A Comprehensive Guide to General Pest Treatments
Table of Contents
- Why it’s important to have regular pest control treatments
- Things to do before your pest treatment
- What happens during a General Pest Treatment?
- What is done to the inside of my house during the internal treatment?
- What is done to the outside of my house during the external treatment
- What happens after my General Pest Treatment?
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- How to manage the most common pests you will find on your property
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
At Termitrust Pest Control, we understand the importance of keeping your home pest free. Regular general pest treatments are crucial for achieving a healthy and clean environment for your whole family.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover why regular general pest treatments are important, what a Termitrust Pest Control general pest treatment involves and how you can effectively manage some of the most common pests you are likely to find on your property.
The purpose of a general pest treatment is to apply specific techniques and products to target and manage pest infestations. Depending on the pest control company you choose, this pest treatment package could go by a different name.
A general pest treatment typically targets cockroaches, rodents and spiders that have infested a property. However, the pests included may vary depending on the Termitrust Pest Control service centre you engage with.
Have you seen cockroaches, rodents or spiders on your property?
Contact your local Termitrust service centre to book a general pest inspection treatment today.
What you need to know
- A general pest treatment typically targets common household pests such as cockroaches, rodents and spiders, although included pests may vary by Termitrust service centre
- Regular pest control treatments help manage existing pest infestations and reduce the risk of future infestations around your property
- Before a pest treatment, preparing your home by cleaning surfaces, clearing access, moving loose items and leaving spider webs undisturbed can help improve treatment effectiveness
- A general pest treatment begins with an inspection to identify pests to treat before targeted treatments such as sprays, baits, dusts, traps and monitoring stations are applied
- After treatment, increased pest activity may occur for up to two weeks as pests respond to the applied baits and gels
Why it’s important to have regular pest control treatments
Regular pest control treatments are essential for maintaining a comfortable environment for your whole family.
They allow existing pest infestations to be properly managed over time and help prevent future infestations by creating a barrier around your property. When properly applied by a pest control technician, this barrier will make your home less attractive to pests looking for shelter and food sources.
Pests can pose significant health risks to humans and pets. They transmit diseases, contaminate food, and cause allergic reactions in some people, so they must be kept out of your home and away from your property. Regular treatments will help reduce this risk and will help maintain your family’s health and safety.
Pests also cause property damage. For example, rodents can nest in your roof cavity, leaving droppings and biological material that can stain and damage your ceiling. Rodents have also been known to start house fires. Their constant need to chew has led some rodents to chew through electrical wiring, igniting fires that have burnt homes completely to the ground.
Importantly, regular pest treatments give you peace of mind that your home is safe and secure from pests, which helps improve your family’s general wellbeing.
Things to do before your pest treatment
Before your pest control technician arrives to complete your treatment, make sure to do the following things to help increase your treatment’s effectiveness:
- Remove loose items, such as toys from the floor
- Mop your floors the night before your treatment (and don’t mop them for about a week after the treatment)
- Thoroughly clean kitchen bench tops and remove uncovered foods
- If you have birds, fish or reptiles, cover their enclosures
- Move loose items from your yards, such as toys and bikes
- Keep pet water & food bowls away from exterior walls
- Remove clothing off clothes lines
- Shut all windows and doors
- Leave spider webs alone (ensures that spiders come into contact with the applied insecticide)
Read our article on the 16 questions we’re most commonly asked before a pest service to help you feel confident and informed ahead of your treatment.
What happens during a General Pest Treatment?
An effective general pest treatment is carried out by a qualified technician who understands pest biology and pest behaviour. Based on their knowledge, they will undertake the following steps:
First, we investigate with a pest inspection
A thorough inspection of your property for pests is the first step of a general pest treatment. It allows our technicians to identify existing pest infestations accurately, assess the extent of the pest problem, and determine what the most appropriate treatment is to manage them.
