Pest Control vs Exterminator: A Detailed Comparison & FAQs

It’s the middle of night when you notice some unwelcomed cockroaches in your kitchen. You use your mobile to search its solution on google. You will see two services pest control and exterminators, you are a little bit confused in choosing the one service based on your requirement as both services have same goal of eliminating pests but have different methods and strategies to do so.

This article comprises all the main differences between the pest control and exterminator, gives you complete guidance about taking a decision in choosing the one best approach.

The Term Exterminator Means

Exterminators are the professionals who provide extermination of pests. Extermination is reactive and instant elimination of pests from homes, buildings and other affected working places. Extermination involves the use of pesticides or fumigations to manage or reduce pests.It is an one time service with emergency responses and also require follow ups.

The Term Pest Control Means

Pest control is professional service involving the removal, management and killing of pests present at places occupied by people. Pest control includes different methods, mechanical, chemical, sanitation and biological according to the variety and population rate of uninvited guests.

Major Differences

Pest control and extermination has many key differences which are following:

1. History

Pest control:

Pest control was introduced many years ago, roughly it is considered as old as agriculture itself since 2500 BC. Ancient pest control involves the use of, sulphur compounds to treat pests like insects and mites, arsenic and mercury compounds to control lice and other pests, Sea water to remove weeds. With the passage of time many more chemicals and approaches or techniques were developed in pest control.

Extermination:

Extermination was completely introduced in the 20th century, after the second world war in 1939 DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) was invented, a powerful insecticide which opens the doors towards exterminators. In this regard extermination era is characterized by use of many chemicals as pesticides.Extermination is an aspect of whole pest control circle.

2. Scope or Range

Pest control:

Pest control has a broad range of solutions,aims to manage pests along with killing or reducing them. Pest control include management, prevention, maintenance and elimination of unwelcomed creatures.

Extermination:

Exterminators have a narrow range of pest management,they only have the strategies to kill the pests but give no ways to prevent pests from entering our homes.

3. Strategies

Pest control:

Pest management is a proactive and reactive approach which gives long term service. It is an environmentally friendly approach which claims to protect the users and gives maintenance to get prevention from harms of pests. 

Extermination:

Extermination involves all the reactive strategies to kill pests.It is a quick approach, uses harsh strategies which can cause damage to users and its toxic chemicals can give significant crisis to the environment. 

4. Targets or Goals

Pest control:

Pest control aims to prevent future infestations and slow proceeding to manage pests. It gives permanent solutions to prevent pests and make homes pests free.

Extermination:

Extermination is a band-aid process in which quick elimination of pests is done but it never gives permanent solutions of preventing future infestation.

5. Techniques Used

Pest control:

Pest control uses natural and scientific methods to prevent pests including integrated pest management (IPM), sanitation, biological nontoxic treatments, conditional solutions etc.

Extermination:

Extermination gives quick knockdown of pests by using toxic pesticides, fogging (fumigation), and intense baiting for one time management.

6. Cost Expenses

Pest control:

Pest control gives long term permanent solutions in one service which make it less expensive and budget free. After one check of pest control team no follow ups are required if we will follow strategies to clean our houses.

Extermination:

Exterminators never give a permanent solution and further follow ups or inspections are required to keep pests away from home. So it is an expensive service that includes regular inspections of exterminators. 

7. Time Required

Pest control:

Pest control takes roughly hours to days but gives permanent results. In this method there is no need to seal the house for days to weeks, homeowners can live in houses along with the pest operations of control.

Extermination:

In past when extermination was done in homes homeowners had to stay outside the house for hours to days because extermination leaves smell of toxic chemicals in homes and direct interact with that smell or fog can cause health issues. In this regard, extermination is considered a time consumer. Although regular inspections of exterminators are also time consuming.

8. Safety Ratio

Pest control:

Pest control involves the use of nontoxic pesticides, sanitation methods, cultural techniques and natural biological predators used to prevent pests which is an eco-friendly service. 

Extermination:

In the process of extermination, exterminators use toxic pesticides which harm the environment and users who apply fumigations on pests. 

9. Peace of mind

Pest control:

Everyone aims to have their homes spotless, whenever pests manage to enter in their homes pest control gives permanent solutions and gives prevention of future infestations. In this regard pest control provides complete peace of mind to residentials.

Extermination:

Extermination treats symptoms not causes so in this way pests are not permanently eradicated from homes they can again manage to enter in homes, in this way homeowners never get their homes pest free ever.

Interactions With clients in Both Approaches

Pest control services have compassionate relationships with clients as they give peace of mind to clients in one time long term service. In this way pest control professionals make long term relations with clients by giving permanent solution of their problem.

