A good general insect treatment isn't one spray for everything. It's an inspection that identifies which insects are present, followed by the right method for each: gel bait for cockroaches, bait for ants, residual treatment for crawling insects in cracks and on perimeters, nest treatment for wasps. That's what we mean by insect control, and it's what most Centurion homeowners, body corporates and businesses are actually asking for when they call about "insects".
When a general treatment makes sense
Many people call us because they're seeing a mix of things and don't want to book five separate jobs. That's sensible. Common situations in Centurion include:
- Moving into a new house or townhouse and wanting it treated before unpacking
- A rental unit between tenants, or a property that's been standing empty
- An older home with cockroaches in the kitchen, fishmoths in cupboards and spiders in the garage
- An estate home on the edge of open veld getting ants, crickets, millipedes and scorpions every summer
- Schools, crèches, offices and restaurants that need regular, recorded pest control
What we actually do on the day
We walk through the inside and around the outside first. Indoors, we look in kitchens, bathrooms, cupboards, behind appliances, along skirting and in the roof if needed. Outside, we look at the perimeter, beds, paving, drains, outbuildings, bins and wood piles. We note what we find and where, and we'll tell you what we're treating and why.
Then each insect gets the method that suits it. Gel bait in cockroach harbourages; ant bait on trails; an odourless, non-staining residual treatment in cracks, voids and along the outside perimeter for crawling insects; targeted treatment of wasp nests. Treatments go where insects live and travel, not over beds, couches and open surfaces.
Why we don't just fog the house
A fog or room-wide spray looks thorough, but it settles on open surfaces where insects don't spend much time, misses the cracks they live in, and can scatter cockroaches and ants into new areas. It also contaminates bait. Targeted treatment uses less product and works better. If you'd like to know more about the gentler options, our article on eco-friendly pest control in Pretoria explains the thinking.
Insects by season in Centurion
Spring: ants indoors, flying termites after the first storm, new wasp nests. Summer: flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches at their busiest, millipedes, spiders and scorpions on warm nights. Autumn: crickets and centipedes coming in as the weather changes. Winter: quieter for insects, though German cockroaches in heated kitchens don't slow down at all.
That pattern is why many estates and businesses choose regular treatments rather than calling in a crisis. A visit before summer often prevents the worst of the season.
Homes, complexes and businesses
For a single house, a general treatment is usually a once-off visit, with a return visit if cockroaches or ants were heavily established. For complexes, we can treat individual units on request or work with the body corporate on the shared areas, refuse yards and perimeters, which stops units reinfesting each other. For offices, schools, restaurants and warehouses, scheduled monitoring contracts provide regular visits and service records.
The thing people get wrong
Booking a general treatment and then cleaning everything straight away afterwards. If we've placed gel bait in hinges and cracks, or residual treatment along the skirting, mopping and wiping those spots removes it. Follow the instructions we leave about what not to clean, and for how long.
A tip for Centurion homeowners
Most insect problems here start at the boundary between the house and the garden. Keep beds and mulch below the damp-proof course, cut back shrubs and creepers that touch the walls, fit seals under exterior and garage doors, and switch outdoor lights off when you're not using them. That band around the house is where we spend a lot of time during a treatment, and it's where your own changes count most.
What does it cost?
The cost of a general insect treatment is mainly about the size of the property, the number of insects involved, how established they are and whether follow-up visits are needed. A small flat with a few cockroaches costs far less than a large home with an outbuilding, a long garden perimeter and several problems at once. For businesses, the price depends on the site size and visit frequency. If you only have one minor issue, we'll suggest treating just that.
To understand the two big groups we treat, see crawling insects in Centurion and flying insect treatments in Centurion. For the city-wide service, see insect control in Pretoria or our Waterkloof insect service, and for rodents, termites and moles go to the Centurion pest control page.
We've been in pest control for 25 years and are SAPCA registered. Should treated insects return within three months, we'll come back to deal with them. Phone 012 012 5526, or WhatsApp us photos of what you're seeing so we can plan the visit properly.
Questions we get asked
Does a general insect treatment cover everything?
It covers the common crawling and flying insects we find during the inspection. Rodents, termites, moles and bed bugs need their own specific treatments.
Should I have a new home treated before moving in?
It's a good idea. Empty rooms and cupboards are easier to inspect and treat properly, and you start with a clean slate.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
No. When the treated surfaces are dry, children and pets can carry on as normal. Gas fumigation is the only treatment that needs an empty building, and homes seldom need it.
Will the treatment leave a smell or marks?
No. The products we use for general insect treatments are odourless and non-staining.
How often should a home be treated for insects?
Many homes only need treatment when there's a problem. Homes on the edge of open veld or with recurring issues often benefit from a visit before summer.
Can a body corporate book one treatment for the whole complex?
Yes. We can treat shared areas, refuse yards and perimeters, along with any units that need it, under one plan.