We live in a time like no other in history. If you want to know how to do something, you can pull a device out of your pocket and ask it, in plain English, how to do it. That device can lead to a written resource or even give you a video to watch. That's pretty cool. There is no doubt about it. If you want to fix a problem around your home, you have access to an amazing resource to get things done. But some tasks are too tricky for that little device to guide you to a solution. And some solutions aren't nearly as straightforward as the internet would have you believe. In both cases, you can run into some trouble. This is what often happens with DIY pest control.
1. The Task Is Too Tricky
Pests don't make it easy for you to control them. Here are just a few of the many ways pests can make your job difficult:
- They hide in the ground or inside voids within your home.
- They develop chemical-resistant skins.
- They avoid areas that are dangerous to them.
- They come out in small groups or send out scouts to detect danger.
- They groom each other and search for harmful compounds.
- They reproduce faster than you can kill them.
- They can split a colony into two or more colonies in response to a threat.
You spray them, and even more show up the next day. You lay traps down and they don't take the bait. You seal your exterior walls and they still find a way inside. You wash all the clothes in your home and keep finding caterpillars in your clothing drawers. It can feel like a nightmare that never ends.
2. The Solution Falls Short
Sometimes your pest control works a little. This can be worse than having it not work at all because it can lull you into a false sense of safety, but then have you rolling your sleeves up again, only to waste more energy and money. How do DIY pest control solutions fall short? Here are a few examples:
- When you use a spray that becomes ineffective as soon as it dries.
- When you use a spray that isn't residual.
- When the treatment you apply gets washed away with the first rainfall.
- When you use a trap that gets a few pests but not all of them.
- When your treatment eliminates pests on contact but doesn't work to address the colony that sent them.
- When your treatment attacks the symptom but doesn't address the core problem.
The Results
If you watch a how-to video for baking perfect blueberry muffins, you're not going to be in too much trouble if they don't come out quite the way you had hoped. But when your pest control efforts fail, your health and property can continue to be harmed. This is why it is best to have a licensed service professional tackle pest control problems. Professionals use field-tested methods and products to outsmart pests and achieve the results you're looking for.
Save Yourself Time, Money, and Frustration
If you live in Brentwood, or somewhere else in our Middle Tennessee service area, contact All-American Pest Control when pest problems arise (or long before they arise). Our service team members know what is required to get control of Tennessee pests—even the most difficult ones. We'll help you find the right solution for your specific needs and budget. The internet is a great resource for many of the problems life throws at you, but when it comes to pest control problems, it is best to let a professional help.