Is DIY Pest Control Worth It?

DIY projects are fashionable right now. Learning a new skill is satisfying, and people love showing off what they can do or create. Plenty of projects can be completed successfully with the help of a YouTube video, but before you get too comfortable, there are just as many fail videos. However, even the EPA suggests hiring a professional regarding pest control.

One of the biggest draws of DIY projects is that they seem like they'll save you money, but it turns out that the opposite is true. When it comes to pest control, countless products on the market encourage home and business owners that they don't need professional help and can handle things on their own. It's important to remember that companies making those products are looking for a profit. People often invest in expensive over-the-counter pest control products, only to find them ineffective and a waste of money. Although those products may work to stop a few critters, they often fail to eliminate the entire problem. The delay in proper treatment can allow an infestation to spread throughout your home.

For example, bug bombs and foggers seem like a great idea. However, they fail to penetrate deep into the places bugs like roaches, bed bugs, and fleas hide while covering all it touches with a toxic residue. Exposure to this can cause nausea, cramping, and difficulty breathing. In the end, they barely address the issues that allowed the infestation in the first place.

One of the greatest benefits of having a pest control professional take care of your home or business is that they do more than just lay down traps and apply treatments. Experts thoroughly inspect your property, looking for signs of infestation, entry points, and damage. It isn't enough to wipe out the pest; you have to find out how they got inside the property and what drew them in so that those entry points can be sealed to ensure they don't return. It takes an expert's eye to spot these holes and cracks since some are almost unnoticeable. Mice, for instance, can squeeze through a hole the size of a pencil.  Roaches can make their way through a crack the width of two pennies stacked on each other.

Once those holes are sealed up, a pest control professional can work on remediation. Pests track in dirt and germs and leave behind waste containing disease-spreading bacteria. It doesn't even take direct exposure to spread infection; merely getting near their feces, urine, or other bodily fluids is dangerous. Many pests, like cockroaches and bed bugs, leave behind shed skins that are major irritants and allergens, even for otherwise healthy people.

DIY pest control exposes you to another risk as well: harsh chemicals. Professionals are well-versed in what treatments to use and where to ensure no harmful exposure to you or your family, customers, or in the case of apartments, your neighbors. It also protects you from the government, which has strict regulations for many chemicals meant to help keep insects or animals at bay but can be harmful if they get into the water system. Pest control professionals use various methods to eliminate the problem, including commercial treatments, natural remedies, traps, and exclusion, and they use the proper personal protection equipment to avoid exposure.

Another thing the average home or business owner isn't prepared for is evaluating the damage. An expert thoroughly inspects the property, looking for where the pest may have harmed it. Ants can burrow into door frames and wood beams. Gophers dig into the ground, building tunnels that destroy gardens and can even put the structural integrity of your home at risk. Rodents have incisors that never stop growing and are harder than iron, so the creatures gnaw on anything they can find to keep their teeth filed down. As a result, they chew up furniture, siding, concrete, and even wires, which can lead buildings to catch fire.

You shouldn't handle that; get an expert to help you. Although it's recommended you contract with a licensed professional, it's also important to understand that not all pest control companies are alike, and some businesses stand out above the rest. 101 Gopher & Pest Control is one of those companies. At our locally owned and operated enterprise, we've spent over 20 years earning our customers' trust through our hard work and outstanding service. We understand how unsettling an infestation can be and work to remove it quickly and efficiently. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an estimate.