What to Expect During a General Pest Service
A General Pest Service is designed to manage common household and commercial pests that may be active in and around the property. Surekill's General Pest Service includes treatment for webbing spiders, cockroaches, silverfish and carpet beetles.
The treatment is tailored to the property and may include internal and external areas, roof spaces, subfloors and other accessible areas where pest activity or harbourage may occur. The products and treatment methods used will depend on the areas being treated and the pest activity identified during the service.
Before treatment begins, your Surekill technician will discuss any pest activity you have noticed and assess the property so the treatment can be directed to the areas where it is required.
01
Booking Information
Treatment Time and Arrival Window
A General Pest Service usually takes approximately 1–2 hours, depending on the size of the property, access and the areas requiring treatment.
When you book, you will be given an arrival window for your Surekill technician. For example, if your arrival window is between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon, the technician may arrive at any time during that period. If the technician arrives at 12:00 noon, the treatment time begins from 12:00 noon.
Licensed and Insured Technicians
Surekill Pest Control is fully insured, and our pest management technicians are appropriately licensed and follow relevant EPA requirements and Australian Standards when carrying out pest management work.
Trainees undertake industry training through Rapid Training and supervised on-the-job training as they develop their pest management skills.
Weather Conditions
General Pest Services include external treatment and may need to be rescheduled when rain or unsuitable weather conditions could affect the treatment.
If weather conditions are unsuitable, Surekill will contact you to discuss rescheduling the service.
Three-Month Free Service Period
Your General Pest Service includes a three-month Free Service Period for the pests covered by the service — cockroaches, webbing spiders, carpet beetles and silverfish.
If you experience ongoing problems with these pests during the three-month period, contact Surekill so we can discuss the activity and arrange a return visit where required.
Payment Options
Payment can be made by EFT/bank transfer, cash, EFTPOS or credit card. Payment is required before treatment commences.
02
Preparing for Your General Pest Service
Minimise Clutter
Inside the property: Remove excess clutter from floors, cupboards, wardrobes and storage areas. Where practical, clear items away from skirting boards and corners so the technician can access areas that may require inspection or treatment.
Outside the property: Clear excess clutter and stored items from around the exterior of the building, fences, patios and sheds. Remove leaf litter, stacked timber and other debris where practical to provide safe access around treatment areas.
Store Items in Plastic Containers
Where possible, store books, papers, clothing and other stored goods in sealed plastic containers rather than cardboard boxes. Cardboard and undisturbed stored materials can provide harbourage for pests such as cockroaches, silverfish and carpet beetles.
Vacuum Thoroughly
Vacuum carpets, rugs, wardrobes, skirting board edges and underneath accessible furniture before treatment.
Pay particular attention to carpet edges and areas where lint, hair and other debris accumulate. Dispose of the vacuum contents in a sealed bag after cleaning. This preparation is particularly useful for silverfish and carpet beetle management.
Kitchen Preparation
There is no need to empty your kitchen cupboards unless your technician specifically advises you to do so.
Before the service:
Wipe down benches and remove exposed food.
Make sure there is clear access beneath sinks and around kickboards.
Leave cupboards and other potential cockroach harbourage areas otherwise undisturbed so the technician can assess and treat them appropriately.
Move Furniture Where Practical
Where practical, move light furniture slightly away from walls to provide access to skirting boards, carpet edges and other treatment areas.
Heavy furniture can remain in place unless Surekill advises otherwise.
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Before Treatment
Air Conditioning
Turn off air-conditioning systems before treatment begins and leave them off while the treatment is being carried out.
Pets, Fish and Birds
Remove pets from the areas being treated and remove their food and water bowls.
Cover fish tanks and ponds where treatment is being carried out nearby. Fish tank air pumps should be turned off during treatment to prevent airborne treatment products from being drawn into the water.
Cover bird cages and keep birds away from treatment areas.
Clotheslines
Remove clothes, towels, bedding and other items from clotheslines before the service where the clothesline or surrounding area will be treated.
Roof and Subfloor Access
Make sure there is safe and clear access to the roof-space manhole and subfloor entry where these areas are to be treated.
Water Tanks
Tell your technician the location of any water tanks before treatment begins so appropriate precautions can be taken around tank openings, collection areas and associated plumbing.
Areas Where Pest Activity Has Been Seen
If you have noticed silverfish, carpet beetles or cockroaches in particular cupboards, storage areas, beneath furniture or among stored items, leave these areas accessible for your technician to inspect.
Chemical Sensitivities
Please tell Surekill before treatment if anyone at the property has a known chemical sensitivity.
People with chemical sensitivities should remain away from treated areas for 24 hours, or until the treatment has completely dried and the area has been adequately ventilated, whichever is longer.
04
General Pest Treatment Process
Discussing Pest Activity
Before treatment begins, your Surekill technician will discuss the pest activity you have noticed, including where and when you have been seeing cockroaches, webbing spiders, carpet beetles or silverfish.
This information helps the technician identify areas that may require closer inspection or targeted treatment.
