3 Common Dangers of DIY Home Pest Control

If you’re trying to get uninvited pests out of your home, you might be considering a DIY job. After all, pest control services will set you back an average of $176, though the price may rise depending on the type and severity of your infestation.

However, there are some situations where doing it yourself isn’t the best option, and this is one of them! While there are plenty of reasons you shouldn’t try DIY home pest control—from wasting your money to damaging your home—today, we’re looking at the health risks of doing it yourself. Here are three common dangers you can avoid with expert extermination services.

1. Provoking the Pests

Though homeowners like to assume everything will go smoothly with their DIY job, it’s important to remember that the pests you’re trying to get rid of are wild animals and insects. When provoked or frightened, these creatures may fight back to defend themselves!

Though you might don whatever protective pest control gear you can find, it may not be enough to protect you from a bad attack.

Homeowners who try removing wasps on their own, for example, might end up with horrible stings throughout their bodies, which can require intensive treatment. Removing bats or squirrels from an attic can lead to bites, which can be painful enough on their own without the threat of rabies.

2. Harming You or Your Family

When it comes to pest identification, it can be harder than you might think to understand which solution you’ll need to use. Worse, the wrong chemicals and pesticides can be harmful to you and your household.

Homeowners without experience might use the wrong amount of chemicals, which can become toxic in large quantities. Spraying chemicals in an indoor or closed environment can lead you to breathe in harmful fumes, and some chemicals are even dangerous when they come into contact with your skin.

3. Harming Pets in Your Home

Even if you do manage to use the correct quantities of the correct solutions for your specific type of pest, it’s worth remembering that these solutions are probably not safe for your pets.

Curious cats and dogs may get into chemicals meant for rodents or insects, for example. Worse, birds and reptiles can absorb airborne chemicals into their skin, which means that a simple sprayed solution can impact their health.

If you have pets, it’s important to work with expert exterminators who can offer pet-safe pest control chemicals. They can also help you understand how to safeguard your pet’s health while they are working to eliminate your pests.

Avoid DIY Home Pest Control

The bottom line is this: when in doubt, leave it to the pest control experts! DIY home pest control may seem like a money-saving option worth trying, but you’d be surprised at how much you can spend on ineffective solutions—and how much these solutions can harm you and your household. To avoid the dangers we’ve outlined above, make sure you’re working with an expert anytime you’re using harsh chemicals in your home.

For more crucial tips like these, be sure to check out our other articles!