Finding an infestation in your home is not only daunting but it can be such an inconvenience as well. However, hiring professional pest control in Lodi CA not only provides relief but can also lessen the disruption caused by pests through safe, efficient, and swift solutions.
Depending on the kind of pest invading your home, there are different methods of pest control you can use to address it. Some may need a little more time to air out than others, and many of them will need an after-service prep of your home before it’s fully livable again.
Below, we tackle common questions such as “How long should I stay out of my house after pest control?” and “Is it safe to be in a house after pest control?”. We also cover the best precautionary measures to take in prepping your home after service.
How Long After Pest Control Can I Go Inside?
Determining how long you need to wait before going back to your home post-treatment entirely depends on the kind of pest control service you acquired. On average, you will need to wait between 2 and 24 hours before the property is deemed 100% safe and livable again.
Below, we give a rough estimate of how long you need to wait per treatment. However, this is not a guarantee and you should ask your chosen pest control professional for their suggested holding time.
Fumigation
Fumigating a room will require the most wait time as the recommended duration is at least 24 hours.
Fogging
Fumigation utilizes highly toxic gas while fogging uses insecticide and is often water-based. If fogging has been applied to your property, wait for up to 4 hours before entering.
Pesticide Spray Outdoors
Waiting at least 3 hours before entering the area that exterminators sprayed outside is recommended to avoid the risk of exposure.
Pesticide Spray Indoors
Since there is less ventilation, it is recommended to wait at least 5 hours post-treatment before entering the room again.
Heat Treatment
Heat treatment does not usually contain toxins, but it can drastically change the temperature of the room. For the area to come down to a safe temperature, wait for up to 10 hours.
Is It The Same Duration for Babies and Children?
If the pest control method utilizes chemical products, pesticides, and other materials with traces of toxins, babies and children will need to be kept out of the house for at least 3 days and up to 7 days as their immune systems are not fully developed yet. Exposing them to these can pose a risk of developing asthma, cancer, or even learning disabilities.
Precautionary Measures When Entering Your Home Post-Treatment
It’s a wonderful feeling knowing you are coming home to a pest-free space. If your property is fresh from pest control, here are the top things to do upon entering your home:
- If you notice any food left out accidentally, throw it out as ingesting any products can be dangerous to your health.
- Pest control professionals should leave the space already clean. We advise you not to overclean just yet as this may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. You can wait an average of 1 week before performing a deep clean in the area.
- Now that your home is pest-free, let’s make it pest-proof. Check for any leaks, cracks, crevices, and other entry points that may invite future pests over. Fix them immediately.
- Do not panic if you see dead pests around more frequently in the first week as this is expected.
Conclusion
Pest control can be a very effective method to eradicate all kinds of infestations in your home. Many professional service providers have organic options to reduce the amount of toxins within your property. For safe and efficient pest control solutions, you can count on Peace of Mind Pest Control in Lodi, CA.