Property and Environmental Inspection
Your technician will inspect the property and assess areas where pests may be active, harbouring or entering the building.
An Environmental Inspection Report will also be completed before treatment to identify environmental factors and any precautions that need to be considered when carrying out the service.
Internal Treatment
Where required, targeted treatments will be applied to appropriate internal areas. These may include skirting boards, carpet edges, cracks and crevices, cupboards, wardrobes, kitchens, bathrooms, storage areas and other locations where pest activity or harbourage is identified.
For carpet beetles and silverfish, particular attention may be given to undisturbed areas and other locations where activity may be concealed.
External Treatment
External areas will be treated where appropriate, including accessible areas around the building perimeter, patios, verandas, decks, sheds, fences and other areas where pest activity may occur.
Webbing spider activity around the exterior of the property will also be treated where accessible and appropriate.
Roof Space and Subfloor Treatment
Where accessible and appropriate, roof spaces and subfloors may also be treated. These areas can provide harbourage for pests such as silverfish, carpet beetles and larger cockroach species.
Dusts or other suitable treatment methods may be used depending on the pest activity and the area being treated.
Treatment Tailored to the Property
Not every property requires exactly the same treatment. Your technician will select the treatment methods appropriate to the pests identified, their harbourage areas, the construction of the property and the areas requiring treatment.
Depending on the pest activity and areas identified during the inspection, treatment may involve a combination of targeted sprays, dusts, baits or other appropriate pest management methods.
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After the General Pest Treatment
Re-Entering Treated Areas
Avoid contact with treated surfaces until they are completely dry. Keep children and pets away from treated areas until the treatment has dried.
If any additional precautions or re-entry instructions apply to the products or treatment methods used at your property, your Surekill technician will advise you of these requirements.
Cleaning After Treatment
Avoid washing, scrubbing or wiping treated surfaces immediately after treatment, as this may reduce the effectiveness of residual treatments.
Normal cleaning can continue in areas that have not been treated. If you are unsure whether an area can be cleaned, contact Surekill before cleaning the treated surface.
Pest Activity After Treatment
Following treatment, you may notice dead pests or pests moving more slowly than usual. You may also continue to see some pest activity while the treatment takes effect.
The amount of activity and the time required for it to reduce can vary depending on the pest, the level of infestation and the areas where pests have been harbouring.
Webbing and Dead Pests
Dead cockroaches and other pests can be vacuumed or removed as they appear.
For webbing spiders, leave treated webs in place initially so the treatment has time to work. The webs can then be brushed down or vacuumed once sufficient time has passed after treatment.
Ongoing or Returning Pest Activity
Some pests may be concealed in wall voids, roof spaces, subfloors, cracks, crevices or other harbourage areas. Cockroach egg cases and less obvious carpet beetle or silverfish activity can also contribute to pest activity being noticed after the initial treatment.
If you are concerned about ongoing pest activity after your service, contact Surekill on (02) 4341 5585 so we can discuss what you are seeing and advise you on the next step.
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Ongoing Pest Prevention and Management
Keep Food and Kitchens Clean
Clean up food spills and crumbs promptly and avoid leaving dirty dishes or food residues overnight. Store food in sealed containers and keep pet food securely stored when it is not being used.
Regularly clean beneath and behind appliances and other areas where food debris and grease can accumulate.
Reduce Water and Moisture
Repair leaking taps, pipes and other sources of excess moisture. Avoid allowing water to accumulate around kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, subfloors and external areas.
Reducing available moisture can make the property less favourable for pests such as cockroaches and silverfish.
Reduce Pest Harbourage
Keep storage areas organised and reduce unnecessary accumulations of cardboard boxes, paper and other materials that can provide undisturbed harbourage for pests.
Where practical, store books, papers, clothing and other long-term stored items in sealed plastic containers. Periodically check stored belongings for signs of pest activity.
Vacuum and Clean Regularly
Regularly vacuum carpets, rugs, skirting board edges, wardrobes, upholstered furniture and beneath accessible furniture.
Pay particular attention to carpet edges and areas where hair, lint, dust and pet fur accumulate, as these materials can provide food for carpet beetle larvae.
Check cut flowers before bringing them indoors, as adult carpet beetles can sometimes be carried into the home on flowers.
Reduce Pest Entry and Outdoor Harbourage
Where practical, seal cracks, gaps and openings around doors, windows, pipes and other potential pest entry points.
Keep leaf litter, stacked timber, rubbish and unnecessary stored materials away from the building. Maintain outdoor areas and reduce conditions around the property that can provide food, moisture or shelter for pests.
Ongoing Pest Risk Management
Pest activity can change throughout the year due to seasonal conditions, changes around the property and the surrounding environment. Regularly checking the property and addressing conditions that may encourage pest activity can help reduce the risk of future pest problems.
Your Surekill technician may identify pest risks or conditions around the property and recommend practical measures, monitoring, inspections or future treatments where appropriate.
For homeowners wanting a more planned approach to protecting their property, Surekill can develop a tailored Risk Management Program based on the property's individual pest and termite risks, existing termite management systems and ongoing management requirements.
