Pest Control Cost

How much does pest control cost?

You can expect to pay £50 to £250 for pest control, depending on the pest and the severity of the problem.

This guide will explain how much different methods - from traps to fumigation costs - and the different types of pests - ants, rats, and wasps - will cost you.

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How Much Is Pest Control?

Pest control prices vary depending on the types of pests, and when the specialists identify the pests and their location, they will then decide what method will be used.

The average cost of treating a single wasp nest or cockroaches is typically £50, whilst the added treatment of carpets and furniture for various fleas can increase the price up to £150.

The highest pest control cost is usually bed bugs due to their stubbornness to leave your soft furnishings, with the process taking longer to complete and often requiring multiple treatments. The price for bed bug treatment can reach £250 in some cases, but this can be higher if bed bugs have infiltrated their way into several rooms.

Pest Control Cost List

Below is a general outline of various pest control jobs, including the amount of time it would take to complete and their average cost when hiring a pest control specialist.

Pest Control Supply Costs

Below are the average costs of supplies and products which you can buy in-store or online for DIY pest control, including the type of treatment and which pest you can use it for.

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Additional Pest Control Costs

While you have a professional at your property, it may be necessary to complete other tasks in your home, such as cleaning, replacing, or sealing parts of your home.

If you've been struck by a pest that has affected your furnishings or carpets, then you may need to hire a carpet cleaner for a full clean. Carpet cleaners cost around £30 for a small room, or £300 for an entire house.

If a pest has managed to worm its way into your home through cracks and openings throughout your entryways, then you will likely need to reseal your windows and doors. The average cost to reseal your windows and doors is around £50 to £80 per window or door, and usually takes up to an hour.

Once this job is complete, you can hire a professional window cleaner. Window cleaners cost around £50 per hour.

Or, you might need to tackle the bigger job of replacing all your windows, with replacement windows costing upwards of £3,000.

Pest Control Labour Costs and Timescales

The average cost of labour when it comes to hiring a pest control specialist can be around £150 to £200, with the job itself taking no longer than a day. After the initial treatment, the specialist will return on a separate day to check and retreat the area if necessary.

A pest control job can take longer than a day if they find a severe infestation which has made its way into several areas of your home. In these cases, you and your family may need to evacuate until the area is safe and cleared.

The method of pest control will be decided by both the specialist and homeowner, making sure they both agree on how best to treat the house. The cost per day is dependent on the type of treatment and how long it takes, usually undergone by one worker.

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What Impacts the Cost of Pest Control?

Pests come in all shapes and sizes, meaning that the cost of eliminating them from your home can vary between different bugs or animals. Below are some examples of the various cost affecting factors when undertaking pest control in your home.

Location

The location of your pest problem is one of the main factors that can affect the price. This can be due to how easy or difficult it is to get into various spaces, or if you have a problem in the basement or loft, this can mean that a larger scale of pests may have gone unnoticed, requiring more attention.

Type of Pest

The type of pest infesting your home will alter the overall pricing for pest control because each pest has its own unique qualities that make it challenging to get rid of. Various methods need to be used for each type, with pests ranging from rodents, bedbugs, bees, cockroaches, ants, moles, and squirrels.

Scale of Pest Infestation

Often, pests affect a specific area of your house, creating a small infestation which can be treated in one day. However, certain instances, such as a large flea or bed bug infestation, can take longer — especially if you have a large property and pests have spread to every corner.

Method of Extermination

There is no one-size-fits-all method of getting rid of pests. Each pest has individual characteristics that need to be targeted, and a suitable removal technique needs to be chosen with this in mind.

For example, bed bugs can be removed with either insecticide sprays or chemical-free heat pod treatment. Both treatments vary in cost and effectiveness, with other methods ranging from traps, poisons, fumigation, removal of habitats, and biological control.

What's Involved in Professional Pest Control?

When inviting a pest control specialist into your home, it's important to know the procedure of their visit, and what will happen. Here's a general step-by-step guide of what's involved when a professional pest control visits and inspects your home.

Inspection and Examinations

Your pest control specialist will figure out where the pests have found entry into your home. This means your specialist will inspect doorways, windows, pipes, loft areas, garages, and crawl spaces - anywhere where small insects or rodents can easily find a way into a home.