Only now is it time to apply the treatment
Based on the findings of the pest inspection, a pest treatment plan is created. Targeted treatments will then be applied to key indoor and outdoor areas of your property. This may include spraying insecticides, setting traps, applying baits, and implementing exclusion techniques to prevent pests from entering the premises.
Treatments and your family’s safety
We care about your family’s safety and also want to keep our pest control technicians safe on the job. That’s why we only use products certified as safe for humans and pets.
If you have experienced previous sensitivity to pest control products or have young children, please notify your customer service representative when booking your general pest treatment. They will inform the pest control technician well before visiting you.
As for pets, please inform the technician when they arrive so they can advise you on what to do to keep them safe.
They will typically recommend keeping your pets inside for at least 2 hours after an external spray has been applied. This gives the spray treatment plenty of time to dry thoroughly and prevents it from being disturbed. Most importantly, it ensures your pet will not come in contact with wet product that could cause adverse effects.
What is done to the inside of my house during the internal treatment?
The internal part of a general pest treatment involves applying targeted methods to manage pests inside your home. Our qualified pest technicians use their extensive knowledge of pest biology and behaviour to apply effective solutions to eliminate and manage current pests.
Pest treatments that will typically happen inside your home include:
- Baits and gels, which are strategically placed in areas frequented by pests. They attract pests and deliver a slow-acting poison that allows pests to return to their nests and spread the poison to other members of the colony
- Dusts are formulations that are used in wall voids, roofs, and other hard to reach areas to ensure comprehensive coverage. This method is particularly effective against spiders and other hidden pests
- Traps and monitoring stations that are set up to capture and monitor pest activity, providing ongoing protection and early detection of new pest infestations
What is done to the outside of my house during the external treatment?
The external part of a general pest treatment is designed to create a protective barrier around your property, preventing pests from entering. Our qualified pest technicians use their extensive knowledge of pest biology and behaviour to apply a combination of methods to ensure thorough coverage and long-lasting protection.
Pest treatments that will typically happen outside your home include:
- Perimeter sprays of insecticides around your home’s foundation, windows, doors, eaves, and other pest entry points create an invisible barrier that pests are reluctant to cross
- Granular treatments consist of granules that are distributed in your yard, flowerbeds, and mulched areas to target pests that live in the soil. These granules provide residual protection that continues to work over time.
- Rodent bait stations are placed around the exterior of your property to help control rodent populations. They are designed to be tamper-resistant, ensuring the safety of children and pets
What happens after my General Pest Treatment?
After your pest treatment, our technicians will provide recommendations that you can implement to assist in preventing future infestations.
While you action these, you may notice increased pest activity around your home. This is completely norma and is a response by the pest to the increased food availability from the baits and gels applied during treatment.
These products are an easy food source for the pest. Little do they know that the baits and gels contain an insecticide or rodenticide that will help eradicate them.
Increased activity may last up to 2 weeks following the initial treatment. If pests continue to be a problem after this period, please contact the team who serviced your property. Follow up treatments may be required depending on the severity of the initial infestation.
When booking your pest control service, we suggest that you speak with your local Termitrust team about any free service periods and retreatment requirements. Our customer service representatives are also happy to discuss any recommendations the technician gave you and can explain what time frames apply to any additional visits.
How to manage the most common pests you will find on your property
If you’ve read this far, you now know what a general pest treatment from Termitrust Pest Control involves. For more detailed information on specific pest treatment methods and tips on how to help prevent cockroaches, rodents and spiders, keep reading!
Cockroach treatments & management tips
Cockroaches are notorious for their ability to multiply rapidly and thrive in various environments. Signs of infestation include sightings of live cockroaches, droppings (frass) resembling coffee grounds, and musty odours.
