House & Home Pest Control Services in Dublin
We understand how distressing a pest infestation can be. That’s why we are committed to providing you with a reliable pest control service that eradicates the offending pests from your home or business, and helps prevent them returning in the future.
You can trust House & Home Pest Control not only for our extensive knowledge and experience in pest control solutions, but also for our quality commitment that guarantees we will do whatever it takes to solve your pest issue at the price we quoted.
We currently working through North Dublin, Malahide, Portmarnock, Swords, Donabate, Rush, Portrane
Find out more about our pest control solutions for:
• Homes
• Commercial and business premises
• Contract services
Rats
Rats are mainly active at night and in nine out of ten cases, they come into your home through your drains. They can also come through your neighbour’s attic, and through gaps and holes around pipes and cabling. Rats are very adaptable creatures and will adjust to a range of environments regardless of whether they are damp or dry. They are well known for their incessant gnawing and chewing, which is a natural behaviour driven by the continuous growth of their teeth throughout their lives.
If the mere thought of rats in your home is enough to make you squeamish, consider this: the average brown rat can jump more than 75cm in the air! Interestingly, rats are neophobic, which means they are afraid of anything new. That means it may take a day or two for a rat to approach a new bait box, as they are very suspicious and will approach anything new with great caution.
Whether we use bait or traps to eradicate rats in your home will depend on the circumstances of your infestation, such as how many rats there are, where they are coming from and their pattern of activity.
What to do before you call us
Suspect you may have rats in your home? Rat droppings are one sign that a rat is present; droppings are typically the size and colour of coffee grains, unlike mouse droppings which are smaller, like the size of sprinkles on an ice-cream. You may have also noticed a sponge, cable or piece of wood that has been gnawed or chewed, or a foul odour from a rat’s urine.
If you think you know where the rat might be coming into your home, try this simple trick: using a metal sieve, sprinkle white flour on the floor near the access point. The next morning, check for rat footprints or marks left by its tail swishing side to side. These signs provide a strong indication that you have a rat; call us straight away for help and to rid your home of rats as soon as possible!
Top tips for dealing with rats
While there isn’t a whole lot you can do to prevent rats in your home, it is good practice to seal up any points of entry that a rat could use to gain access. You should also make sure your bin areas are kept clean, tidy and free from foodstuffs and other waste that could attract rodents. You should also ensure that if you use a compost bin, that it is fitted with a secure lid to keep rats out.
Mice
Mice are extremely agile and can squeeze through a hole the size of a pen! That means a mouse can fit through any small holes or gaps where pipes and cables enter the home, under doorways and through cracks and vents. Mice seek warmth and shelter when the weather gets cooler, so it is common to notice mice more often in the winter months. Like rats, mice chew materials like wood and electrical cables. They are said to have exceptional hearing and are very good climbers, often accessing upper storeys and attics via tree trunks and branches. However, their eyesight is very poor and they struggle to see much in bright light.
Mice need to be dealt with swiftly and effectively to prevent damage to your home and the spread of disease. Not only will we offer a reliable solution for eradicating mice from your property, but we will also take the time to expertly proof your home and block access points to help prevent future infestations.
What to do before you call us
If you think you have mice in your home, check for droppings that are typically a pointy shape and the size of sprinkles on an ice-cream. You may have heard scratching noises at night when mice are active, or detected an ammonia-like odour that is a sign of mouse urine. You may even see a dead mouse, which is an indication of a heavy infestation.
Mice can have up to 16 young in up to eight litters each year, so if you suspect mice in your home, it is important to act quickly to prevent damage to your home and the potential for disease to spread.
Top tips for dealing with mice
Proofing is one of the most effective ways to prevent mice entering the home. We will go the extra mile to ensure gaps, cracks, holes and other entry points are sealed securely. It is also important to keep your home, garden and bin areas free from debris and food waste that could attract mice.
Wasps
Wasps tend to make their nests in a hole or cavity within a wall, in attics and within sheds. Their nests can vary in size, from as small as a golf ball to the size of a basketball. In some cases, as many as 10,000 wasps can inhabit a large nest, so it is important to stay well clear of a wasp nest if you see one.
A wasp sting can cause a severe allergic reaction in some people known as anaphylaxis, which causes the body to go into shock; immediate emergency care is needed for anaphylaxis to prevent serious illness and in rare cases, death. That’s why we advise our customers never to approach a wasp nest or attempt to remove or destroy one; wasp nest removal should only ever be carried out by a qualified professional with specialist equipment and protective clothing.
What to do before you call us
If you have identified a wasp nest in or near your home, call House & Home Pest Control straight away to arrange specialist removal of the nest. Ensure that any other people living in your home understand not to approach the nest or attempt to remove it to avoid wasp stings and the potential for anaphylaxis.
Top tips for dealing with wasps
It is impossible to predict where a wasp colony will choose to build their nest, so early identification of a new nest is key. If you notice a humming sound or a number of wasps in your garden or near your home, this could indicate a wasp nest nearby. You should never attempt to remove a wasp nest and certainly never set fire to a nest in an attempt to destroy it; there are many cases of homeowners who have tried this and unfortunately set fire to their home.
If you suspect a wasp nest near your home, call us today for advice and to make an appointment for an inspection. We will ensure the wasp nest is removed quickly to ensure the safety of your family and others living in your home.
Insects
Flea bites also create red marks on the skin which can be unbearably itchy. Children and babies tend to be even more sensitive to flea bites and are especially at risk if they play on the floor on carpet and rugs where fleas can hide. Fleas most commonly find their way into homes via your pets, which is why effective flea treatment for your pet is so important.
What to do before you call us
If you think the source of your itchy bites or rash could be bed bugs or fleas, take a few moments to check your home for evidence. Beg bugs commonly hide in the creases of your bed mattress, the latch near the headboard, at the edges of carpet and even in your bedside lockers. Fleas can be found in rugs and carpet, and commonly on your pet’s coat on their neck behind their ears.
Top tips for dealing with bed bugs and fleas
Beg bugs typically tun up in your home after you’ve been on a holiday, hitching a ride via your suitcase from your hotel room or bed. They can even jump from suitcase to suitcase on a carousel at the airport or in the luggage compartment of a bus, train or airplane. When you get home, never place your suitcase on your bed to unpack; instead, lay your suitcase on the bathroom floor to prevent bed bugs finding their way to your mattress.
The easiest way to help prevent fleas is to ensure your pets are treated for fleas with a flea collar or regular flea treatment which are available from your vet or local pet store.
“Can’t recommend James highly enough. Had several mice upstairs and down just before Christmas. Found his recommendations in EM and called. He came out the same day and set bait. activity increased and he came out again and set traps. two days later problem solved. he phoned over Christmas to see how we were getting on and paid two more visits to ensure problem resolved. He was reliable, effective and polite. Could not ask for more.”