In an attempt to save money, many homeowners prefer to use their skills to take care of regular home maintenance tasks on their own. It’s great to be self-reliant for things like cleaning, lawn maintenance, and basic house repairs. However, one maintenance task you shouldn’t attempt on your own is pest control.
Even though the DIY home pest control market claims their off-the-shelf products are of professional quality, there’s more to getting rid of pests than spreading ant killers or leaving out bug traps.
Wondering whether it’s time to give up the DIY approach and look for a “bug exterminator near me”? Here are five of the most compelling benefits of hiring a professional exterminator.
1. Spend Your Time on Other Things
One of the biggest downsides of DIY pest control is how time-consuming it is. Not only do you have to spend time researching and experimenting with different methods through trial and error, but you may also have to keep treating the problem for weeks or months before it subsides. If you fail to find the hidden source of the infestation, it will return despite all your efforts and start the cycle over again.
Calling a professional bug exterminator is a much faster option. They’re trained to pinpoint the source of your pest problem and can often eliminate it in a single appointment. When comparing exterminator fees with the time and money you’ve wasted on ineffective methods and repairs, you may even find that an exterminator is a less expensive option.
2. Save Your Belongings From Damage
Everyone is familiar with stories of termites chewing through walls, but did you know that they aren’t the only pest that causes home damage?
Carpenter ants, moths, silverfish, bees, and wasps can all do a serious number on your belongings. Ants, bees, and wasps can take up residence in your walls, doing as much structural damage as termites. Moths and silverfish love to feed on paper and textiles, leaving your stored clothes, books, carpeting, and upholstered furniture at risk.
Calling an exterminator at the first sign of an infestation can help you avoid extensive hidden damage from bugs. It’s far better to take care of the problem early on than to be faced with ruined belongings and massive repair fees.
3. Lower Your Risk of Disease
As if one kind of pest wasn’t enough, many common types of bugs bring microscopic hitchhikers along with them in the form of pathogens. These bacteria, viruses, and parasites hitch a ride on their feet and can spread to you when the bugs land on food and surfaces. They may also infect you through their bites.
Household pests that are known to spread disease include:
- ticks
- cockroaches
- house flies
- fruit flies
- mosquitos
- fleas
These bugs spread illnesses like dysentery, Lyme disease, malaria, Zika virus, and Salmonellosis. Along with infectious diseases, some bugs can also worsen respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies. This is especially true of cockroaches and bedbugs that leave irritating droppings and shed skins behind.
Calling a bug exterminator helps protect you and your household from disease, both while getting rid of the bugs and living with them in your home. They’re trained to avoid infections and can help you identify potential disease hazards.
4. Avoid Dangerous Bites and Stings
One of the more immediate risks associated with DIY pest control is the high chance of getting bitten or stung. Wasps, hornets, bees, and spiders may attack you when provoked, and nothing is more provoking than coming at them with a can of pesticide spray.
In Oregon and the surrounding states, one of the more feared household pests in this regard is the hobo spider. While only about half of people experience a reaction to hobo spider bites, their venom can be dangerous. Seek medical attention right away if you believe you’ve been bitten by a hobo spider.
Pest control technicians have the protective equipment needed to keep them safe from bites and stings while they work. They’ll be able to get right up to the source of the infestation without fear, letting them exterminate the bugs more effectively.
5. Enjoy Your Home and Yard Without Fear
The best home pest control option is one that’s effective the first time. It not only ends the current infestation, but it eliminates the problem at the source to keep it from recurring.
DIY options are unlikely to fit that bill. As such, perhaps the biggest benefit of calling a bug exterminator is the peace of mind they offer. Based on their years of experience and good reviews, you’ll know you can trust them to make your home and yard safe to enjoy once again.
Along with killing the pests, exterminators can also help you with prevention. They’ll examine your home exterior and interior for cracks and holes, insect breeding grounds, and other risk factors. They can also help you seal off potential entry points to keep bugs from getting inside again.
I Need to Find a Bug Exterminator Near Me
DIY pest control can leave you vulnerable to home damage, disease, injuries, and repeat infestations. If you’ve realized by now that trying to take control of a pest problem on your own isn’t the best idea, it’s time to find out more about your options for exterminators. You could head to Google and search for “bug exterminator near me”, but if you live near Ontario, Oregon, it’s time to give Altus Pest Control a call. Whether you’re dealing with rodents, fleas, roaches, or spiders, we can help—our experienced technicians can handle all types of pest problems. Contact us online or reach us at (541) 709-5033 to set up your appointment today.