One-time or recurring pest control

When one visit may be enough

• A single wasp or hornet nest.
• A few rodents, once the way in has been sealed.
• An occasional invader such as earwigs, centipedes or silverfish, after moisture and gaps are dealt with.

When to expect more than one

Bed bugs are the clear case: EPA says very few infestations are controlled with one treatment. German roaches and brown recluse spiders also tend to need follow-up. Mosquito service is usually repeated through the warm months.

What a recurring plan should include

UT Extension encourages regular inspections (monthly, quarterly and so on) in place of regularly scheduled pesticide applications, and notes that if no pests are present, an application may not be needed. It's fair to ask a company how that fits with its plan. Does each visit include an inspection? Is treatment done only where it's needed?

Ask too how you cancel, whether there's a minimum term, and whether call-backs between visits are included.

Termites are different

Termite work in Tennessee runs on a contract with an annual inspection and a one-year retreatment warranty, usually renewable. See reading a Tennessee termite contract.