Why You Should Call A Pest Professional Instead Of Tackling An Infestation Yourself
Pests don’t wait for a convenient day before they start infesting your home. In fact…you could have unwanted guests moving around right under your nose with you none the wiser. Termites, rats, ants, cockroaches and fleas all unique and frustrating in their own ways. The one thing they all have in common? They won’t be knocked out by well-meaning home remedies alone. Termite services and pest control resources are the only surefire way of clearing out these annoying (and even deadly) elements from your home for good.
Let’s start small. Literally. Bedbugs are often thought of as a nuisance and little else. Left to spread, however, and you can start feeling the pressure before you know it. A female bedbug can lay more than 200 eggs during their life cycle. When you consider how many bedbugs can infest a single home? That’s a lot of trouble. The vast majority of pest professionals (at 99%) have treated bed bugs within the past year. When you can’t sleep because of constant itching and crawling, pest control has the solution.
Rats and mice may seem cuddly, but they carry numerous diseases and can increase your risk of a home fire if not removed. It’s estimated as many as 25% of all fires attributed to ‘unknown causes’ were due to mice chewing on electrical lines. A rat’s territory (or home range) can be anywhere from 50 feet to 150 feet wide. They’re able to enter homes through holes as small as half an inch and can have litters of up to six young at a time. Instead of setting down a mouse trap and hoping for the best, call your local pest control to keep you and your family safe.
Termites are infamous for their ability to destroy a home’s foundation from the ground up. Termite damage affects over 600,000 homes in the United States every single year and, unlike rats or mice, can enter through even smaller holes to invade your home. Termite services are able to pinpoint the root of the problem and eliminate not just the colony, but any eggs that could easily be overlooked by a do-it-yourself job. When termites cause over $2 billion in property damage annually, skipping a termite inspection just isn’t an option.
Termite control and bee control sounds all well and good…but what about fleas? Much like bedbugs, these can be overlooked by their small size and seemingly smaller impact. Fleas are known for being incredible jumpers, able to leap seven inches vertically and land on all sorts of surfaces when you least expect. Over 1,600 species of fleas have been identified worldwide, with the vast majority living on mammals, and these nasty critters can spread all sorts of diseases when they make their landing.
What can you do to prevent pests from entering your home? There are a few things. Regular sweeping and vacuuming can keep insects from finding your living space a virtual buffet. Keeping your windows closed during the hot months (with strong screens in place) will also do wonders for preventing unwanted visitors from walking right through. People with pets should check their cats and dogs regularly for fleas, as these can spread easily and cause an infestation overnight if you’re negligent.
Sometimes preventative measures aren’t enough. Rather than risk another infestation and hundreds of lost dollars on products that don’t work, look into termite services or rat control. You’ll be glad you did.
