The costs of NOT doing pest prevention

Pests are expensive. Why? The kinds of pests that tend to invade homes and business around North America are the kind who can cause extensive damage. The problem is, if you just spot treat pest infestations as you discover them, you then have to repair the pest damage. Homeowner insurance often does not cover the damage caused by pests, so all of that money comes out of the homeowner's pocket. This can be thousands and thousands of dollars.

Now consider businesses. Often businesses have even more area to cover and more area to try and keep track of pest infestations. A nest of carpenter ants in some distant corner of a warehouse and while one nest of carpenter ants may not cost a lot to repair, multiple nests can be costly. Businesses can end up spending millions a year on pest infestation repairs.

Which pests are the costliest? Below we take a look at some of the top pests for pest repair and discuss the costs of not doing pest prevention treatment.

For reliable pest prevention, steps need to be taken to stop pests from infesting homes and businesses. Western Exterminator offers reliable pest prevention programs that will end up saving you money on costly repairs.

Termite damage

The absolute king of pest control damage is the termite. These wood-destroying insects are found across the globe and attack in such huge, relentless numbers, they can often cause thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of damage. Termite damage is often excluded from homeowner's insurance.

Studies have shown the average homeowner can end up costing about $3,000 in repairs. However, the more intense and extensive the termite infestation, the more that cost goes up. Termites never stop eating wood. An infestation can create a nest containing millions of termites, all of them devouring wood.

Termites are small enough and burrow into the wood so much they can sometimes not be spotted or found until the infestation is so great, the costs run even greater than $3,000. A lot depends on the part of the property they infest. Joints and joists holding up walls and ceilings can create even more costly repairs.

The costs of a termite infestation grow if you are talking about a business, too, often with larger areas of property or even more areas where termites can grab hold and start to eat. These costs come out of a business owners pocket and can be just as costly as a homeowner's repairs.

Rodent damage

The next costliest pest is rodents. These are lumped together into one category and encompasses damage done by rats, mice, and even squirrels. All of these are rodents with a penchant for reproducing rapidly, nesting within the walls of homes and for chewing.

It's the chewing part that can really cause damage. Mice, rats, and squirrels can chew through substances as tough as siding and get inside. They have teeth the keep growing, which compels them to chew on things to keep their teeth in check. This means they will chew on wood including furniture, flooring, trim and interior beams that makeup walls, ceilings and floors. The image of the mouse hole chewed into a wall people see in cartoons is not as out of the norm as people might think.

The other things rodents do is bring the risk of disease with them. They spread urine and droppings which need to be found and removed from crawlspaces, attics and from between walls, which costs money, too. Trying to just get rid of rodents on your own might succeed in getting a few of them, but there may be many more in the walls or hidden away.

There's another aspect to the rodent tendency to chew. They are also known for chewing on wiring between walls. If your home or building has internal wiring between the walls, the rodents may chew away the insulation, or fray the wiring. This can create a short which could create a fire hazard. Imagine having an electrical fire due to a rodent infestation.

The costs of damage from chewing, fires or even illness make rodents one of the costliest pests to find and try to deal with on your own.

Stored product pest damage

For businesses in the agricultural field, there are few things that can become costly in terms of damage and lost revenue than stored product pests. Stored product pests can also be severely damaging to restaurants and businesses which prepare food. Finally, they can get into homes, too, and make their way into pantries, cabinets and food areas.

The types of pests involved here include:

• Moths
• Weevils
• Flour beetles
• Other species of beetle
• Mites

These pests get inside and then get into the food areas. They can end up in grain silos on farms or agricultural businesses. The pests can get into the stores of flour in bakeries, restaurants and homes. They contaminate the food and ingredients people use to make food and baked goods. These insects can leave behind eggs, larvae as well as shed skin, fecal matter and other substances which can make the food inedible.

A stored product pest infestation can lead to businesses and farmers having to destroy thousands of dollars worth of food and product. For homeowners, it can mean a costly removal of all of the food in a pantry or cabinet and having to buy those products all over again.

Western Exterminator helps with pest prevention

The costs of not hiring someone to do pest prevention programs can be staggering and potentially so costly to homes and businesses that the financial damage outweighs any potential health risks. Let us be clear, rodents and other insects found in food or contaminating food preparation areas do bring about health risks.

The costs are not just monetary, either. Psychologically, word of a pest infestation can spell doom for businesses which require great word of mouth and positive online reviews.

Trying to take care of these pests on your own can add to the costs. Often, those who try to use over the counter methods to get rid of pests end up using too much or contaminating areas with chemicals which can be just as dangerous as the pests themselves.

Signing up for a yearly pest prevention program can bring peace of mind and end up preventing the costly repairs that come with dealing with a pest infestation after it's already occurred. Western Exterminator specialists can spot potential pest problems and take care of them before they become a problem.

If you want to stop a pest infestation and reduce the costs of a pest problem, contact your local Western Exterminator office today.