Professional pest control vs DIY pest control

Professional pest control technicians are better prepared than DIY Pest Control individuals. Professionals benefit from their extensive training and the accumulated experience of the company as a whole. And if this was not enough, professional pest controllers have all the required equipment and professional-grade products that will allow them to treat any pest infestations, whatever may be the specific circumstances. Also there are a number of laws surrounding pest control that make it a risky business.

Why do we consider DIY pest control in the first place?

So, it would seem to be a no-brainer? Not so much? Actually, things are not that straightforward and home remedies will only get you so far in most cases. The cost associated with hiring a professional London pest control company can be quite significant, and not everyone can afford the expense. So, there is a balance that any homeowner needs to strike, taking into account the following:

• How much do you suffer from the infestation?
• How dangerous is the pest in question?
• How notoriously difficult is it to get rid of the pest?
• How much money would commercial chemicals would set you off?
• How much time would it actually take you to do it to the right standard?
• How many hazards would you expose the members of the household to?
• How long should you wait if what you do is not showing results?
• What professional company should you rely on to take care of the issue?

When is it best to rely on professional pest control?

From there, it is mostly a matter of perception. What you may call an awful situation, others may only dismiss as “just creepy crawlies.” So here are some guidelines to help you through it.

1- The more you suffer, the quicker you want to act. Mouse phobia is a terrible thing to suffer, so it would be reasonable to have someone coming as fast as possible. In the meantime, all goes. Place towels under the doors, place sonic devices, switch on the TV; whatever makes you feel better. But do not place poison indiscriminately at a living space level as the last thing you want is to have mice going there in the first place.

2- If you are allergic or have children, having a wasp nest by your front door can be daunting. But the urge to do something could seriously put you at risk. Professional pest control technicians have the required protective gear to do it safely; you don’t.

3- Bed bugs are very much the pest you want to leave in the hand of a professional. Simply put, it is the hardest pest for us to deal with, so DIY pest control stands no chance. Even putting the furniture in the dump and replacing it at great expense would not cut it. Actually, our treatments are strong enough to save the furniture, so it would be cheaper in most instances to have a professional pest control company to do it. And where pesticides are not appropriate, we can do a heat treatment.

4- Most would have thought only of what the cost of a bottle of commercial insecticide would be. But not necessarily of how many bottles would be required to do it properly and how much time it would actually take to apply to the right standard. But there are other costs people often overlook entirely. Spraying for cockroaches will kill some cockroaches but will not get rid of the infestation. As you start spraying, cockroaches run deeper within the walls and to the neighbours, where they are safe and keep on breeding. So not only will your infestation get worse and worse, you will now have to contend with the infestation of your neighbour, which is sure to bounce back at some point in the future. Professionals have access to a specially designed gel formulation that stays active for many months.

5- There are insects that are quite easy to kill, such as moths. However, getting rid of a moth infestation requires breaking the life cycle of the insect, and that may take three to four weeks to achieve. There would be two downsides for the DIY pest control individual. It would possibly take a few cans/bottles of commercial insecticides to treat a two or three beds flat for each weekly treatment, without even talking about you breathing the stuff in.

6- The main concern of professional pest control is health and safety. Pest control requires the use of hazardous products that the individual using them should be protected from. But the products can also affect other members of the family or non-targeted species. Placing or applying them in the wrong setting may have adverse and dire consequences.

7- Despite repeated DIY pest control attempts, you may still suffer from pests. The rule of thumb is that if you keep on doing the same thing and the result does not change, it is that you are doing the wrong thing. You may treat and alleviate the problem for a while but have it reappearing every so often. Was it ever completely gone at any point? Is it that the solution would be mouse proofing for mice or using Goliath Gel for cockroaches?

8- London pest control companies are of all sizes and reputations. But there are rules that govern a good company or a good technician: honest, dedicated, proficient, well-equipped, and using the best products for the best job.

When should you always rely on a professional pest control company?

A homeowner is normally entitled to do things whatever way he sees fit and to carry out DIY pest control in his own home. However, if a landlord rents that property out to tenants, it may become inappropriate for that landlord to refuse to contract a professional pest control company, as he may expose himself to litigation. A landlord has a responsibility to provide a property in good conditions of habitability. Moreover, professional pest controllers are insured, and this, in turn, protects your tenants and the landlords further. Also some pests can cause a real risk to people such as wasps and squirrels that can attack if they are threaten.

Whenever possible, I should always advise the use of a reputable London pest control company vs. Doing It Yourself. And whenever it is not possible for whatever reason, the DIY pest control individual should call a professional for guidance on how to do it best. It is our job and duty to give the best advice, so never hesitate to call us.