service is usually scheduled for 3-4 weeks later. After the initial and follow-up services, the roach activity is evaluated and further treatments may be recommended. It is very common to need monthly treatments for an on-going roach problem.