This can take time due to some pests being able to fit through cracks or hidden spaces. After this, it's essential to check around any garden, courtyard, patio area, or outdoor spaces surrounding the home before inspecting the moisture throughout the interior.

Once all inspections and examinations have been completed, your pest control expert will collect their data and findings into an official report.

Choosing the Method of Extermination

After the report has been made, you will sit down with the pest control specialist and discuss everything they've found. During this process, they will make sure to inform you of everything that is happening in your home.

They will make sure to go through every option of removal methods with you and how to prevent any future issues, deciding with your approval on the right one for your specific problem. This is also a perfect time to ask any questions you need answering.

Treatment

If you decide on a treatment method and choose a pest control expert who specialises in the specific process, then they may be able to start work and treatment on your home straight away.

It's a good idea to find out if you and your family will need to leave the property during the pest control processs. If you need to leave, arrangements will be made for you and your family to evacuate safely.

Can I Conduct Pest Control Myself?

In some cases, yes, you can conduct pest control as a DIY job by yourself. When it comes to low-danger pests such as ants, roaches, mosquitoes, and flies, you may be able to undertake this job with online tutorials and buying your own pest control products if you're on a budget.

There are various products available online and in-store from many suppliers that can exterminate pests without hiring a professional to do the job, saving both time and money.

Applying DIY treatments yourself usually needs to be completed every 3 to 5 months, whereas a professional treatment is typically re-applied once a month. DIY jobs for pest control should only be completed if you're fully confident in your decision, and have received professional advice.

It's worth considering that pests can seriously damage and be a danger to your home. To ensure the most complete service, it can be a good idea to hire a professional pest control specialist so that everything is completed and cleared thoroughly and smoothly.

Building Regulations and Planning Permission for Pest Control

When undertaking a pest control job, it's important to research the building regulations for your household. The control of damage, disease, and rodent control is within the basic tenet cover of safety and welfare from Building Regulations and the Building Act. Paragraph 2.22 of Approved Document H offers guidance on this.

Firstly, you need to make sure that enough information has been collected to ensure that pests have infested your home. When you're positive, contact your Local Authority Environmental Health department to see if they're away from any past issues.

The Damage by Pests Act 1949 ensures that local authorities are required to manage pest issues in households and offer guidance and assistance. However, if you're a private household owner, you may not be authorised to receive free services from your council and will have to hire a council service or professional company.

Types of Pests

There are a whole range of pests which can find their way into your home. It's crucial you know what type of pest you're dealing with and when to call in for professional help.

Rodents

Rodents include mice and rats, and they typically cause damage by biting and gnawing on furnishings and electric cables, which can cause fire safety issues. They are also very dangerous to have in your home, with the ability to carry over 12 kinds of parasites and diseases such as salmonella.

Squirrels

Squirrels can also bite through furnishings, with their teeth able to make their way through woodwork, piping, and insulation. They also carry diseases and can become hostile when confronted, meaning you should hire a professional to tackle this.

Bees, Hornets, and Wasps

Bees, hornets, and wasps can be difficult to find and require specific instructions when handling these due to pollination with bees. Wasps and hornets are more hostile, and all will need professional treatment to remove to ensure your safety and wellbeing.

Ants

Ants are relatively easy to remove and can be done as a DIY job in most cases. Ants are most common in outdoor spaces, cold areas, and gardens. Most ants can be eliminated with specific powder products.

Fleas

Flea exterminator costs can be up to £150for the treatment of carpets and furniture infested by fleas.

Cockroaches

A cockroach infestation is common in busy households and has the ability to nest in walls, ceilings, furnishings, and bins. They carry many diseases, and it's important to keep your home tidy and clean to avoid attracting them.

Moles

Moles are pesky creatures who can destroy your garden by producing their own system of tunnels among a large space, eating insects along the way. Moles can be very hard to catch, and specialists will use poisons and traps to catch them.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs are impossible to see as they are as flat as a piece of paper and can hide through any small cracks. These are very hard to eliminate as they are so hard to see and find - but you'll know you have them due to red bits on your skin after feeding on your blood.

