Pests are generally a bigger issue as the fall turns into winter. This is because it tends to be cold and wet outside, they need someone warm to stay and your business can offer warmth, water, and food. Best of all, in many cases there is no none in the business at night, allowing the pests to roam free.
The most common, pests you’ll find are likely to be cockroaches and rodents. Of course, rodents can carry an array of diseases which makes them particularly concerning. They are also capable of gnawing through almost anything. That means they can damage the structure of your building or the electrics, potentially causing a fire.
Reputational Damage
If you suspect you have a pest problem then call the local pest expert. It’s not just the damage they can do to your property and your stock. If the public knows you have a pest problem your reputation will take a dive. That’s not good for business and could place you under a huge amount of stress.
The best approach is to protect your business from problematic pests and avoid the issue altogether.
Regular Pest Inspections
You shouldn’t wait until you have a pest problem to call the pest professionals. By the time you see the rodents and realize there is an issue, it’s probably a lot bigger than you think. A regular pest inspection, ideally at least once a year, allows the experts to check for any signs of pests.
If detected they can act quickly and eliminate the pests before it becomes a major problem. They will also help you detect how the pests are getting into your building. This is generally through cracks and gaps in the walls. But, there are other ways, the pest control professionals can identify these entry points and help you block them up. This should effectively keep the pests out. But, they will need to be checked regularly and you’ll want to make sure no new entry points appear.
Although an annual inspection is often considered enough, you may find that your business benefits from more than one inspection per year. This is especially true if you have had issues with pests before. More frequent inspections ensure issues are dealt with before they become a problem.
That can save you a lot of hassle and money.
Clean Often
Pests are attracted to food, warmth, and water. You can’t change the warmth as you need this to work effectively. But, you can eliminate the sources of food.
This means checking that no food is left out. The obvious place to look is the kitchen but, staff will only keep treats at their desks. Anything that is left out will attract pests. It’s therefore essential that you tell all staff to store food in plastic containers in their desk drawers.
This will nullify the smell of the food and make it difficult for any pest to get to it. Make sure staff appreciate why this is necessary and you’ll find they are more likely to adhere to it.
Of course, you also need to make sure there is no food left on the sides in the communal kitchen. In addition, the countertops should be wiped down with a disinfectant spray and all floors should be vacuumed.
A vacuum will pick up all the crumbs in kitchen areas and across the building. It’s important to clean everywhere as people will often eat on the move, leaving a trail of crumbs. They may not be visible but they are there and will appeal to pests.
Check For Standing Water
If staff aren’t aware of the risks they are likely to leave bottles of water open, a glass on their desk, and even water around plants. All of these create sources of water for pests and they need it to survive.
Make sure all staff are aware of how standing water can attract pests and that they don’t leave any standing around. There are many ways in which water can be left to sit. You need to get your staff thinking about these to ensure they look everywhere, not just at the most obvious places to leave water.
Make Sure There Are No Leaks
Water being left by staff is not the only one-way pests can find water in your business. Take a water meter reading and ask everyone to stop using the water for an hour or two. You may prefer to do this after the working day has finished.
Take a second water meter reading after two hours. If it’s changed you have a water leak.
Of course, you’ll now have to find it, which can be difficult. It means inspecting pipes and looking for any signs of water damage, such as watermarks on the ceiling, walls, or floors. Once find the leaks will need to be stopped and any damp in the property needs to be properly dried out.
This will help to make the property less appealing to pests and help your business to stay free of problematic pests.
Check The Outside
The pest control expert is likely to have taken you around the business looking for signs of entry points and closing them up.
You also need to go outside and do the same. As well as cracks and gaps in the wall that need to be filled, you should look at the ground surrounding your building. If your business is surrounded by soil then it is much easier for pests to enter as they can come through the soil and into the foundations of your home.
If this seems to be happening, you’ll want to remove the soil and replace it with concrete or asphalt. It’s much more difficult for pests to get through these substances and into your home.
The bottom line is simple, if you have a business and haven’t had it inspected recently for pests, then you should call your local experts today and get the process started.