How often should you schedule commercial pest control?

There is probably little that can be as troublesome as your business being infested by pests—rodents, termites, ants, and cockroaches to name a few. It is why commercial pest control services are essential to prevent pests from ever infesting your facilities.

However, pest prevention is not a one-time thing, regular pest control measures is necessary to prevent an infestation or in some cases, keep it from returning.

What is Commercial Pest Control?

More often than not, pest control specialists that offer residential services also provide pest control solutions for commercial establishments. However, there are certain key differences between residential and commercial pest services, some of which are as follows.

Residential vs Commercial Pest Control

Type of Pests

Businesses are less likely to get bedbugs, ticks, or termites, which are common residential household pests. They are more likely facing infestation of rats and cockroaches, since they are typically closer to environments where these pests thrive—dump sites, abandoned properties, food preparation, urbanisation areas, industrial environment, outdoor entries etc.

Scope of Treatment

Commercial pest control has scope and treatment plan customised based on factors such as the location, size, and nature of the business. Innovation and sensing technology will be utilised for optimal pest control. Pest trend analysis and detailed reporting are also common in commercial pest control for quality control and regulatory audit compliance.

Digital online reporting on pest trend analysis

Techniques

Techniques used in commercial pest control is often more varied and comprehensive as compared to its residential counterpart. Due to its complexity and size of the premise, it typically involves a variety of integrated pest management to deliver quality pest control. For instance, rodent control requires three lines of control defence with different types of control units placed.

Frequency

Much of the factors that separate commercial from residential pest control, is the need to upkeep zero-tolerance to pest presence and ensuring food and property safety of the environment. Also due to its space exposures to outdoor, food sources and users habits, commercial spaces require more intense and regular treatments and maintenance as compared to a residential home that is less exposed to variety of risks and less challenging facility to maintain. In summary, commercial pest management is more complex and less straightforward as opposed to a residential home.

Turnaround Time

Commercial pest control may require a faster turnarounds, so businesses do not have to shut down their operations for multiple days. For instance, if there is a surge of mosquitoes flying around that place guests or employees at risks of vector-borne diseases. Similarly, if there is a sudden uncontrollable rodent infestation that impact food safety and brand image of the restaurant.

Why Is Commercial Pest Control Necessary?

Much like homes, commercial establishments need regular pest control to tackle an existing pest infestation but more so to keep pests at bay and raise awareness among inhabitants to maintain a clean environment.

Furthermore, it is also necessary for businesses to comply with food safety regulations, meet health codes, pass sanitation audits, and of course, maintain a good reputation. This is particularly true for businesses that handle food such as restaurants and grocery stores as well as healthcare facilities—e.g. hospitals, clinics, etc. Lastly, not forgetting the interest of the employees’ health and safety.

Critical to maintain zero-tolerance to pest for business such as restaurants

While the reasons behind commercial pest control are obvious, the question is just how often should you engage the help of a pest control specialist?

6 Factors that Determine Pest Control Frequency

Preventive pest control treatments for homes are on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. However, offices and other commercial spaces may differ. Given their larger and more complex configurations, inspections and treatments is determined by situation, needs, environmental factors. There are cases where monthly visits are not sufficient, and bi-weekly or weekly service is required.

Other factors include the location, building size, weather conditions, history of pests, and the type of pest infesting the facility, to name a few.

Age & Construction of the Property

If your business is in an older facility with already visible signs of ageing—cracks on the concrete, spalling of tiles, etc—it may appear to be vulnerable to pests. These gaps and crevices allows pest entry into the premises.

Damaged and cracked walls promotes pest entry

Type of Business

Restaurants and high dependency businesses requires stringent food safety and audit compliance checks. Thus are required to undergo inspection on a monthly or quarterly basis.

History of Infestation

A property with a history of pest infestation will require consistent and more frequent inspection. In addition, to increase pest service frequency if there is a recurring trend of pest activity.

Quality of Pest Control Treatment

Pest control treatments may vary. This includes service quality, and manner of treating that impacts efficacy and effectiveness. This results in calling for another round of elimination. In addition, inadequate service coverage or missing particular hideout could affect efficacy level. Find out how to evaluate a pest control specialist in the complete guide to pest control.

Surrounding Conditions

Businesses located in areas with high-risk pest factors are more prone to infestations. Thus, necessary for regular treatments and inspections.

• Damp and moist conditions
• Surrounded with abandoned properties
• Have open concepts

Aside from that, factors such as the type of pests, extreme weather conditions, sudden epidemic (i.e. dengue), and nearby construction sites that may disturb the nesting sites, could affect the frequency of pest control treatment. For instance, rainy day may mean more pest hiding indoors or humid weather that promotes mosquito population.

What Can You Do?

The best way to prevent an infestation is to work hand in hand with your pest control specialist.

Besides regular professional pest inspection, the following is critical to prevent pest infestation in a commercial setting.

• Workplace housekeeping
• Raising pest awareness
• Conducting training among end-users

You can conduct self-inspections to check for potential pest infestation signs, while your pest control specialist will handle the rest: pest trend analysis and devising the right course of treatment to address, if not prevent an infestation.

Rentokil do more than addressing the problem. We also offer preventive pest control measures that can keep your business pest infestation at bay.

Get in touch with us today for a free quotation. Contact us at (65)6347 8138.