What are the signs of a flea infestation? If you have a flea infestation it tends to be pretty obvious, as fleas are active during the day and there is a good chance you will see them. They are small dark brown flat bodied insects that crawl and jump. They will feed on humans as well as pets – usually cats and dogs – so you may start getting bitten by fleas. They leave small round red itchy bite marks. You and your pets may well be scratching and feeling itchy.
Can you get a flea infestation if you don’t have any pets? Fleas are able to go into a hibernation like state known as diapause, so it is possible to move into an empty property and find yourself with a flea infestation even though you may not have any pets. Very often in this scenario the previous occupier had pets which brought in a flea infestation. The fleas then went into diapause when the blood source (human and animal) moved out, and waiting until they felt signs of life again. Often the vibration of people walking is what brings the fleas out of diapause. Fleas are also associated with other mammals, such as rats, so they can be brought into your home from other sources.
How much does flea pest control cost? Flea pest control, or treatment as it’s often known, can vary in price between companies. Our advice is go with someone local, reputable with insurance, full qualifications and members of a pest control association (such as the NPTA, National Pest Technician’s Association). To give you an idea, we currently (at time of writing) charge £150 plus VAT for a three bedroom property, and the cost goes up or down slightly according to how many bedrooms in the property. We always treat the whole house; all floors and soft furnishings.
What is the flea pest control process? The key to getting rid of fleas effectively is breaking the flea life cycle. For this reason we use residual insecticide, which needs to remain for up to 21 days after the flea control process. Any flea eggs that hatch after the flea treatment date will come into contact with the flea insecticide and die off. Before the flea control treatment we will ask you to vacuum all areas, empty the vacuum bag, wash bedding at 60 degrees and make sure floors are clear of clutter. All pets need treating with a veterinary grade flea treatment, preferably at the vet surgery, for fleas. No one (or pets) can be in the property during the process or for six hours after, so the insecticide has time to dry. Then no vacuuming for 21 days after.
Is flea pest control guaranteed to work? Fleas are part of nature, so difficult to guarantee. Usually, our clients require only a single flea treatment. Sometimes another flea control treatment can be needed, which we offer at 50% of original cost. This way if you do only require one flea control treatment (and most people do) you only pay for what you need. Some companies work on a minimum two visit basis. Best to do your research and decide which option is best for you.
Can I get rid of fleas myself? Once a flea infestation is established, fleas can be difficult to exterminate yourself. Breaking the flea life cycle is the key, which home based flea control treatments may not do. Most of the enquiries we receive for flea pest control services are from people who have tried (and failed) to exterminate fleas themselves. Again, do your own research and decide which option is best for you. But our recommendation is to find a local, reputable pest control service with a flea extermination or flea pest control program.
