Pests, among other nuisances, are something we should never allow infiltrating our home. As homeowners, we do what’s necessary and take measures to keep pests at bay. Unfortunately, even with our desperate efforts to make pests go away, we just can’t do it 100% effectively. Pests will always have their way of gaining access to your household.

Certainly, it does not matter how clean your home is. As seasons change and pests no longer feel at ease in their natural habits outdoors, they search for warmer and more comfy spaces indoors. Where there is warmth, shelter, and food, pets will also be present.

Then there’s that temptation to do shortcuts just to get those pesky critters out of our sight. We want to take matters into our hands and assume that buying over-the-counter pesticides would be the fastest way to do so. Americans, for one, are known for DIYs. However, we usually overlook some important points regarding DIY methods. Is DIY pest control safe? Is it effective in the long run? Am I doing the proper way to administer the insecticide?

Those questions are supposed to be a guide for you when doing DIY treatments for pest infestations. Still, we end up failing in our attempts to conduct a DIY project simply because certain jobs are better left to the experts.

Here are DIY ventures that are deemed unsuccessful unless you turn them over to the professionals in the field:

  • Bed bug removal

Bed bug removal is no ordinary method to be done by a homeowner. While there are some DIY techniques that help keep bed bugs from spreading, nothing removes or kills bed bugs more thoroughly and faster than heat treatment. Bed bugs are among the most tenacious and challenging pests to eliminate. DIYs such as using diatomaceous earth and vacuuming, for instance, only works best for small or confined bed bug infestations. Applying heat when washing and drying clothes and linens may be effective in killing bed bugs found in fabric, but this DIY strategy cannot penetrate those critters hiding away in dark small cracks or gaps on walls, furniture, and other home equipment. Bed bug proof encasements also help trap and starve bed bugs hiding in mattresses but this method does not entirely solve your bed bug problem.

Heat remediation is a technology that requires the use of specialized heaters, remote thermal sensors, and thermometers. Even if a homeowner has the means to purchase or procure such equipment, this procedure is something only a licensed bed bug exterminator should carry out inside a home. Heat treatment eradicates bugs in just a matter of minutes and penetrates those areas that are difficult to reach even by chemical treatment.

  • Termite Control

Dealing with termites is not the same as dealing with pests like ants, rodents, or roaches. Termites are the most notorious and destructive pests that leave many American homeowners paying billions of dollars a year for structural damages. Handling a termite infestation is something you should not do on a trial-and-error basis. If you have termites at home, it is best to call in licensed termite control technicians instead of you trying to experiment with ways to kill the pests. Piece of advice: Don’t even think about solving a termite problem on your own. Unless you are willing to pay thousands of dollars more for a failed DIY endeavor, it is definitely not worth the risk. Do not ever attempt at digging trenches, destroying termite tunnels, and spraying on termites all by yourself. You might just regret it after realizing you are just escalating the damage and further contaminating the infested area instead of solving the problem. With pest control professionals, the procedure to assess the termite situation is done systematically with utmost care and precision. Besides, professionals know very well how termites behave and the most appropriate method and ingredients to apply for a specific type of infestation.

  •  Chemical treatment

What makes this method particularly crucial is the presence of chemicals, which can be harmful to humans and animals as well as the environment. Hence, using pesticides is not like a walk in the park. It calls for extreme care, caution, and expertise. For this reason, conducting chemical treatment should best be left to professionals.

While we can afford to make mistakes when doing a DIY procedure at home to kill ants and other household pests, there are specific pest issues that we can’t risk experimenting with on our own. It is a wise thing to ask for help from a trusted pest control company in your area before you decide on undertaking a DIY project.