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July 29, 2022Pests, Wildlife

Pest Treatment vs. Pest Prevention

You may wonder if pest treatment and prevention are one and the same. Short answer: nope! A lot of confusion occurs because these terms are frequently–and incorrectly–used interchangeably. Even in the pest management industry, many people muddle the important differences between treatment and prevention.

Pest prevention and pest treatment are two separate aspects of pest management. In the realm of pest management, the key difference between treatment and prevention lies in their timing around an infestation. Ultimately, conflating these two distinct components of a comprehensive pest program can lessen its effectiveness against unwanted bugs and wildlife in your home.

Reactive Pest Treatment

Pest treatment is also referred to as pest control. It’s a reactive mitigator of an existing infestation. For example, if you notice ants in your home, you would call the experts at Bug House to perform reactive pest control services. Your Bug House technician would treat the infestation by applying pesticides to control or eliminate the infestation in and around your home. Pest treatment is a tactical-level approach to an immediate pest issue.

Proactive Pest Prevention

Conversely, pest prevention is defined by what you–the homeowner–do to avoid infestations before they happen. We’ve already discussed how DIY pest control can be a bad idea. On the prevention side, however, you are your home’s first line of defense against future infestations. Implementing pest prevention methods in your home can look like:

• Frequently and regularly cleaning your home
• Sealing all food sources 
• Eliminating sources of water
• Repairing points of entry
• Keeping up with tick and flea treatments for pets
• Encapsulating your crawl space

Pest prevention requires a greater investment from your household on the front end, but these habits greatly reduce your chances of infestation and costly treatment. Even if acute infestations occur, they are more manageable with preventive measures in place.

A Successful Dual Approach

Your approach to pest control should have both preventive and reactive components to keep your home pest-free. A good pest control program may start with a reactive treatment after discovering bugs in your home. However, It’s typically more difficult to eliminate an infestation after it has already taken hold rather than preventing it on the front end. Reacting to the situation is insufficient; it’s critical to continue preventive measures to avoid new infestations.

Call on the Experts

If you’re searching for a pest management partner to protect your home, give Bug House a call! Our experts are always ready to get to the bottom of your pest problems and help you kickstart an effective, long-term solution for your home. Plus, our free home inspections include helpful insight and prevention tips from the Bug House pros!