Whether you’re a homeowner or you’re running a business, pest control should be an important part of general maintenance. Not only can this help to improve your overall quality of life, it can also protect your business’s reputation and prevent you from being exposed to potential health risks.
What are pests?
Pests are classed as animals, birds or insects which can contaminate food, damage property or pose a risk to our health. They include:
- Rodents such as rats and mice
- Insects – flies, cockroaches, ants, wasps, beetles, bees and other insects found in stored products
- Birds such as pigeons, seagulls, crows, starlings and sparrows
The importance of pest control
Nobody wants to see rats running around or bees swarming the area. Aside from being unsightly and quite scary, why exactly is pest control so important?
They contaminate food products
Pests carry harmful bacteria which can contaminate food items and cause illness. If you sell food, an infestation can have serious implications and even result in your business being shut down.
They can cause structural damage buildings
Another problem with pests is that many of them are constantly gnawing which can very quickly destroy insulation, pipes, doors and floorboards. They also tend to shred any soft materials they can find so they can use it for nesting.
Furthermore, the acid in bird droppings ishighly corrosive and can damage building exteriors. Birds can also dislodge roof tiles and leave debris from their nests in drains and gutters. In time, this can cause blockages and problems with flooding when heavy rainfall occurs.
They’re a health risk
Many rodents carry diseases which can be passed onto humans even if we don’t come into direct contact with them. Their urine and droppings contain pathogens which transmit diseases such as Weil’s Disease, Rat Bite Fever, Salmonellosis, Leptospirosis, Plague and Hantavirus.
Rodents are also potential sources of allergens. Their droppings, dander and hair can cause people to sneeze, itch and experience other allergic reactions. If they feel threatened, they can also bite which can be incredibly painful.
Birds can also pose a number of health risks because they carry ectoparasites which can cause diseases including Ornithosis, E. Coli and Salmonella. Their molted feathers can also cause respiratory problems and their droppings can lead to serious infections.
Safety issues
Pests can cause a number of safety issues because they can bite through electrical wiring, return to their nests with smoking cigarettes, foul entrances and pavements which can become dangerous when slippery and when they’re protecting their young, birds have been known to attack people.
Why use a local pest control company?
Faster response times
In order to prevent further infestation, it’s important to deal with pests as soon as you can. While some cases may be okay to wait a day or two, there are other incidences where you need someone to get there as quickly as possible.
Say for example there’s a pigeon flying around the office, not only can they cause a significant amount of damage in a very short space of time, chances are that it will be frightening for your employees as well.
They’re familiar with the area
Sometimes you may spot the signs of a pest infestation but can’t actually see any insects or animals. Local pest control companies will be familiar with any recent outbreaks as well as the types of pests which are most commonly found in the area. This is knowledge that a company called in from afar is unlikely to have.
If you would like to find out more about pest control services in your area, please feel free to contact Prokill online or alternatively, give us a call on 0800 328 9354 and one of your local experts will be more than happy to help.
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