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Questions?
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Exterminators
- Sometimes you need help solving
bug problems -
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Summary: At some point you
may need to hire an exterminator (they
prefer the title pest control operator or pest
control tech) to do complicated/hazardous
procedures or something that involves specialized
equipment. If you find yourself in this situation
here are some suggestions for how to proceed.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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Do you need an
exterminator?
Most of the time we
recommend that people do their own pest control
projects around home. In fact this site is about
helping you to identify and control pests in safe
and responsible ways. We also recommend that
you skip the periodic (monthly, quarterly)
maintenance treatments that many pest control
companies aggressively sell.
There are a few pest
control situations, however, that do require the
expertise and specialized equipment that a good
exterminator can bring to the job. One such
operation is tent fumigation (see photo
right) for certain structural and warehouse pests.
Other difficult operations are pre- and
post-construction treatments for termites
and some carpenter ant and powderpost beetle
treatments (see Related Articles below).
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Tarp-style
fumigation tent covering small
warehouse. An example of a
complicated/hazardous procedure involving
specialized equipment. Photo by Art
Antonelli
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Except for these very
special situations you probably don't need
professional pest control services. Some people choose
to have treatments every month as a "preventative" but
this is unnecessary in my experience. You should only
treat when there is a confirmed infestation and a
written proposal can be made for how treatments will
be done.
Rules for screening
exterminators
We've developed some
"rules" that you might want to consider when selecting
and hiring an exterminator. Your
first decision will be whether to hire a local company
or one of the national franchise companies like Orkin
or Terminix (see Local
Company or Large Franchise?). Large, national
companies may have access to equipment and expertise
that smaller, local companies do not but may also be
less flexible and less responsive to individual needs.
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The choice between local
and national franchise is often based on cost as local
companies may be less expensive, versus job complexity
and the need for highly specialized equipment like
fumigation tenting (see Five
Additional "Rules" to Consider Before Making A
Decision). In either case resist
the temptation and sales pressure to sign up for
long-term contract service. Think of it this
way - has the plumber ever asked you to sign a
long-term contract?
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Mission: To
provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information
for solving common insect and mite problems around
your home, business and landscape using least-toxic
methods.
Jack DeAngelis,
Ph.D.
Please see the Disclaimer statements as
well.
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