When exterminators call into the homes the homeowners are in a hurry or want urgent relief from pests, in this way in this fast service homeowners are not interested in getting knowledge about exterminators strategies of removal of pests. Exterminator searches and kill the only visible pests and never give guarantee of their return.

A Possible Example

Lets take an example of bed bugs in your bed room, to handle them in both services pest control and extermination: 

Pest control

If you encounter bedbugs in your bed room, you will call pest control service, who will work according to their strategies such as:

• Investigation of the variety of bedbugs.
• They will use gel baits, traps, barriers or will spray a pesticide or will use any mechanical method according to the requirement or need.
• They will eliminate all the bed bugs and will guide you on sanitation and cleanliness methods.
• After management or removal of all the bedbugs they will offer latter inspections according to the need.

Extermination

If after encountering of bed bug you will call an exterminator they will work as:

• They will use harsh pesticides to eliminate the bedbug.
• They will kill all the visible bed bugs.
• After completion of the whole extermination they will obviously leave the house within one to two hours but will leave a toxic smell of chemicals behind.

Pros And Cons of Each Service 

Both services pest control and extermination have their own advantages and disadvantages, which can help you in choosing the answer of the question,Which service you should call? are following:

Pest control

Pros

• Pest control is a long term solution of pest colonies and prevents or manages future infestation while extermination gives low results.
•  Pest control is an environmentally friendly option and is cost effective for you.
• Pest control removes the cause of pests not only visible pests.
• Pest control also involves methods of traps, barriers, gel baits, and other mechanical changes along with chemicals.

Cons

• Pest control never gives immediate results as given by extermination.
• To make pest control more effective regular sanitation and cleanliness measures should have to be followed.
• Pest control has a higher initial cost.

Extermination

Pros

• Exterminators give fast service to eliminate pests in one visit.
• It is an effective service in which exterminators target the visible pests and eliminate all of them.
• In extermination professionals and experts who have training on use of pesticides and identifying the pest works.
• The extermination service saves your time in searching and buying different pesticides. 

Cons

• The major disadvantage of extermination is the use of toxic pesticides which are dangerous for the environment.
• As this is short term service so scheduled follow ups are required which become annoying for the clients.
• Extermination can cause damage to your property or things with its dangerous chemicals.

Why Do Some Pests Always Remain Unmanaged?

Examples of folks in front of us who have used the services of pest management once or twice but still have pest problems. This is due to use of inaccurate methods to remove pests or real cause of pests is not removed.

• Misidentification of pests
• Use of temporary methods of management
• Ignoring seasonal patterns of pests attack

If the real reason of pests attack will be cured or best service will be used than pests can be managed permanently for long times.

Common Confusions About Pest Control And Exterminators

Many people intermix the terms of pest control and extermination, they think pest control is only for invisible or small insects like bedbugs or termites and extermination is only for rodents or big sized pests. But the truth is both services aims the same to remove or kill pests of any species or variety but with different approaches. It does not matter which service you used but the which matters is whether the pests stay or move away. 

Which Approach is Best For Your Need?

The approach you have to work with is selected on the basis of various features such as:

• If the variety of pests present is dangerous you should prefer extermination over pest control.
• If pests have done severe infestation then you should also go with infestation.
• If there are children or pets in the surrounding area then pest control is preferred or if there are empty places then extermination should be used. 
• If you are looking for a permanent approach to get rid of pests then pest control is a better option.

Summary

For any type of pest control or extermination service in Tulsa and nearby areas, talk to us. We can arrange an urgent and immediate removal of all kinds of pests. Our team has been serving homeowners and businesses for many years. We know how to offer you a cost effective solution.

See this: How Often Do You Need Pest Control At Your Home?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are The Three Types and Cs of Pest Control?

The three types of pest control involves physical, chemical, and biological. All these types are used according to the need and sources available. The Cs of pest management which are followed when pesticides are used involves 1.Control 2.Contain 3.Clean up.

Do Exterminators Can Permanently Get Rid of Rodents?

Exterminators never give guarantee to keep rodents out of home permanently, they remove or manage all the infestation at present time but safety measures should have to be followed to keep rodents away from home permanently as attracted things in homes like food, contaminated plates, etc can become the reason of their return.

What are The Four Major Types of Pests?

Four major classes of pests based on their characteristics and damage done by them are insects ( cockroaches, termites, bedbugs, ants, fruit and house flies etc ), weeds (unwanted plants ), microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses etc ), and birds ( pigeons, house sparrows, seagulls etc ).