Clubby's Pest Control

5 Residential Pest Control Myths

After years in the industry, the unfortunate reality is that so many homes go untreated and unchecked until it’s too late, simply because of widespread misconceptions about pest management. These are some of the top myths we’ve encountered that consistently deter people from organising and receiving a residential pest control treatment.

Myth #1: It’s a New Build, so I Don’t Need an Inspection.

Assumptions over the quality of a building due to it simply being “new” result in many homeowners falling into the same trap and foregoing their initial residential pest control treatment every year. It is natural to believe that a new build will be of sound design without structural damage or inconsistencies for pests to exploit and gain entry. However, numerous possibilities throughout construction can create opportunities for pests to inhabit a property at a foundational level.

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Anything from garbage on the construction site to simple changes in weather can result in various pests entering a building site looking for food and shelter. Exposed wood can absorb moisture, making timber homes at risk of termites and other insect infestations if excessive rain or high humidity levels persist over the build.

Myth #2: My House is Clean, so I Can’t Have a Pest Problem.

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While it’s undoubtedly true that the cleaner a home is, the less likely you are to find pests like cockroaches or rodents; it is a misconception to think that is the determining factor to infestation. Pests are attracted to areas in your home where they can find warmth and readily available food; this is why kitchens are often ground zero in residential and commercial spaces regardless of the cleaning standards imposed.

It’s important to consider that different pests consume different foods in varying quantities. Just because you’ve sanitised the benchtop to deter cockroaches doesn’t mean there aren’t any mice chewing through your cereal boxes or termites on the underside of your floorboards.

Myth #3: Pests Aren’t a Problem During Winter.

A common misconception about residential pest control is that it slows down over winter because pests can’t survive in the colder climate. While this is more accurate for environments that reach subzero temperatures, in Queensland, pests can pose a threat all year round.

 

While it’s true some pests become more dormant in the winter months, others, such as rodents, become more active as they ferociously burrow into homes to build nests and escape the cold. The lack of available food sources due to the change in conditions also means cockroaches that thrive in warm, moist environments enter homes to find a reliable food supply. 

 

Click here to read more about what pests are common during QLD winter

Myth #4: Pesticides Aren’t Safe.

The extensive warnings on the back of insect spray are enough to conclude the dangers of ingesting it. However, these retail pest control products have led many to assume that pesticide treatment like insect and termite spraying, pose a threat to ourselves as well as pets and even gardens.

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These concerns are not entirely unfounded as every effective pesticide – professional-grade or store-bought – is comprised of chemicals that can be dangerous to humans. The risk, however, of being passively exposed to a harmful level of these chemicals is low. You should keep any pets away from a treated area for several hours while the chemical dries so they don’t lick or walk through the chemical and ingest it later when cleaning themselves.

 

Click here to learn more about residential pest control and pesticide safety

Myth #5: Pests Can’t Get into Apartments.

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There’s a common belief that because an apartment is elevated from the ground, it is impenetrable. Unfortunately, apartments or unit blocks are no more difficult to access than any other single or multistorey property.

Pests enter a property for two reasons; food and secure shelter. The higher concentration of people produces more garbage than often becomes the initial attractor for pests. From there, pests will access ducts and pipes by following the warm and damp air trails leading them into the walls and between levels in an apartment complex.

If you’ve caught yourself thinking any of these, there’s no better time than the present to have a conversation with a professional about your residential pest control needs. More often than not, the majority of pest infestations can be avoided through simple vigilance and pre-emptive action.

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