If your apartment is infested with pests, you’ll need to fumigate the area. This can be done by a professional pest control company that does this work on a regular basis.
Under Local Law 55, landlords are required to provide their tenants with a pest-free home. They also have to respond to complaints from their tenants or the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).
1. Identify the Infestation
Apartments have a higher risk of pest infestation than single-family homes because of the close proximity of tenants and shared utilities. This makes it easier for a pest to infest a single unit and then spread to the other units in the building.
One of the best ways to avoid a pest infestation is to keep your apartment clean and sanitary. This includes sweeping the common areas, putting away food scraps and taking care of garbage properly.
Another important thing to do is make sure you have enough storage space for your things. Cluttered spaces provide hiding places for pests and can attract them to your apartment.
If you have a lot of clutter, it’s best to get rid of it all. This includes books, newspapers, cardboard boxes, and anything else that has been holding food. You may also want to get rid of old appliances that have been in the building for a long time, especially if they haven’t been used for some time.
You can also check the walls and ceilings of your apartment for any signs of pests. This will help you spot any infestations early and prevent them from escalating into larger problems later on.
Inspect all areas of your apartment for insects and rodents, including the bathrooms, kitchen, and living rooms. If you see any bugs, call the landlord immediately to find out what is causing them to infest your property.
The type of treatment that will be recommended depends on several factors, such as the size and frequency of bug activity. For example, a complex with dense multifamily living will likely need monthly treatments to keep the pests under control.
A smaller well-maintained complex might be able to get quarterly services. The need for pest treatments can vary based on the cleanliness of tenants and how active the pests are in your community.
Roaches are a pest that many people don’t think about in their apartments, but they can be a serious problem. A cockroach infestation should be addressed with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, which involves addressing the factors that are drawing a cockroach to your apartment. Keeping sanitation conditions good, promptly disposing of cardboard and other paper products, and plugging any holes in the wall can all help prevent a cockroach problem from escalating into a full-blown infestation.
2. Fumigate the Infested Areas
The close proximity of apartments means that residents share walls and common areas with each other, putting them at greater risk for pest infestations. In addition, apartment complexes often lack proper pest-proofing measures, like weather stripping and door sweeps, which creates easy access for cockroaches, ants, and other pests.
When an apartment has a pest problem, it’s important to treat all the affected areas of the property. This is especially true for pests like cockroaches, bed bugs, and termites.
Generally, the pest control company will start by inspecting each room in the apartment to make sure that it hasn’t been contaminated by an infestation. Then, they will spray to kill any pests that have been found. They may also use traps and bait to remove any that haven’t been spotted yet.
Once the pests have been treated, they will likely have to come back in a few weeks or months to check for any signs of re-infestation. They may also need to re-spray the infested areas as well.
For the most part, fumigate is a quick process and doesn’t take long at all. The technician will typically arrive within a few minutes, spray the apartment and then set up traps and bait to catch any remaining pests.
It’s a good idea to follow your pest control company’s instructions for cleaning and inspecting the area before they leave, to make sure that you don’t bring any bed bug remnants back into the bedroom. Clutter makes it difficult for maintenance crews to properly inspect all parts of the apartment and gives bed bugs more places to hide.
You should also pick up any clutter that may have been discarded in the infested area. This includes clothing and other loose items that were left in a closet or on the floor.
If you notice any unusual pest activity in the area, such as a large number of cockroaches or ants, you should call your local exterminator right away. Depending on the severity of the infestation, fumigation might be the best option for getting rid of your pest problems.
3. Cover the Infested Areas
Most pest control companies will be happy to tell you that fumigation is a necessary evil, but there are ways to make the experience less stressful for yourself and your tenants. Using the right kind of pesticide will help to ensure that your property is safe from unsightly insects for the long haul. The best way to do this is to call in the professionals if possible. This will give you a better chance of success, and also save you the trouble of dealing with a haphazardly applied product. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the budget to ensure that you don’t overspend. The most important consideration is to be sure that the company you call is trustworthy and up for the task.
4. Tell Your Neighbors
Once you’ve determined that your apartment is infested, you will need to contact your neighbors and tell them about the pest control you are going to perform. This will allow them to prepare their apartments and prevent any additional spread of the infestation.
If you live in an apartment complex, the building might be able to help with this. Often, they can set up an appointment with a professional pest exterminator to fumigate your apartment and the common areas in the building. They will also be able to let you know when they’re finished and how long the fumigation will take.
In most cases, the pest control company will be able to come out and spray your apartment for about 10 minutes. This will kill any bugs that are present and will prevent any future occurrences. If you have a cockroach infestation, they may be able to set up traps and baits as well.
Whether you’re dealing with bed bugs, roaches or other pests, you will need to fumigate all areas of your home that they are known to be present in. It’s important to do this before the pest control team arrives so that they can find and treat any existing infestations as quickly as possible.
When you do fumigate your apartment, make sure to cover any food, dishes or kitchen utensils that might be affected. This is especially important for people who are allergic to pesticides.
You will also want to make sure that all pet kennels and cages are covered as well. This will help keep your pet safe while the chemicals are being used in your apartment.
If you can, try to move infested items into another area of your home while the fumigation is taking place. Leaving these things unattended will only attract more pests.
It’s a good idea to check with your apartment complex for a list of pest companies in the area. This will allow you to choose the right company for your needs.
While the problem might seem difficult to handle, you will be surprised at how easy it can be to maintain an apartment that is free of pests. The key is to be proactive in your efforts and educate all residents and staff on how to avoid pests in the first place. This can help to keep your apartment free of pests for the longest time possible.