Why Do Businesses Need to Hire a Commercial Pest Control Company?

When it comes to Baton Rouge pest control, the do-it-yourself spirit is alive and well. Many otherwise careful business owners think they can eradicate invading rodents or bugs with a few traps. Commercial pest control experts know otherwise. They know that pest control is notoriously tricky, complicated by pests’ prolific reproduction rates and their ability to thrive in the most surprising and hard-to-reach places.
 
Business infestations are especially challenging. The types of large retail spaces and sprawling warehouses common to commercial businesses are some of the best habitats for everything from spiders to mice.  It can be a big job, and it’s tempting for company owners to try to cut costs or save time by tackling pest control on their own. If your business is infested but you’re unsure whether to hire commercial pest control specialists, consider these top reasons you should leave pest control to the pros.

1.       Effective pest control may be a lot more time-consuming than expected
 
A common misconception is that pest control is reactive. That is, many people think that controlling pests is about trapping them when you see them. Good pest control is actually more proactive, focused on eliminating both the signs of a current infestation and the means for future infestations. That means not only trapping present pests, but sealing up cracks, fixings leaks and taking other potentially sophisticated steps to eliminate the chances that pests can come back. If this sounds like a heavy time investment, that’s because it is. It can take weeks and even months to get rid of some of the worst mice infestations, for example. Do you really want to shift your or your staff’s focus for that long?
 
2. Doing it yourself can cost you big in the long run
 
One of the top reasons that do-it-yourself pest control appeals to homeowners and businesses alike is the notion that it will cut costs. Many people consider the costs of a commercial pest control consultation and the numerous visits it typically takes to eradicate a pest problem and figure the expense will be less if they try to handle things themselves.
 
What they often don’t consider are the full costs of all of the supplies it takes to truly combat pests. Good commercial pest control experts employ sophisticated lights, ladders and even heavy-duty lifts just to identify a problem. Even more supplies, from traps to special removal equipment, are employed to actually eliminate the problem. Then there’s the matter of the safety equipment needed to remove certain pests and their potentially dangerous waste. Unless you have comparable equipment on hand, trying to match the level of a commercial pest control company could quickly cost much more than simply calling the pros in the first place.
 
3. Your infestation might be a lot bigger than you think
 
You see a spider or two, spray them and don’t see anymore. The problem is gone, right? Commercial pest control experts know that bug and insect infestations are a lot more extensive than the public thinks. In fact, the roach or two you see are likely to be the outliers, representative of hundreds or thousands more. This is particularly true in large commercial business spaces, where rodents and insects can have thousands of square feet of walls and ceiling space in which to take up residence.
 
Infestations in restaurants and other food service businesses are particularly prone to being larger and more complex due to continuous food storage. Mice, for instance, can thrive in commercial walk-in freezers, living only on frozen food, or take up residence in a food storage closet. Meanwhile in warehouses, piles of dark, damp pallets can be ideal places for insects to breed. Because many insects and pests come out at night, when the business is closed, it can be hard to identify the issue. By the time you see mouse droppings or live insects, the problem has likely be growing for months if not longer. It all adds up to a pest problem that can be exponentially larger and more sophisticated than anything you or your staff wants to take on.
 
4. The stakes are higher if you fail
 
Pests in a private residence can be a nuisance. Pests in a commercial business, however, can be a major liability. For a food service business, the risks are obvious. Mouse damage in a kitchen or roach droppings in a storage facility are all it takes to get your restaurant shuttered indefinitely. The risks are high for non-food service businesses, too. Consider what might happen if a customer spots evidence of pest damage in goods you have sold, or worse, sees live insects in your business? If you operate a hotel, the impact could be devastating. Even a business that’s not open to the public can suffer brand damage if workers encounter pests or if mouse droppings make an employee sick. When thinking about what’s best for your business, it’s easy to see that the risks of refusing to hire commercial pest control experts aren’t worth the rewards.
 
5. You aren’t an expert
 
Commercial pest control specialists are experts for a reason. They offer years of experience battling all kinds of nuisance insects and vermin and typically have a large arsenal of skills and tools to get the job done. They know what works and what doesn’t, what will last and even what is too dangerous to try. For instance, a professional exterminator will know when and where chemical sprays would be safe and practical to use. Trying to figure this out yourself can put you, your staff and your customers in danger, not to mention allowing your pest problem to flourish while time is wasted.
 
It’s not surprising that businesses would want to try to handle pest control on their own. It can seem to be a cheaper solution to an expensive problem, and if you have little experience in the area, it may not even appear that difficult. There are several reasons why it’s not typically the best idea. Consider these potential pitfalls as you decide whether to hire commercial pest control experts for your business.