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There are a number of unwelcome visitors to the home, and pest control can be vitally important in the battle to keep them out. Whether you’re plagued by wasps, ants, rats or cockroaches, expert advice isn’t far away.

Pest control, whether in the home or on a business premises, is something we all have to encounter at some point. There are a number of unwanted visitors that need to be dealt with from time to time, from the irritating and annoying to the downright dangerous. Whichever creatures are causing you problems, the most sensible thing to do is to call in the experts.

Cockroaches are particularly unpleasant, and carry a number of dangerous diseases, including dysentery, salmonella and typhoid. To discourage their presence, you should avoid leaving food deposits in exposed areas, and that includes pet foods. Commercial sprays are available, but should be used with care as they are harmful to pets and children. Severe infestations should be dealt with by qualified professionals.

Ants are generally more of a problem in the garden, although once they come inside the house they’re often difficult to get rid of. Covering all food products and mopping up any spillages will help to keep their numbers down, and it’s advisable to make sure rubbish bins have secure lids at all times. Sprays and powders are usually effective, and are available from a number of outlets.

In the summer months, the presence of a wasp nest in or around the home can be extremely upsetting. A large wasp population can be dangerous, especially to young children, so make sure windows and doors are closed until the arrival of a pest control expert. Usually, one visit is all that’s required to destroy the nest and kill the wasps. In a single nest, there can be up to 6,000 of them at any one time.

For individual wasps and hornets, there are aerosol sprays which will eradicate them, but always take care when using them. A sting can be a painful experience, and anyone who is allergic to it will need immediate medical attention. Attempting to deal with a nest without expert help can be exceedingly dangerous, and should not be attempted if you’re at all unsure about what you’re doing.

Perhaps, the greatest threat to hygiene in the home is the rat. This rather unpleasant rodent carries a number of threats to human health, including Weil’s disease, E. coli and tuberculosis, and needs to be dealt with immediately. Sealing holes throughout the home is an important step in preventing their entry, but it’s worth bearing mind that gaps as small as 1 centimetre are enough for young rats to get through.

There are ultrasonic units available to buy that emit a noise which rats find unpleasant, although they are inaudible to the human ear. Traps will catch many of them, and poisons can be laid that will kill them. However, pest control experts should be called if you suspect their presence in any significant numbers.

Pest control experts are on hand to help you deal with all manner of unpleasant nuisances.