It is important for our pest control technicians to identify the cockroach species and the likely source of the infestation. They will then recommend an appropriate cockroach control treatment such as:
- Gels
- Dusts
- Liquid applications
What you can do to help:
- Minimise food and water sources by keeping countertops clean and dry
- Seal cracks and crevices where cockroaches may enter or hide
- Inform your pest control technician of any recent cockroach sightings or activity
Rodent treatments & control tips
Rodents (rats and mice) can cause damage to property and transmit diseases through their droppings and urine. Indicators of rodents include gnaw marks, faeces, and scratching noises.
Termitrust technicians will first carefully inspect your home to determine the reasons for the rodent infestation and will then:
- Locate potential rodent entry points
- Assess the hygiene and housekeeping of your home
- Determine the most appropriate use and placement of baits
- Advise of whether any follow up calls will be required to monitor rodent activity
- Provide odour-absorbent products for roof cavities when required
What you can do to help:
- Seal gaps around doors, windows, and utility penetrations to prevent rodent entry
- Keep outdoor areas tidy and free of clutter to discourage rodent nesting
- Store food in airtight containers and promptly clean up spills and food crumbs, paying particular attention to pet food
- To prevent interference with the rodent treatment process, avoid setting up DIY rodent traps or bait stations before the technician’s visit
Spider treatments & helpful tips
While spiders serve a beneficial role in controlling insect populations, certain species can pose a threat to human health, particularly if they are venomous. Common signs of spider infestation include webs, egg sacs, and sightings of spiders themselves.
Our professional technicians will first identify the spider species and then apply an appropriate treatment. These treatments include:
- Dusts
- Liquid spray applications
What you can do to help:
- Avoid disturbing spider webs before the treatment to ensure that spiders come into contact with the applied insecticide
- Trim vegetation and bushes to discourage spiders
- Consider how your outdoor lighting attracts flying insects around your property and adjust it to reduce activity. These pests are prey for spiders
Conclusion
Our local Termitrust Pest Control teams are committed to helping our customers maintain a pest-free home so they can safeguard their family’s health and wellbeing. We hope that by outlining the steps undertaken during a general pest treatment, you feel more confident in the process.
If you have any questions about pest control, feel free to contact your local team for advice.
At Termitrust, we know pests, so you don’t have to… Click here to schedule a general pest treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How often should I schedule general pest treatments for my property?
A. The frequency with which you should schedule general pest treatments for your property depends on various factors, including the severity of existing pest infestations, the type of property, and environmental conditions.
Generally, we recommend scheduling pest treatments on a quarterly basis/every 3 months for optimal pest prevention and control. However, properties with a history of recurring pest issues may require more frequent treatments.
Q. Are general pest treatments safe for my family and pets?
A. Yes, by following everything the qualified pest control technician tells you, general pest treatments are completely safe for humans and pets.
Prior to treatment, our technicians will discuss any safety precautions or recommendations to ensure a hassle free and worry free experience for you and your loved ones.
Termitrust Pest Control uses only approved products and follows industry best practices to minimise any potential risks to your family, pets, and the environment.
Q. Will a general pest treatment permanently eradicate all pests from my property?
A. No, while general pest treatments are highly effective at eliminating common pests and preventing future infestations, it’s important to understand that no pest control treatment can guarantee the complete eradication of pests.
Factors such as environmental conditions, neighbouring properties, and pest behaviour may influence pest activity over time. However, by implementing regular treatments and practicing good sanitation and maintenance habits, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of pest problems.
Q. I have a general pest treatment scheduled, but it’s raining. Will my treatment still go ahead?
A. Yes, a general pest treatment can still proceed if it rains. However, only the internal part of a general pest treatment can be completed.
The external part of the pest treatment will need to be completed on another day when the rain has subsided, as rainfall can dilute and reduce the effectiveness of the applied spray treatment.
Q. How long do I need to wait after my pest treatment before I can let my pets outside?
A. Our pest control technicians will typically recommend keeping your pets inside for at least 2 hours after an external spray has been applied to ensure that the spray treatment has completely dried.
