Residual spraying for general pest control is one of the most common treatments that every household, commercial, and even industrial property avails from pest control companies like us. Although this service is highly effective in controlling the four prominent pests in properties (flies, ants, cockroaches, and mosquitoes), clients must also understand that one treatment doesn't always result in complete eradication of the infestation, especially in cases of heavy infestation.
Clients must understand that to completely eliminate an infestation, they must follow our recommended integrated pest management program, which provides guidelines to clients on what they need to do on their part to make the pest control service effective. This usually involves improving sanitation practices and sealing possible pest entry points.
So in this article, we aim to help clients understand how this works by answering the most common questions about general pest control by spraying:
Does your treatment have a pesticide odor? Can you use odorless chemical?
All pest control services uses chemicals that produce odors but these typically dissipate entirely after our recommended minimum drying time of 2 hours. However, if any odor persists beyond this period, extending the drying time by an additional hour or two usually resolves the issue.
While some chemicals we use have milder odors than others, we cannot consistently rely on a single chemical for a property. Overreliance on one chemical can lead to pests developing resistance, making it harder to control the infestation.
Is it harmful to the elderly, babies, or house pets?
For properties with elderly residents, infants, and house pets, our technicians are trained to apply treatments only in inaccessible areas, such as under or behind large furniture, beds, or chairs. However, as an additional precaution, we also recommend extending the minimum drying time from 2 to 4 hours or until the chemical odor dissipates.
Some properties may experience increased cockroach sightings or activity right after the service, but there's no need to be alarmed. This indicates that the treatment is working, and the sudden change in pest behavior means they are now confused and irritated including the ones hiding in the nest. This is because they are slowly dying and unaware that they are already out in the open.
Why am I still seeing cockroaches after the treatment?
Although it generally takes up to 14 days to see the full effect of the treatment, there are several reasons why you may continue to see pests on your property:
- The property may have openings or gaps serving as pest entry points, allowing outside pests to freely enter. Although they will eventually be affected by the treatment, it may take some time before they reach it. Hence, sightings may persist after the service, but it does not mean the treatment is ineffective.
- Nocturnal insects like cockroaches are likely to hide in their nests during the treatment (day time) and will only be affected when they come out at night and have passed by the treated areas. This also explains why you might still see cockroach activity a few days after the service.
- Cockroach eggs that hatch after the treatment will only be affected after they are exposed to the treated area.
- If the property was not prepared for the treatment as outlined in the prep sheet, the technician can still treat the property, but they'll have fewer areas to treat. Consequently, it will also result in a longer time needed before the pests is affected by the treatment.
- We may have rotated the chemical used in your property. Different types of pest control solutions have varying effects on pests. For example, an instant-kill solution terminates pests immediately, yet it has a low residual effect (little to no effect after it dries up). In contrast, other solution gradually kills pests but has longer residual effect lasting up to 90 days for residential properties and 7 to 30 days for commercial ones.
- It is important to note that chemical rotation is crucial for an effective pest control service. We are required to rotate the chemicals used in each service to prevent the pests from building up immunity from it.
- If the property has a heavy pest infestation, follow-up treatment as well as addressing areas of concern as stated in our service report are both needed to control the infestation.
Why am I not seeing dead cockroaches in the treated areas after the treatment?
It's normal to see pests die right after a treatment, but not seeing them afterward doesn't mean the treatment failed. They might have died in their hiding spots. As long as you notice fewer cockroaches over time, the treatment is still doing its job.
What if I am unable to fix the recommendations stated in the report?
Although pest control using chemicals is an effective way to decimate pests inside a property, eliminating the source of the infestation is crucial to stop the infestation and/or prevent a re-infestation. This includes changes in sanitation practices in the property, sealing of gaps and openings that pests use to enter the property, and water leaks that pests use as their water source.
Please do not hesitate to ask our office or technician for alternatives to our recommendations if the first suggestion is not possible.
If I address all issues /recommendations mentioned in the report, will you guarantee 100% pest elimination?
Addressing all issues mentioned in the report will lower or may even end the pest infestation on your property. However, please keep in mind that there are many reasons why an infestation starts again in an area, including:
- Pests that come in with your deliveries (furniture, old boxes, etc)
- Pests that enter from a new entry point (windows without screens, door gaps, etc)
- Pests brought in by guests / clients (accidentally through their bags) or pets
This is also one of the reasons why follow-up treatments are always recommended to not only prevent a re-infestation but also detect early if there is a new concern that needs to be addressed.
Can you do all the repairs needed on my property?
Yes, our office can send a proposal with all the needed repairs and our costing for your approval.
If you have any questions not addressed in this list, please feel free to contact us. We're here to help. You can reach us at 0917 517 8222 via text, call, or Viber, or email us at inquiry@tripleapestcontrol.com.ph.
About Triple A Pest Terminator Inc.
Triple A Pest Terminator Inc is an accredited pest control operator in Quezon City, Marikina, Makati and the rest of Metro Manila. We offer all types of pest control and prevention service for all types of pest.
