Pest Control Costs: How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Pest Control Company?

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We live in a world with a variety of other creatures. We prefer they stay in their habitat be it the woods or the back yard. Sometimes, they don't do what we want and invade our living space. That's when it's time to call pest control. Pest control services are a savior for someone whose property has been invaded by insects or animals that don't belong.

Here is an article on controlling pests in your garden.

Pest Control Prices #

Insects #

It will cost $50 to $70 for a pest control service to come into your property and spray for insects. This will take care of most insects that you will encounter in your home. That will guarantee your property is free from insects for 90 days or so. If you want to ensure you are free from pests year round you may hire the pest control service to spray on a quarterly basis. They will then come on a quarterly basis to treat your insect problem. This will cost $200 to $500, depending on the size of the property and the type of insect you need disposed of.

If you have an insect pest and you need to identify it look at this comprehensive list of insect pests.

Rodents #

It will cost $75 to $100 to pay for pest control for rodents. The pest control service will typically come onto your property, set traps, and return to check the traps, hopefully with little varmints on them. A good pest control service will try to address the causes of your rodent problem. They usually have a food source near their nests. Get rid of their source of food if you can. Also, the pest control service.

Animals #

Snakes, gators, and bats all fall into a larger category that is difficult to put a price on. The cost of removing pests like these depends on the difficulty of the job. Where is the pest located? How many are there? Is it a dangerous animal? Is there possibility of injury during removal of the pest? With gators, bees, and poisonous snakes there is a real risk of injury or death. Snakes can be poisonous, bats can have rabies and other diseases, and I don't need to tell you the problems that can arise handling alligators. That's worth extra money.

Insects
Rodents
Termites
Small animals

How Much Do Pest Control Services Cost? #

Pest control costs depend on the type of pest, how bad the infestation is, the size of your home, the number of treatments you need, and the company you hire. The following general pricing guide offers you an idea of what you can expect to pay for pest control services.

Bed bugs are difficult to locate and kill, with an average extermination cost between $500 and $1,500.
Bees are often able to be removed and placed with beekeepers as opposed to extermination, though both are usually an option. Bee removal has an average cost between $100 and $300.
Carpenter ants are difficult to eliminate and can cause severe structural damage. Removal costs may be as low as $250 or as high as $1,000.
Cockroaches are difficult to eradicate and present serious health issues, with removal costs starting around $250.
Mice are unsanitary and are known to chew their way through walls and wiring. Most companies offer extermination as well as humane removal, with costs averaging $150.
Rats spread disease and gnaw their way through foundations, walls, and wiring. These rodents are larger than mice and more difficult to remove, with costs starting around $300.
Termites cost homeowners across the country millions of dollars in repairs each year, so it is important to act on them quickly. Termite extermination has an average cost of around $500.
Wasps are incredibly dangerous, even if you aren't allergic, and should be removed immediately. Wasp removal has an average cost between $200 and $500.

Is Pest Control Safe for My Pets and Family? #

Before an exterminator comes to your home, there is some prep work that needs to be done. It is important that you tell your exterminator if you have children or pets, not just for the treatment to work, but to ensure the safety of your little ones and fuzzy companions. Most pest control services use methods, or at least have methods, to keep your pets safe, but there are things you should know about pets and pest control.

Are Pesticides Safe? #

Pesticides are made to be applied at low concentrations, generally less than 1 percent. While these concentrations are enough to kill insects, they do not typically harm people or pets. The droplet size of most household application equipment is large enough that the chemicals do not stay in the air for long, allowing little opportunity for inhalation. And any treated surfaces dry quickly, which leaves little to no chance of exposure from those areas. While remaining residue is toxic to insects, it does not present a threat to people. However, you should keep all pets away from treated surfaces until the area has completely dried. If you aren't sure, ask your provider when it's safe.

