How Often Do You Need Pest Control in London

Controlling pests is mandatory, not a choice anymore. However, pest control is never a topic in a dinner table conversation or gossip until the infestation turns into a waking nightmare. Pests can cause severe health hazards and spread diseases.

Now, you might be thinking, How often do you need pest control at your home or commercial space? To calculate that, you must observe how long your previous pesticide lasted and consider other factors.

Pest control means eliminating pests and preventing their reproduction or reinfestation. To eliminate pests, you must know how to choose the best pest control company. Otherwise, everything can go in vain. Sometimes you may see the live pest or a few signs of its existence.

However, a small pest can rapidly multiply its number and lead to a major infestation. Here, we will discuss and address the significant questions about pest control, breaking down the details.

How Often Do You Need Pest Control for Your London Home?

Pest control frequency is different for each type of pest. However, no one can say how often do you need pest control unless they know the situation and volume. You can’t ignore factors that influence pest control frequency. Let’s delve into the factors.

Factors that Influence Pest Control Frequency

Pest control frequency depends on some factors. Once you know the factors, you can estimate how long the interval of pest control will be and how often do you need pest control. Let’s discuss pest control time manipulation factors.

1. Type of Pest

Each pest has its own infestation method and reproduction volume. Some pests are seasonal, whereas others can attack at any time throughout the year. Pest control frequency certainly depends on the pest type.

2. Level of Infestation

The volume of pests and the level of infestation decide how often you need pest control. You can approach pest control less frequently if there is a mild infestation. On the other hand, severe infestations need urgent attention and pest control multiple times.

3. Pest Control Plan

You may plan for bi-weekly, weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly, or yearly pest control. In this case, the frequency will be according to your pest control plan.

4. Pest Control Method

Physical pest control requires daily attention as you trap pests using this method. However, the chemical pest control interval can be 1-2 weeks, 2-3 months, 6 months, or even a year.

5. Location of Pest Control

If you are situated in an old building, near a river, a railway, or poor sanitation in a neighbouring area, you may need more frequent pest control. New buildings or low-humidity locations need less pest control.

6. Environment of the Location

Darkness, high humidity, food sources, garden, wetness, debris, etc, are welcoming environments for pests. These places need frequent pest control. On the other hand, sunny and dry places need less pest control.

7. Type of Property

Residential properties may need less frequent pest control, and some commercial properties, such as the food manufacturing industry or the food packaging unit of a commercial property, may require more frequent pest control.

8. Time of the Year

Pests are more active in summer than in winter. However, a few pests are more active in winter than in summer. During the peak infestation season, pest control must be more frequent than at other times.

Now, you might be thinking, how would you know it’s time for pest control? Well, pests leave their infestation signs here and there all over the property when they are active. Let’s discuss more about infestation signs.

What are the Signs of Pest Infestation?

Where pests reproduce and infest, they leave signs, or sometimes you may see the live pest roaming and running on your property. Here are some common pest signs that may alert you to a pest infestation:

1. Sudden Noises

If you hear an unusual noise in your property coming from the ceiling, behind the wall, or under the floor, it may be a sign of pests. Sounds can include scratching, scurrying, running, or chewing.

2. Unpleasant Smells

You may experience a foul odor, especially in narrow or enclosed areas of your property. All pests have their own smells, and those bad smells can give you an idea of pest infestation.

3. Bite Marks

There can be bite marks on food packages, items, or an approach to biting. Bite marks are often created by rodents, and sometimes cockroaches, which can also make small holes. So, if you find bite marks, be alert about pest infestation.

4. Urine and Droppings

You may find urine stains or piles of droppings by pests on the floor or near food sources. Before pest wastes spoil your property’s environment, you should attempt pest control once you see the signs.

5. Nest Materials

If you see spread or accumulated nest materials, there can be a nest or multiple nests. Shredded wood or accumulated wood powder is also a sign of pest infestation.

6. Gnawing Signs

If the pest infestation is severe, gnaw marks, such as chewed wires, structural damage, furniture damage, etc., can occur.

7. Live Visible Pests

Apart from the signs of pest infestation, you can see any pest roaming around your property. It confirms the pest’s existence in your property, and you must take the necessary steps.

How Often Do You Really Need Pest Control?

Although no certain frequency is applicable to any pest control, we’ll provide you with an estimated idea based on pest control case studies and research.

Let’s know how often do you need pest control for each type of pest given below:

i. Rodents

Rodents(rats, mice) can reproduce quickly and easily roam around three hundred meters from their nest. They are expert at gnawing on essential goods, wires, etc.

Moreover, Rats can spread many diseases. You can’t vanish or stop rats from invading completely. So, rodent control is a continuous process.

For severe infestation, you may need bi-weekly or 2-3 visits by pest controllers monthly. In general, quarterly pest control is suitable for rodent control.

ii. Cockroaches

Cockroaches live in dark, nasty areas. They spread germs and even diseases. Some can make small holes in clothes or food packets. They are stubborn and reproduce frequently.

