These days, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to attempt some DIY pest control. Various products are advertised as being easy and safe to use. You may even wonder why you would spend money on a pest control company (or exterminator in older terminology) to take care of a few ants in your kitchen if you can just do it yourself.
Whether you’ve attempted DIY pest control before or are considering it for the first time, you’re probably trying to understand what’s involved to get the best results.
Maybe you’ve even tried it before, but weren’t satisfied and thought you could get better results. It’s not just you. Lots of our pest control customers have told us they tried to take care of their problems themselves but were left feeling like they wasted time and money.
While you’re doing your research to figure out what you need, here is a look at the DIY pest control approach versus hiring a pest control company in Central and Southern Maryland to help you answer your questions.
What Does DIY Pest Control Entail?
You might be pondering why your home needs pest control in the first place. And the second you see ants on your kitchen counter, or, worse, a cockroach in the corner, you want it gone without hesitation.
You might think buying a can of pest spray from the local hardware store will swiftly take care of the problem.
However, DIY pest control can be quite complex. Let’s learn more.
DIY Pest Control: Understanding the Pests Involved
Let’s start by talking about the pests involved in DIY pest control.
Pests are sneaky. The couple pests you see inside your home may come and go in the same spot. And when you take care of them, you may think they are gone. But, most of the time, they are not. That one spot in which you see them may not be their actual place of residence.
Pests find their way through the smallest of spaces to get to a food source: your leftover minuscule crumbs and water. So you may just be seeing them on their way here or there. Knowing how these pests work is a big part of understanding how to control them.
DIY pest control requires a knowledge of all of the pests that can get into your Central and Southern Maryland home, as well as how they maneuver in your home, what their regular patterns and entryways are and the best ways to control them.
For example, a flying ant and a termite can look very similar, and each problem requires a different approach to control.
Experience also means knowing how to monitor for pests and take care of areas susceptible to repeat pest invasion. For instance, sealing small cracks and crevices in caulking around windows, siding or the home foundation that are up to ¾ inch in size can help keep pests out. This is in addition to quarterly barrier and foundation sprays designed to ensure pests stay away.
So taking care of one or two bees or ants is one thing, but taking care of a repeated ant problem or a hive of bees or other deeper pest issues takes a more thorough DIY pest control approach that requires more research, targeted products and time.
DIY Pest Control: Controlling Risks
Any product can carry a risk. Reading instructions and following label directions while you do DIY pest control is essential. More product or product applied in more areas is never the right solution to your pest problem.
Pest control companies remove any risks from your hands. They study safety best practices and have the experience necessary to target minimal product amounts in the specific areas that need it to control the pest.
You can manage the decision on who you choose by reading pest control company reviews. This ensures you hire a company that knows their stuff and makes you feel comfortable in their ability to remove pests from your home.
DIY Pest Control: Effectiveness
For smaller pest problems, store bought exterminating products can be effective. For bigger infestations, this strategy can be more difficult. As mentioned before, a bigger infestation may require more than just a quick product application. It may mean sealing cracks and crevices and making thorough inspections in common pest hideouts.
Pests are adaptable. A reliable pest control company will have the latest information on what products are the safest and most effective to treat your infestation and know all the tricks to finding, targeting and managing common Central and Southern Maryland pests. They also use application equipment that targets the smallest, most specific areas to limit the amount of product necessary for control. These specialized sprayers are typically not available to consumers.
DIY Pest Control: Costs
While DIY pest control can make you feel accomplished for learning a new skill and completing a big task in your home, people’s patience for pests is usually low. You don’t want to be stuck chasing pests around your home every few days if you haven’t fully managed them with your initial treatment.
This is where the costs of DIY pest control can start to add up. The initial purchase of products is usually low. But the repeated purchasing of more products or different products can add up if you haven’t identified the right pest or treated that specific pest effectively.
Then, think about what an hour of your time costs. This is often forgotten, but it’s an important factor in the total costs. Your valuable time doing DIY pest control could be spent on a hobby you enjoy or hanging out with your family and friends.
How a Pest Control Company Can Protect Your Home From the Creepy-Crawlies
Now that you understand the benefits of DIY pest control services compared to professional pest control services, you can make a confident choice that is best for you.
While you might see immediate results after one application, pest control products don’t have a long effectiveness window. Experienced eyes can eliminate pest infestations with four visits a year--and that comes with all the questions you need answered and expertise that goes with it.
Signing up for a quarterly pest control program means you’ve embraced a proactive approach to protecting your home. You want to stop a pest problem when it’s small and before it becomes something unbearable.
Natural Green wants to help you make the most informed and best decision for you. We are happy to take the time to assist you in comparing programs and prices so you know what a professional pest control program includes.
Noticing any pests in your home? Want to learn more about what professional quarterly pest control services in Central and Southern Maryland include? Get started today with a free quote. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice. Then you can just relax and enjoy your home.