Pest Control Methods

Depending on what type of pest you have in your home, different methods will be used by pest control experts. Here are a few of the most popular pest control methods.

Traps

Traps and poisons are a traditional pest control method that may not sit well with everyone due to the inhumane procedure.

However, professional techniques have proven to be quick, effective and safe, with new devices offering the chance to trap the animal and release it back into the world safely, or fast-working chemical sprays for smaller pests.

Pros of Pest Control Traps

• ✔ Effective
• ✔ Quick
• ✔ Cheaper than other extermination methods

Cons of Pest Control Traps

• ✖ Sometimes inhumane
• ✖ Poisons can be dangerous to humans and other animals

Home Fumigation

Home fumigation is typically used for large infestations that take over the majority of a surface or household and will be needed in severe cases.

House fumigation costs in the UK is one of the most expensive when it comes to pest control, averaging between £130 to £160, and can take up to several days as the entire property needs to be sealed off whilst gas is pumped inside, allowing for an effective and long-lasting solution.

Pros of Home Fumigation

• ✔ Very effective
• ✔ Safest method
• ✔ Long-lasting solution

Cons of Home Fumigation

• ✖ House is unusable during
• ✖ Expensive
• ✖ Can be invasive

Habitat Removal

This method of pest control is often one of the fastest and gentle methods of pest control. By removing what's attracted the pests to your home in the first place, habitat removal means the pests will then be relocated back to their natural habitat.

For example, rats and flies will want to stick around any rubbish and waste, whilst damp areas attract smaller insects and termites, especially inside cracks and leaks. It's especially important to search through your attic and basement if necessary as they are usually secluded, dark, warm and accessible for pests to make a base.

Pros of Habitat Removal

• ✔ Fast
• ✔ Humane
• ✔ Cheaper than other extermination methods

Cons of Habitat Removal

• ✖ Potentially dangerous
• ✖ Needs re-visits
• ✖ Hard to find all infested areas

Biological Control

If you're looking for the most natural route for pest control, biological control is a solid choice.

The elimination process consists of bringing predators into the natural environment to pursue the pests through natural selection to balance out nature. This is suited best to large land areas and grounds where nature can take its course.

Pros of Biological Control

• ✔ Restores natural balance
• ✔ No use of harmful chemicals

Cons of Biological Control

• ✖ Doesn't guarantee secure pest removal
• ✖ Hard to track

Benefits of Pest Control

Observing and removing pests from your home is vital for a happy and healthy property and lifestyle. Below are several benefits that come from pest control practices when pests unwillingly enter your home.

Health

Pests are one of the biggest culprits for bringing disease into your home, as cockroaches, rats, mosquitoes, and houseflies all carry various diseases which can be passed on to humans, ranging from mild illness to life-threatening. It's important to check and remove pests from your home as soon as possible, ensuring expert guidance and professional advice.

Safety

Not all pests are small and harmless - some can be dangerous to both you and your home. To avoid bites or aggressive pests, it's always best to call in pest control experts to safely remove harmful pests without putting you or your family at risk. Some bites can lead to allergic reactions, damaging your health and putting you in danger.

Peace of Mind

Most importantly, ensuring that all pests have been removed safely from your property will give you peace of mind. Worry can be caused when your health is at risk, especially when pests multiply at an alarming rate.

Checklist: Hiring a Pest Control Exterminator in the UK

Although it may be tempting to take on your own pest control as a DIY job, it's often much safer, more humane, and easier for a qualified specialist to take the reins.

A specialist will identify what pest is causing harm and the best course of action to take with treatments and methods. However, you may have never had to deal with this before and don't know what to ask.

Below is a checklist of what to ask or think about when hiring pest control in the UK.

• Get several quotes from different pest control experts to ensure you're in the right ballpark with costs to make sure you're choosing the best person for you.
• Legitimate pest control specialists will perform a review and offer guidance for free before any work takes place.
• Check that they are insured and covered for any damages, as well as talking to previous clients for references and pictures.
• Ask if they are a part of a trade association and are qualified to complete the job, including being a member of either the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), or the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA).
• Make sure that their chemicals comply with the Control of Pesticides Act 1986 and the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulation 1994, when using pesticides.

Sources

https://www.gov.uk/pest-control