Why It’s Important to Have Year-Round Pest Control Maintenance

June 25, 2019 Kristin Dodd

Pest control is something that most people don’t think about until spring rolls around. As you prepare your home for the warmer weather, it’s not uncommon to see pesky bugs make their first appearance of the season. A problem with not worrying about pest prevention earlier is infestations can become serious without detection. Waiting too long for pest control can lead to issues like severe property damage. The expert team at Carolina Pest Management stresses the importance of year-round pest control. Homeowners and business will reap the following benefits of choosing a year-round pest control plan.

Protecting Home and Family

Having pests in your home can feel like a waking nightmare. Pests can wreak havoc on your property and pose a serious health risk to your family. Although some pests are merely nuisances, many types are far more dangerous. For instance, rodents carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and pets. Feces from rats and mice are particularly dangerous. Feces not only spread bacteria but can also cause allergic reactions by contaminating the air. Diseases associated with rodents include hantavirus, salmonella and rat-bite fever. Hantavirus and rat-bite fever are potentially fatal while hospitalization may be required for food poisoning caused by salmonella. Direct contact with rodents can lead to these illnesses as well as consuming contaminated food.

Termites and carpenter ants are responsible for billions of dollars of structural damage annually, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  Termites feed primarily on wood and will feast on floors, cabinetry, walls and furniture. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood but will hollow out wood pieces to make their nests.

Besides wood-boring insects, homeowners need to worry about carpet beetles. Although the bugs have long been associated with damaging carpets by eating the fibers, they feed on any type of natural fiber. Holes in soft fabrics are more likely to be caused by carpet beetles rather than moths. Adult moths don’t feed on fabrics, but their larvae consume wool, cloth, fur and even feathers.

Roaches have a poor reputation because not only are they unsightly, but also, they have long been associated with unsanitary conditions. Roaches consume garbage and breed in sewers. Roaches have been linked to spreading bacteria when present in a home. The American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology warns asthmatics against cockroach infestations. The roach saliva, feces and shells lost during shedding cause a similar reaction as dust mite exposure in allergy sufferers. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing and nasal congestion.

Outside of your home, mosquitoes may be taking over your yard. Mosquito bites cause skin irritation and will cause itching and swelling at the site. The majority of individuals will not become ill after a mosquito bite. However, mosquito-borne diseases are on the rise and have been associated with serious, even potentially fatal complications. Mosquito-borne diseases are transmitted through mosquito bites when the pest is infected. Diseases transmitted through mosquito bites include West Nile virus, Zika virus, malaria and dengue. Mosquito control services in Charlotte are needed most in the Spring and Summer. 

Hassle Free Protection

Tackling pest control on your own is a headache. You may not know about the latest products and equipment used against household pests. Many new pest control products employed by professionals are all natural and environmentally friendly pest control products. Pesticides are available at big box retailers and home improvement stores, but you may be uncertain about how to properly apply the product. Moreover, many pesticides sold in stores contain dangerous chemicals that could be hazardous to your family. 

A pest control year-round plan allows you to schedule any type of treatments on your timeline. Instead of scheduling an emergency appointment, you can have service done at convenient times that work best for your family. After initial treatments, pest control service appointments are very quick and easy. Service professionals at maintenance visits focus more on providing preventative treatments. Inspections are also typically done at regular appointments. At these visits, technicians check for signs of any new pests. Many of the follow-up treatments are done exclusively outdoors since the goal will be to prevent pests from entering the home.

Pest control yearly plans are an economical way to get rid of pests from season to season. Most service plans are quarterly with professionals arriving at your home once in the fall, winter, spring and summer. This is ideal because different pests arrive each season. Common pests per season include:

• Spring: ants, mosquitoes, termites, spiders, flies, bees, wasps, roaches
• Summer: spiders, roaches, flies, wasps, ants, mosquitoes, termites, bed bugs
• Fall: fleas & ticks, rodents, roaches, stinkbugs, spiders, wasps
• Winter: rodents, roaches, bed bugs

Economical Benefits

Scheduled quarterly pest control appointments will always cost less than emergency treatments. Without prevention, bug and rodent populations can grow exponentially. Eradicating a large pest population is more expensive than a standard service appointment. Also, large infestations will likely require consecutive visits to confirm all pests are gone from the property.

Owners of multiple properties can also benefit from quarterly pest control plans. For instance, if you leave your primary residence for a summer home, there is a good chance you will return to unwanted visitors. A maintenance plan keeps your home pest-free even when you’re not there. Landlords also find convenience in having a pest control plan in place to keep bugs and rodents out of rental properties. Tenants will expect prompt extermination services and these emergency treatment visits can be very costly.

Unseen Benefits of Year-Round Pest Control

Many of us live by the doctrine: out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, this does not apply to pests. Although we may not see as many pests in the winter, it does not mean the problem is nonexistent. In fact, by the time most homeowners notice pests, a major infestation is starting with breeding cycles in progress. When you have a pest control plan, technicians stop the problem before it starts. Service appointments not only get rid of live bugs but eliminate their offspring too.

Another unseen benefit is the inclusion of a protective barrier around the home. Scheduled treatments act as a force field by stopping pests from entering the house at all. Pests remain outdoors and there will be no need to spray insecticides inside the house. No one wants to deal with bugs inside of the home. Not only are they unsightly, but you’ll also have to worry about them damaging your property and causing health issues for you and your family members.

Besides unseen benefits, you will notice a major difference in the look of your home without pests around. No more cobwebs in the corner, droppings in the attic or chewed up wires. The smell of your home is likely to improve too. Droppings from pests leave an unsavory stench behind. Pests also release pheromones that could make your house smell rank. You could also find your home a much more peaceful place. You will be able to rest easy without having to worry about anything creepy and crawly finding you during sleep.

How Year-Round Service Plans Work

A pest control quarterly service plan involves creating a custom outline for you. As part of any plan, a property is first assessed. An inspection by is done to check for any bugs or rodents already in your home. A licensed and trained technician identifies the pests and makes recommendations on the best methods to remove them from your property. The homeowner must approve all service treatments before implementation. After the initial service appointment, quarterly appointments are focused around maintaining a pest-free home. 

Carolina Pest Management has a convenient, hassle-free service plan for year-round protection against pests. Our custom plans are tailored to your household needs and preferences. Our company has served customers throughout the Carolinas for 80 years. We plan to continue our tradition of providing exceptional service for the next 80 years today. Contact us to see how you can get $15 off your initial pest control service when you sign up for a quarterly plan today!