If ants, cockroaches, or some other form of creepy crawly have made their way into your home, you may consider calling a pest control company.
But do you need to?
Here’s how you know when to do it on your own – and when it’s time to call in the experts.
Signs You Need Pest Control
1)
What Type of Pest
Some pests have low levels of difficulty to get rid of like meal bugs, fruit flies, and some types of ant. Oftentimes, removing their food source is enough to keep them out of your home, in which case a professional isn’t needed. However, pests with high levels of difficulty, like bed bugs or cockroaches, are extremely difficult to remove without professional know-how and specialized equipment.
Understanding how difficult a pest is to remove is extremely helpful in knowing whether to hire an expert or not.
2)
Large Infestations
When the number of a pests goes up, so does the difficulty in removing them. Keep in mind, some pests (like cockroaches or bed bugs) are excellent at hiding, meaning seeing just one could mean many more out of sight. If large numbers of a pest have made their way into your home, a pest control company may be the best solution.
3)
Recurring Pests
If a pest continues to return no matter what you do, it may be time to call pest control.
Oftentimes, this has nothing to do with something you’re doing ‘wrong’ – there are some insects that are more resilient, adapt quickly, or reproduce rapidly, making them extremely difficult to eradicate completely once they’ve moved in. Some examples of these are bed bugs, cockroaches, and some types of ant.
3)
Dangerous Pests
Some types of pests like wasps, fire ants, or termites, to name a few, are best left to hired professionals.
Also take into account health and safety – for example, cockroaches can carry extremely harmful bacteria or make asthma symptoms worse. Ticks can carry life-threatening diseases. Bed bugs often cause phsycohological symptoms over time. For harmful pests like these, hiring a professional is often the best course of action.
What does a pest control company do?
What pest control companies offer is a bit like going to the doctor – expertise. Yes you can spend months studying medical journals on how to treat a broken arm but…do you want to?
Same with pests. Oftentimes, it takes an incredibly in-depth knowledge on how to treat pests in a certain situation that – true – anyone can learn… but you need to be able to put in the time and effort.
Pest control companies also have access to tools and some stronger chemicals than you can get on your own, making them extremely helpful in any of the above situations. As an added note, anytime harsh chemicals are used (especially around children or pets), proper application is vital, preferably by someone with training.
Final Thoughts
These are just some guidelines to help you know when to call in a pest control professional. As with anything, it’s up to you to find the right fit for your home and your family. If you’d like guidance on how to find a quality pest control company, check out our post here.
