Can I Save Money Doing Pest Control Myself?
As a professional in the pest industry and having done this for many years I never got into the habit of talking to people about doing pest control themselves, that would be a conflict of interest. I looked online and didn’t find many good resources that show people how to do it or where to treat to get the best results. So I felt it my duty to share this with you.
So can you save money doing pest control yourself? In a word, yes! Doing pest control yourself, in the long run, will be much cheaper. There is an initial cost for reusable items like sprayer, gloves, and chemicals but the pesticides used go a very long way.
Pest Insider Secret: You can use a commercial chemical like the pros to treat your own home.
How Much Can I Save Doing Pest Control Myself?
The average annual pest service can cost between $300-$700 dollars. The cost of having a Pest Control Company service your property will range from $75.00 – $150.00 dollars per visit, or more if there are large complications. The initial cost you will spend is between $65.00- $100.00 if you decide to treat yourself!
Remember when I said the chemical goes a long way? To treat your home you will use anywhere from 1/2 an ounce to 1 ounce of chemical per gallon of water. The average cost per treatment when you do it yourself is between $5-$15 per application. So the money spent on chemical will last a long time.
What is The Best Pest Control Spray for Your Home?
To be perfectly honest this depends on the pests you are targeting. We can narrow it down to a few that take care of most pests.
- Talstar P – This is a great pesticide! It helps control over a hundred different bugs. I have found as a professional applicator that it will work well on most bugs excluding ants.
- Termidor SC – This is an outside only pesticide! Termidor works great on ants and most other bugs however it is poor at killing spiders. This chemical is a great colony killer because of its non-repelling properties.
- Demand CS – This is a favorite in the industry it controls a lot of bugs excluding ants and leaves no residue. Demand can be used inside or outdoors and works well to get rid of spiders.
None of these pesticides require the use of a respirator.
When applying pesticide you want to wear nitrile gloves, long pants, and a long sleeve shirt or jacket. Always read the label and adhere to its warnings and laws before use.
It is a violation of federal law to use a pesticide in any way that is not consistent with it’s labeling.
How Long Does Pest Control Last?
This will vary. When you apply a pesticide outside the elements can break the chemical down faster than it’s intended use. Chemicals can break down sooner if you have extended rainfall, flood, or snow. The sun also plays a factor in this equation. Most chemicals break down in 4-6 weeks. This is if you have normal conditions some rainfall is okay, but if it rains for a week straight you can expect that what you put down is likely not there anymore.
When you apply pesticide indoors the residual is longer because it is protected. Inside your home, the chemical will usually last the full 4-6 weeks. Chemical can break down when mopping your floors or using other cleaners in the treated areas, but that would take many cleaning applications.
KEEP IN MIND… You should never apply a pesticide outside while it is raining! This could run off to waterways and contaminate natural habitats, ponds, and drinking water.
Is Pest Control Safe For My Children and Pets?
This is a question as a technician you hear at least once a day. The answer is yes (once it is dry). The only pets you should not spray around are Fish and Birds. If you have either of these pets you should consider only treating the outside of your home or removing them from the area you would like to treat for 24 hours.
Children are in no way affected by the spray inside as long as they don’t touch it while it is still wet, but that may only cause mild skin irritation at most.
Be sure to remove all toys that children may stick in their mouths away from the treated well.
This is still poison you are spraying to kill bugs and if you feel uncomfortable in any way read the label of the product and make sure you use it properly.
If you’re still uncomfortable send the pets or kids outside to play allow 30 minutes to dry then treat the outside once they’ve come back in.
I have sprayed these chemicals with children and pets in the home for many years and have yet to have issues with them getting sick or hurt.
Will I Ever Need A Pest Professional Again?
For normal pest maintenance and prevention, you should be able to handle it yourself.
Clearly, there are things you would not want to handle yourself such as wildlife removal, snakes, and large infestations that may be unmanageable with a gallon spray can.
Really the sky is the limit with treating for any bug. All you need is to learn how to treat what your issue is and purchase the proper equipment and pesticide.
Why Can’t I Buy Commercial Pesticides In A Store?
Okay so, Home Improvement places and Tractor Supply are not going to carry this stuff. They carry products that have special legal requirements. The chemical is 100 times weaker than the commercial stuff and will not fix your pest issues completely. This is why you buy it from a licensed vendor.
So the big manufacturer won’t just sell to the public, but because you are allowed to treat your own home there are websites you can legally order from to get what you want.
Conclusion
SO there you go save money doing pest control yourself!
It is within your grasp to do so. Now you have the tools, now you have some knowledge to get started.
Make sure you read what you are buying and where to apply it. Make sure you keep your pesticides in a climate controlled safe area away from children and pets.
If you don’t like being close to bugs or you have doubts about putting the correct amount of pesticide you can always go with an exterminator, no judgment here.
Also, if you want to know more or you have questions about taking care of a specific problem feel free to message me in the comments below and I will be glad to help with any you have.
Related Questions
Can I Treat Large Rodent Infestations?
Yes, to treat for rodents you will want to inspect a few things look under and around:
- All Sinks
- Washer and Dryer
- Water Heater
- HVAC System
You are looking for mouse droppings. As for the rats you look for things that have been chewed through. clean up any mess to monitor where they are coming from and place poison near these areas. If you have pets make sure they can’t get to the poison or it can make them sick. A lot of times they nest in the walls or in the basement or crawl space of your home to put some poison in those places as well. It takes a few weeks to get rid of them but just keep monitoring it and keep the bait full.
If I See A Beard of Honey Bees What Should I Do?
This happens every spring, the pheromones are flying and the bees are looking for a permanent home. If you see a honey bee beard leave it be, they will move on in a couple days and they are surrounding the queen to protect her. There is no need to go after them they are the good guys.
