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Frequently Asked Questions

General

Are you fully licensed and insured?

Richards Pest Control technicians are fully licenced with Queensland Health and QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction commission) and insured by Rapid Solutions. We will happily show these licenses and insurance policies on request. We also offer the skill and knowledge that comes with operating for 60+ years in the pest management industry.

Are the treatments safe for my family and pets?

All our pest control treatments are pet and children safe. We only use products with a great safety and environmental profile. Whilst you do not have to leave your house while the treatment takes place, it is important for children and pets to be kept out of the treatment areas during application. They can re-enter treated areas as soon as the treatment has dried. We ask that any pet food and water bowls are removed from the treatment area during application and any fish tanks or ponds are covered.

Termites

How do I know if I have a termite problem?

  • Seeing termites (“white ants”) in the house or garden
  • Noticing damaged timber
  • Termite mudding or shelter tubes that hide termite activity
  • Doors or windows that don’t shut properly or ‘spongy’ floors may indicate a termite problem
  • Spotting flying termites or termite wings on the ground means a large termite nest is nearby.

Termites

Mud Tubes

Flying Termites

I’ve found termites, what do I do?

Don’t touch and don’t spray!

As soon as you spot termites, give us a call immediately. If you disturb them, they may temporarily leave the area and / or move to a different (hidden part of the house). It’s important that we can easily see the activity to identify the species concerned and determine the size of the problem. The first stage of a termite treatment actually requires the termites to be actively foraging, to ensure there are plenty of termites present for the treatment to work.

Spraying the termites with a household aerosol, whilst tempting does little good. It will kill the termites that are sprayed, but there will be plenty of other hidden termites and they will just avoid the treated area to attack a different part of your house.

How often should I have termite inspections?

The Australian Standard (AS 3660) which specify how termite inspections and treatments should be carried out states that termite inspections should be carried out at an interval no greater than 12 months. Some higher risk properties may require inspections every 6 months, or even 3 months in extreme circumstances. Even if you have a property with a termite protection system or treatment, annual termite inspections are still required to maintain any warranty – check the integrity of the system and ensuring the termites haven’t found a way around the protection measures.

How long will a termite treatment last?

There are actually 2 types of termite treatments that provide long lasting protection for your home – termite baiting systems and termite soil treatments. Termite baiting systems require regular inspections (every 3 months) to ensure protection is maintained and soil treatments should last a minimum of 5 years (except in cases of flooding).

Does my house and contents insurance cover termite damage?

Standard house insurance will not cover termite damage. Annual termite inspections and the installation of a termite management system are the only way to protect your home. As we are fully insured, as long as we carry out annual termite inspections (and you carry out any building repair work we suggest helping prevent termite attack) the product manufacturers will cover any timber damage that should occur. Our professional liability insurance provides you with added confidence and protection.

Do Termites fly?

Yes. “Flying termites” are the new kings and queens released in large numbers from mature termite nests on warm humid nights. When they pair off, they drop to the ground and shed their wings before walking off to try and find a suitable place to start a new nest. If you spot flying termites around your home or wings on the ground in the morning, give Richards Pest Control a call immediately, as it means there is a large termite nearby, and you should have a termite inspection.

Pest Control

How do I prepare for a pest service?

It depends on the pest present and the type of service. We will let you know what’s required when booking the service. However, there are some general key actions:

  1. Make sure the treatment areas are clean and tidy
  2. Remove any children’s toys from the treatment areas
  3. Ensure any pets are off site or kept clear of the treatment areas during application and until the treatment is dry
  4. Cover any fish tanks or ponds to prevent any spray drifting onto the water
  5. Mop hard services prior to treatment as it allows the insecticide to bond more effectively with the surface
  6. For flea treatments, a thorough vacuum before our treatment will remove a lot of the fleas, eggs and pupae (placing waste immediately into a bag and sealed), making our treatment faster and more effective

Do I have to empty my cupboards?

You don’t need to empty your kitchen cupboards for a standard pest treatment, as we use gels baits rather than sprays in those areas. However, if you have a severe infestation, we may request you empty some or all of your cupboards.

In the case of clothes moth, silverfish, carpet beetle and pantry moth infestations, we will give you some specific instructions as we will need to treat inside infested cupboards and any infested clothes and food will need to be dealt with.

For comprehensive pest control with the latest technology call the experts at Richards Pest Control