Why Professional Pest Control For Your Washington D.C. Property Is A Great Idea

07/10/2020

Cockroaches    Earwigs    Ladybird Beetles    Termites   

Being a homeowner comes with many responsibilities. Taking care of such a big investment requires a lot of money, time, and hard work. From paying bills to making minor repairs to keeping the lawn in good shape, there’s always something that requires your attention.

When pests get into your home, they introduce an entirely new set of responsibilities. You have to figure out what they are, where they came from, what problems they’re causing, and how to get rid of them. Or do you?

Some home responsibilities require the help of a professional. Pest control is one of them. If you’re of the opinion that pests aren’t a big deal or that a DIY treatment is all you need to take care of a pest problem in your house, read on to find out why professional pest control for your Washington D.C. property is a great idea.

Is It Really A Big Deal If Pests Get Into My Washington D.C. Home?

On the surface, discovering a few bugs in your Washington D.C. home doesn’t seem like anything to be too concerned about. Everyone has experienced finding an occasional spider or ant in their house. Simply removing pests from your house as you find them is doing enough to be able to get on with your life, right?

In some cases, that’s true. It’s possible for a stray pest to accidentally find its way inside without it being a signal that a large infestation has occurred in your home. In other cases, you might have a problem on your hands.

Pest infestations vary widely in their “threat level” based on the type of pest that has gotten into your house, how many pests are present, and how widespread they are throughout your home.

For example, finding a few earwigs in your bathroom can be startling, to say the least, but it is probably not something to be overly concerned about. Earwigs are generally harmless and are considered an occasional invader. They often get inside by mistake while looking for a moist area or relief from the heat. Earwigs are not usually interested in staying in your house or breeding there. Finding one is not an indication that thousands more are hidden away in your walls.

On the other hand, discovering that a termite colony is living in your walls is a big cause for concern. Termite colonies may start small, but they can quickly grow into the thousands, and some have been known to grow to over one million members. Furthermore, termites survive by eating the wooden elements of your home, including the ones that hold your house up. If termites are in your house, you have a very good reason to be worried.

The main thing to consider when pondering the question of whether or not it’s a big deal if pests get into your Washington D.C. home is that different pests cause different problems for homeowners.

Some pests are simply a nuisance. They don’t cause any serious problems in your house or to your family, but they can multiply so that you start finding them all over the place and have to deal with them constantly. For example, ladybird beetles, more commonly known as ladybugs, can get into your house in the fall while looking for a warm place to spend the winter. They often group up in corners of the ceiling and are difficult to get rid of. They aren’t harmful to humans, and the worst damage they’ll do is leave stains behind when you try to eliminate them. While an infestation of this sort may not seem like a big problem, over time it can take a mental and emotional toll on you.

Some pests are destructive. When they get into your house, they ruin your belongings and damage your house. On the lower end of the “damage spectrum”, there are some types of moths that will chew holes in your clothing and other fabrics. On the higher end, there are pests, like rodents, that chew through your walls, wiring, and ductwork. This not only damages your house, but causes fire hazards and water damage that can lead to mold, wood rot, and other pest problems, such as termites.

Some pests are dangerous to your health. Cockroaches are known for their unsanitary behaviors. Once they get into your house, the germs and bacteria they’ve picked up on their bodies are transferred to the surfaces they walk on in your home. This contaminates countertops, toothbrushes, and food. Cockroaches are linked to the spread of over 30 types of diseases. They also trigger allergy symptoms in some people. They are just one of many pests that cause serious health concerns when they get into your house.

To make a long story short, having pests get into your Washington D.C. house is a big deal. Unless it is simply an errant bug that you got rid of and never heard from again, pests are good at getting into your house and staying out of sight long enough to grow their ranks and start causing any or all of the problems mentioned above.

What’s Wrong With DIY Pest Control?

Now that you understand that even a small infestation is a cause for concern, you’re likely thinking about what you should do if pests get into your D.C. home. Is it as simple as stopping by the local hardware store for some supplies to treat it yourself?

It’s true that DIY pest control solutions abound. All you have to do is Google your problem and you’ll see thousands of articles pop up that claim that they can help you get rid of your infestation. From all-natural solutions to chemical treatments and everything in between, someone has the suggestion you’re looking for.

The real question is, do these methods work?

With as many options as there are on the internet, it’s likely that if you try enough of them, you’ll find something that works. However, attempting to get to that point is what gets a lot of homeowners in trouble. As you work your way through potential solutions, you run the risk of wasting time and money. You also run the risk of harming your family or even making the problem worse.

For every method you try that doesn’t work, you’ve wasted money on the supplies you needed for that method. You’ve also wasted time since the pests are still present in your house and causing problems while you decide on the next treatment method to try.

Some DIY methods use products that aren’t safe for your family. Other DIY methods require applications that must be done extremely carefully in order to be safe for your family. Without the proper training or experience, you may inadvertently apply the product incorrectly and put your family’s health at risk in the process.

Furthermore, some DIY treatments seem to work at first because they eliminate the adult pests or send them deep into your walls to hide. When you stop experiencing the problems that the pests were causing, you assume your treatment worked, and get on with your life. In the meantime, the eggs they left behind start hatching and maturing, and the adult pests that were hiding decide it’s safe to come out again. Suddenly you start experiencing problems all over again and discover that your treatment wasn’t as effective as you thought it was.

The fact is that many DIY methods simply don’t work and the ones that do are either too hard to find or too risky to try on your own. The best option for a pest infestation is having professional pest control performed.

How Does Professional Pest Control Work?

When it comes to a pest infestation, having professional pest control performed is always the smart decision.

• You’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that professional service technicians who are trained in the proper methods of treatment for the pest you’re dealing with are performing the treatment.

• You’ll know that these same service technicians spend hours each day gaining experience and honing the skills they’ve learned.

• You won’t have to worry about the treatment harming your family or pets because it is being performed by someone with the knowledge to do it right.

• Finally, you’ll feel good knowing that the service you receive is backed by guaranteed results.

How does professional pest control work? It starts the moment you contact American Pest.

We’ll listen to your concerns and perform a thorough inspection of your home to determine what pests are active in your house, what conditions in and around your house may contribute to current or future pest infestations, and what treatment methods will best address your active infestations, while also preventing future infestations. We’ll then work with you to help you decide on a pest control plan that best meets your needs and budget.

Once you’ve chosen the right plan for your Washington D.C. home, we’ll perform an initial treatment that eliminates active infestations and puts a barrier of protection around your house to keep new pests from getting inside.

From there, we’ll return on a recurring basis to re-treat your home and protect it from the pests that are most likely to try to get inside with each passing season. With American Pest, you receive year-round protection that is guaranteed to work.

How Can I Get Started With Professional Pest Control?

Getting started with professional pest control is as easy as picking up the phone or hopping on the internet. You can get in touch with American Pest by calling, emailing, or filling out the contact form on our website. We’ll talk with you about your particular needs and concerns and schedule an appointment to inspect your house at a time that is convenient for you.

Whether you already have pests in your house or you want to take proactive action to prevent them from getting inside in the first place, American Pest is here to help. Contact us today.