Keeping Your Pets Safe #

Again, most pest control companies have provisions to keep your pets safe, but there are some things you should do to help:

Contain your pets: Most animals are curious creatures and are apt to investigate new people, situations, and smells. While most of the pesticides used are not toxic to pets in the concentrations or application methods used, you don't want them to get too close to any chemicals or equipment. If you cannot keep your pets in a carrier or kennel, keep them in a closed room that will not be receiving treatment. Tenting treatments require you to make other arrangements for your pets, as no one can be inside the home during treatment.
Special pets: Some pets, such as birds, fish, and reptiles, might need special preparation before treatments for certain insects, such as bed bugs and fleas. Be sure to cover cages and tanks with blankets or towels to keep any airborne mist, droplets, or overspray from entering. Birds especially tend to have sensitive respiratory systemes, so it is a good idea to call your vet to see if you should remove your pet from the home entirely.
Tell your exterminator: This is perhaps the most important thing you can do to keep your pets safe. Just let your exterminator know that you have pets and what type so they can plan accordingly to provide a treatment plan that fits your needs and keeps your loved ones safe.

Safety and Fumigation #

When fumigation tenting is done, both you and your pets need to be away from the home. Both may return once the recommended amount of time has passed. Coming home sooner than that could result in serious injury or death. Be sure to ask your pest control service when you can return and what to expect upon returning. In addition to your pets themselves, it is a good idea to remove beds or kennels, leashes, pet food, pet dishes, and toys. In some cases, such as when treating bed bugs or fleas, the pests may have made their home in your pet's toys or bed, which means they should not be removed. If this is the scenario, be sure to thoroughly wash any of the items you left behind.

Continuing Pest Control Services #

Pests are a threat all year round. There are some that are active in every season, such as ants, and others that move indoors when the weather changes, such as pillbugs. Other pests may enter your home in search of food, or just because there was an opening. Typically, pests infestations are not fixed by a single treatment. Most insect eggs or larvae are not affected by the same things that kill adults, so combination or follow-up treatments are needed. Others leave invisible odor trails that new pests can follow into the home after the first round has been eliminated.

It is important to act on a pest problem as soon as you notice there is an issue. Pests can present a serious hazard to the health of you and your family, as well as your home.

One-Time Pest Control Services #

A smaller or less severe pest problem, such as common (not poisonous) spiders may be eradicated by a single treatment. However, though this may eliminate the arachnids for a few years, it does not mean they will be gone forever. It is not recommended to go with only a one-time service for serious pest problems or those that damage property.

A one-time extermination service is typically guaranteed for at least 30 days. As-needed services are also generally available, and are somewhat of an extension of one-time services, allowing you to contact the company if pests resurface without having to sign a contract.

Emergency Pest Control #

If a pest problem crops up on you suddenly, you want to handle it as soon as you can, taking care to eliminate and/or remove every last creature. For this, you want an exterminator that can come out as quickly as possible. Pest control companies are usually able to take care of an emergency infestation within 24 to 48 hours, though some charge more for same-day service. Emergency pest control services are similar to one-time services in that both generally only apply a single treatment. If you have an emergency pest control visit, it is best to contact a recurring service and set up some type of pest-management system.

Integrated Pest Management #

As you search for pest control companies, it is important to pay attention to their integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is applicable in any setting, whether it be a small home or a large industrial building. There are four main components in IPM:

Action thresholds: This establishes the level at which pests require action. Typically, this is when they are a threat to people or property.
Identify and monitor: An important step, this identifies the type of pest you are dealing with and helps to determine a course of action. Identifying and monitoring ensures the exterminator uses the correct methods and techniques.
Prevention: For any company with a focus on IPM, prevention is the most important aspect of the job. This involves taking measures to keep pests outside the home, as well as eliminating and removing any existing ones. Prevention also keeps you safe from prolonged exposure to insecticides and returning creatures.
Control: If all of the above steps fail to achieve results, control methods are used in gradually increasing steps to eliminate all pests, while minimizing the amount of toxins.

How Much Does Pest Control Cost?