As summer quickly approaches, many people find themselves looking for ways to deal with nuisance pests. From flying insects to creepy-crawlies to rodents and even larger pests, it is important to know who to call when things get out of control. When the time comes, we hope you recognize the difference between a pest control professional and an exterminator. While many people use these terms interchangeably, they are quite different in their approach to ridding your home of pests.
Exterminator
An exterminator is someone who comes to your home and uses chemicals to eliminate the pests that have taken up residence in your home. We can hear you already asking, “But is that not exactly what my pest control professional does too?” We are getting there. An exterminator is focused on the problem at hand. They want to get in, find the bugs, and get rid of them. All of that is wonderful, and in some cases may be all you need.
Pest Control Professional
A pest control professional is someone who comes to your home and uses chemicals to eliminate the pests that have taken up residence in your home. We know, we know. We said the exact same thing about the exterminator. The first big difference is in the chemicals that the pest control professional uses. They are often less harsh and safer around children and pets. Sometimes, no chemicals are needed at all. The next big difference is that the pest control professional is more focused on what attracted the pests in the first place and how they were able to get in.
Your pest control professional will help you to determine what you can do around the house to prevent pests from returning. This may be as simple as moving your garbage can a little farther away from your house to repairing a leak that is leaving standing water near your foundation. Another crucial difference is that pest control professionals do not use a one size fits all approach to eliminating pests. They are trained to know how to handle different types of pests differently to best rid them from your home. After all, the same treatment that works to eliminate termites may not work to get rid of skunks. So, tailoring your treatment plan to your specific needs is highly beneficial.
In Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few key factors that set apart exterminators from pest control professionals. Which one you choose is up to you. In some instances, perhaps an exterminator is all that you need. They can get in, spray your home, and get rid of the problem. If that is all you are looking for, then the treatment was a success. However, if you have recurrent pest problems and want to get to the root of the issue or if you have young children or pets and want to avoid harsh chemicals for them and the environment, then call a pest control professional who can help you to get rid of the pests and make sure they do not come back.
