Pest Control: When to DIY vs. Call a Pro
By Service Rank USA Team
Walking into your kitchen to find a line of ants or a scurrying cockroach is unsettling. The immediate reaction is often to grab a can of spray from the hardware store. But is that effective in the long run?
When DIY Works
For minor, isolated incidents, DIY is fine.
Examples: A few seasonal ants, a single spider, or house flies.
Tools: Baits (traps) are generally more effective than sprays because the
worker ants carry the poison back to the colony.
When to Call a Professional
There are certain pests that a homeowner simply cannot eradicate with over-the-counter products because of their breeding speed or hiding capabilities.
- Termites: They eat your home from the inside out. You cannot see the extent of the damage without professional tools.
- Bed Bugs: Requires high-heat treatments. Sprays often just scatter them to other rooms.
- Rodents: If you see one mouse, there are ten more in the walls. Professionals seal the entry points, which is the only real cure.
- Cockroaches (German): They breed explosively and are resistant to many common pesticides.
The Chemical Difference
Professionals have access to "restricted use" pesticides that have stronger residual effects (lasting months) and Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) that stop pests from reproducing. Store-bought sprays are mostly "contact killers" that kill only the bug you spray directly.