When DIY Pest Control Turns Out To Be More Expensive
The idea of doing DIY pest control seems so smart! You see a few ants or a cockroach, and you think, “I can do this.” So you go to the hardware store or grocery store, buy a case of spray, and you’re done, right?
Not Exactly!
Actually, most when DIY pest control projects don’t go as planned and you will spend more in the long run than if you hired the professionals. There are multiple reasons for this – the bottom line is hiring the professionals just makes sense!
The Hidden Cost of Trial and Error
It’s always fun to try a DIY project, you feel empowered and feel like you are doing something good and saving money. But pest control for DIY isn’t like painting a room or replacing a kitchen faucet.
To begin with, pests are inconsistent. You spray today, and they are gone. But in 2 weeks? They are back or they are worse!
Most of the products you buy were made for the DIY enthusiast. They only treat the visible pests, and rarely the source (the nest, colony, and eggs).
So, what needs to be done from you? Simply “keep buying”. When you add up a case or trap here or there, it’s easy to realize the hole you have created financially.
Health and Safety Approaches
There are also health risks involved when DIY pest control. A lot of pesticides are still typically toxic, even though they say they are “safe for home use”. If you don’t know what you are doing, you could either:
- Use the wrong amount of product
- Apply in the wrong spots
- Mix chemicals that should not be mixed
All of these mistakes can create safety and health issues for you and your family, and pets. In more serious situations, people have ended up in the hospital and significant medical expenses later due to their DIY pest control attempts.
That’s a price that no one wants to pay physically or financially.
Pests Develop Resistance
Have you ever paid attention and noticed how over time it can seem as if the pests are somehow learning? In a way, they are.
If you use the same product(s) over and over again, they will become resistant to that product. This can happen especially fast in insects like cockroaches and bed bugs. Then, when they build their resistance to the products you are using, you will pay more money to try to fix the problem, while the results you want to see are less and less.
Structural Damage Adds Up
Some pests are not annoying. They destroy.
Consider termites. Termites can chew on your structures, beams, floors, or walls for years quietly, and when you realize it is too late — you may need thousands of dollars of repairs.
DIY termite treatments usually only deal with the visible colonies in the accessible areas, but they do not eliminate termites that are deep in any of your home’s structures. Professional pest control companies use specialized equipment and tools to identify and eliminate entire infestations.
It’s Not Just One Pest
So you’ve addressed your pest problem; that’s great! But pests don’t come alone. Where you find one, you will most likely find others hiding around the corner. For instance, the moisture that attracts ants also attracts cockroaches. If there is a little hole big enough for mice to squeeze through, spiders will be able to fit through too.
When you hire pest control companies, they do not just treat the one issue you make them aware of. They inspect the whole property for other problems you didn’t know you had. That way your property gets preventative treatment that reduces the chances of future pest infestations and will save money later on.
The Time Factor
While we have been talking about costs, we have not mentioned your time. Doing pest control yourself takes time. First, you must research your pest issue. Then you must go shopping for your pest control product. Next, you must apply the treatment, and if it doesn’t work, you will need to keep re-applying it for weeks.
Your time has value. If you spend weeks or months trying to battle pest issues on your own, you will have wasted valuable time that you could have spent on something actually worth doing.
Peace of Mind Matters
One huge, and often overlooked, reward to hiring pest control professionals is peace of mind. You can rest assured an expert has completely dealt with your pest issue. You no longer have to wake up at 3 a.m. wondering if all those pests have crawled back into your walls. You no longer have to worry if a trap or spray will actually work.
In and of itself, that peace is worth the cost.
The Bottom Line
Professional pest control is about more than just killing bugs. It is about getting the right solutions the first time, the complete solution.
The next time you find a pest, before reaching for that can of spray, you should ask yourself if it is worth the risk, or if it is better to call the pest control professionals right away|Maximum Pest Control Services (905) 582-5502. Your wallet and sanity will likely both thank you.
