Pest Control Emergency? Do These 5 Important Things

Imagine returning home from work to find an intrusion of roaches feasting on a leftover in your kitchen cabinet.

What do you do?

Or what steps do you take when you see a colony of termites marching happily up your attic? These are clear examples of pest control emergencies that must be handled ASAP.

Unfortunately, many homeowners aren’t sure of what to do when confronted with these problems. Do you handle the issue on your own? Do you call in the Pest Control professionals? Or do you ignore the pests hoping they vanish?

If you are faced with a pest control emergency, here are five important things you should do to contain the situation and put your home in order.

1. Remain calm

Regardless of the emergency, you find yourself in, always try to stay calm. Don’t panic!

Did you see a small army of mice rummaging your kitchen’s trash bin? Don’t panic. If you do, you may act impulsively or rashly and worsen the issue. So rather than panic, inhale deeply and then consider or plan your next move.

2. Identify the pest

Now that you are calm and can think straight, the next thing you want to do is identify the pest you are dealing with.

Is it a stinging insect like a honey bee, paper wasp, or hornet?

Or is it a rodent? If yes, what type? Is it a mouse, rat, or mole?

When dealing with stinging insects, you may want to steer clear of the hive or nest. While if it’s a rodent, you’ll probably want to identify their nest or entry point.

Don’t just assume you know what you are dealing with, as some insects appear identical. Examples of such insects are bat bugs and bed bugs.

We advise you to contact an expert if you don’t know what you are dealing with. An experienced pest control expert should be able to determine the type of pest you are dealing with and your next course of action.

3. Don’t DIY

We understand! To get rid of the pest in real-time, you may take matters into your hands to, perhaps, save money. But the sad truth about DIY is that many of them are ineffective. What’s more, some can aggravate your pest problem, and put you, your kids, and pests at risk of hazards.

It’s not just homemade pest control solutions that are harmful. Some over-the-counter pest control products you purchase at a brick-and-mortar store can also worsen your pest issue. For instance, bed bugs are resistant to several DIY and OTC insecticides.

Findings by Molly Wilson—Director of Bed bug and Urban Pest Information Center at Virginia Tech—indicates that trying to eliminate bedbugs with insecticides purchased at hardware stores or online will likely kill some and disperse the rest, thus aggravating your bedbug issue.

4. Contact the professionals

Are you experiencing a severe pest control emergency? If so, you’ll need to contact a local pest control company like Insectek pest control Phoenix, AZ.

Contacting a professional exterminator is the best and most effective way to eliminate pests in your home. These professionals have the skills and equipment to identify the pests in your home. They can also recommend the best method to handle them.

While searching for a pest control company, ensure you go for one that is trusted and reliable. Or, if possible, one that gives you the option to schedule a free pest inspection. Pest control companies that boast of such features will likely offer you a service that suits your needs. But unfortunately, you don’t get such a service when you use ineffective DIY methods.

5. Prepare your home for the treatment.

To eliminate pests from your home, pest control experts will carry out pest control treatment. This treatment involves using chemicals or gaseous solutions to eradicate pests.

Here are some tips on preparing your home before the exterminator arrives.

Clear clutter: Clear anything that may hinder the pest control treatment. It could be dirty clothes stacked somewhere in your room or anything that serves as a hiding place for pests. Ensure you tidy your home, so the pest control experts don’t find it hard to do their job.

Get your pets away from home: Some of the chemicals used by pest control experts can harm your pets. So you should take your cats or furry friends to a pet sitter.

Conclusion

Like other emergencies, pest control needs to be approached with a clear head and caution. You don’t have to panic. Rather, contact a reliable pest control company for help, indicating that it’s an emergency.