Insect and rodent issues can be incredibly frustrating and overwhelming. Most people are not expecting to deal with pest problems, so when they find discover an unexpected infestation, it can be hard to know where to start in the extermination process. Those who do have some standard pest control supplies at home will find themselves facing the same questions: How do I know if I should call an exterminator? Can I handle this on my own, or should I call in a professional?
Judging the size of your pest problem is the first step to solving it, so before you go any further ask yourself these two questions to figure out if the problem is too much for you to handle on your own:
1. What category of pest are you dealing with?
The best way to answer this question is by judging how common the pest that you’re dealing with. Ants and moths for example, are both insects that we come upon on a daily basis. There is a huge variety of at-home products that can be purchased to help you deal with them. Because of how common these bugs are, you’ll probably be able to handle getting rid of them without calling an exterminator.
On the other hand, spiders, roaches or rats are examples of pests that can be more dangerous to deal with. For these types of infestations, it’s best to call in a professional who knows exactly which tactic to take. For some examples, see our blog post on dangerous pests.
2. Is the problem requiring several treatments?
If you have tried to deal with the problem on your own, and the same pests continue to pop up a few weeks later, it might be because you haven’t reached the root of the issue. At this point, it’s probably best to call a pest control specialist who knows where and how to seek out the source of the problem and take care of it once and for all.