In severe cases, you will need weekly or bi-weekly pest control for cockroaches. If you have fewer cockroaches in your property, a quarterly pest control or pest control every 6 months can be enough.

iii. Wasps

Wasps can bite and cause severe health hazards. Bees, yellow jackets, etc, are some common wasps. Wasps usually live in their nests.

However, the nest extermination becomes necessary when the wasps become a threat।

Wasps become highly active and aggressive during late summer or early autumn. You can do wasp pest control twice a year or when needed.

iv. Moths

Moths can infest due to a lack of vacuuming carpets or cleaning fabrics. However, moths can severely infest if left unchecked or untreated.

Generally, quarterly pest control(every 3 months, 4 times a year) is enough for moths. For a severe case, you may need 2-3 monthly visits for moth control.

v. Ants

Ant infestation can be seasonal or persistent. In some areas, it becomes persistent. However, ant pest control can be done quarterly or every 6 months.

If an ant is persistent in any location, ant pest control must be done bi-monthly or monthly, even weekly if needed.

vi. Squirrels

Squirrels can be trapped live with traps once or twice daily. However, for chemical pest control, special squirrel poisons are used to help remove squirrels. It can be done once every 3 to 6 months.

vii. Carpet Beetles

Carpet Beetles may need multiple treatments. You can do carpet beetle pest control every 3 months. For severe infestation, you may need more frequent pest control for carpet beetles.

How Often Do You Need Residential Pest Control?

Residential pest control can be done quarterly or every 6 months. However, if you suffer from a severe pest infestation, you may need pest control weekly, bi-monthly, or at least monthly.

You can try a DIY pest control, such as physical pest control, if there is a mild infestation. However, you should leave it to a professional pest control company like BioActive Pest Control to deal with a severe pest infestation.

The best option is to do residential pest control every 3 months, hiring a professional company.

How Often Do You Need Commercial Pest Control?

Industrial or Commercial pest control needs more attention as the space is larger. Once a pest is severely infested throughout the commercial area, your business reputation and career can be ruined.

For a commercial area, you may need bi-monthly or monthly pest control done by professionals. If you have a food-related business, you may need pest control weekly or 2-3 times a month for severe pest attacks.

How Long Does Pest Control Take?

Pest control companies offer multiple visits if the infestation is severe. Completing the session may take a few months to years, depending on the type of pests, the severity of the infestation, the volume of the property, etc.

Depending on the situation, a single visit or each visit of pest control can take 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Professional pest control companies not only eliminate pests but also prevent them from invading again.

How Much Does Pest Control Cost?

Pest control costs depend on various factors. They vary depending on the type of pest, the number of visits, the number of rooms, the location of the property, and the method of pest control.

Usually, any pest control needs at least 2 visits. For more visits, the cost may increase. Here is an estimated generic pest control cost in London:

Pest Name	Average Pest Control Cost Per 2 Visit
Mice/rats/rodents	Starts from £180
Bed Bugs	Starts from £190 (per property)
Squirrels	Starts from £200
Cockroaches	Starts from £190
Wasps	Starts from £137.50 (per Nest)
Ants	Starts from £165 (per Treatment)
Moth	Starts from £500 (per Treatment)
Fleas	Starts from £150 (per property)
Carpet Beetles	Starts from £220

Benefits of Pest Control

The benefits of pest control are many. Pests can reproduce rapidly out of our sight. So, pest control can’t be ignored anyway. Without pest control, our health and properties can be in danger.

Let’s know some effective benefits of pest control:

Provides Health Benefits

Pests can cause major diseases and carry germs of diseases. They make properties unhygienic, and we get affected by germs. Pest control helps to stay hygienic and healthy.

Ensures Property Protection

Many pests damage food packages, wood, walls, furniture, cables, etc. If the damage is severe, you might need to replace every item in your property. However, Pest control keeps properties free from pests and damage.

Prevents Food Poisoning

Pests love food sources and food. They spread germs and can cause food poisoning. Pest control protects our kitchen and food areas from cockroaches, rodents, and ants.

Brings Peace of Mind

Pests are the stress you can’t remove from your mind. Severe pest infestation can turn into a major, scary trauma. Pest control assures the mind that there are no pests anymore and brings peace.

Saves Money in the Long Run

You may need pest control costs, but it will save you a lot of money in the long run. Pests can damage your expensive furniture, electronics, clothes, etc., which may cause more loss of money. So, you should never delay pest control.

Final Words

Pest control is essential. Nowadays, there is no alternative way to lead a peaceful, hygienic life in the UK without pest control. So, it’s high time we understood how important pest control is and how often we should do it. A small negligence can cost you a lot, as pests won’t give you time to wait, stopping their rapid reproduction.

A single pest control may not be enough. So, you must know how often do you need pest control and take steps accordingly against those harmful pests.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on how often pest control is necessary