As a homeowner or tenant, pest control is one of those things you have to always be mindful of. This is because it can be a source of great inconvenience if you fail to take heed of it. Pests like rats and roaches can be a great nuisance; you can deal with this problem by seeking pest control services in Lansing, Michigan. Of course, you may always wonder whether or not you can perform pest control by yourself.
DIY Pest Control
Pests are usually small animals and insects that invade your residence. In addition to rats and cockroaches, other common household pests include:
-Earwigs
-Ants
-Mice
-Silverfish
-Millipedes and centipedes
-Geckoes
-Wasps
Many of these pests can destroy your home’s structural integrity. For instance, rodents like rats and mice may burrow holes into your house wall structure. Any do-it-yourself (DIY) pest control measures you take should aim to curb or eliminate the existence of these tiny creatures.
As a homeowner, you don’t need much skill for DIY pest control. A quick trip to your local Home Depot along with a cursory tutorial about pest control measures is all you need.
There are several DIY pest control measures you can take. For example, you can seal gaps in your house foundation or siding joints using sealants. This’ll ensure that pests like roaches don’t use them to multiply. Similarly, good old-fashioned chemical elimination using the necessary compounds can be effective.
A major advantage of DIY pest control is that you can keep your costs down. Once you’ve chosen to do it, all you need are a few supplies and some basic knowledge and you’re good to go.
Professional Pest Control
This involves the use of certified professionals in eliminating or controlling the different kinds of pests. You can choose to hire a freelancer that works for themselves or a company that specializes in such things. In both cases, you’re hiring the services of someone who has been trained to handle different kinds of pests. Such individuals or companies are licensed by a particular jurisdiction to provide these services to the public. Depending on their operations, professional pest control services may focus on dealing with pest issues in residential settings or commercial ones.
DIY or Professional?
It’s always a question of which kind of pest control is best for you. As a homeowner, you want something that is both convenient and affordable while being efficient. Other factors like convenience or also crucial.
Whether or not you choose to carry out pest control by yourself or hire professional services will come down to these key factors.
1) Extent of Infestation
The level of infestation is a key factor in determining whether or not you can do it yourself or hire professional pest control services. Usually, the higher the level of infestation, the more likely you’ll need professional pest control services. A pest infestation can be more complicated than it seems. For example, you may see a few cockroaches roaming in your kitchen and decide to handle it yourself.
What you may not realize is that the cockroach infestation could be more pervasive than you imagined. Seeing only a few of them or their droppings could indicate that they have colonies in several areas of your house. Such a level of infestation is very difficult to address on your own. In such cases, seeking professional pest control in Lansing, Michigan is your best bet at effectively handling the problem.
2) Duration of Pest Control
In many instances, pest control needs to be carried out over weeks or even months to achieve optimal results. This tends to require a certain level of sophistication and expertise. For example, many pests tend to avoid areas where pest control measures like fumigation may have occurred. This means it’ll take longer to find all their hiding spots and eliminate them. You’re better off hiring professional pest control services in such instances instead of attempting to do it yourself.
3) Comfort Level
Many Pest Control measures involve the use of chemicals. Most of these chemicals can become hazardous to humans if mishandled. Unless you have a certain level of familiarity with the application of such chemicals, it’s usually best to let the professionals handle them. When pest control calls for the use of such chemicals, always hire professionals to do it. This will save you a lot of trouble while avoiding the risk of chemical inhalation and possible health complications.
4) Time
Given that pest control can be an intensive undertaking, you may want to consider your everyday schedule and commitment. If you’re unable to dedicate significant chunks of your time toward this endeavor, it’s best to hire professional control services. Otherwise, you may end up doing shoddy work which will only aggravate the past problem further.
These are the main things to consider when choosing to carry out pest control by yourself or hire professional services. Of course, cost is always a factor.
Ultimately, it all comes down to the kind of infestation you’re dealing with and the means available to you to deal with such a pest problem. For low-level infestation, you can go with the DIY route. Otherwise, professional pest control services are always the best option.
