We all want to believe that our homes are as clean as they look — but no matter how much you scrub, and no matter how old or new your home is, there are some things that are out of your control. Vermin can be the bane of a homeowner’s existence. While some are more noticeable than others — you’ll probably see a mouse far sooner than you would a termite — they can all cause a great deal of damage. Understandably, a lot of homeowners start to work immediately, trying to handle pest control on their own. However, no matter what you do to handle your home’s vermin issues, you won’t have the same level of expertise as professional pest control services. For that matter, the task can be quite difficult to handle, both in terms of expense and hard labor. Professional pest control services can offer a lot of different options for homeowners looking to get their vermin problems under control. Below, let’s look into some of the different pests that exterminators can help remove — and why you’ll want to leave them to the professionals.

1. Fleas
Fleas are more than just irritating — they’re literal bloodsuckers, and quite difficult to catch. This is because they’re actually the best jumpers in the animal world, and can leap about 200 times their own body lengths. This means that they can jump up to seven inches vertically, and thirteen inches horizontally. While they’re most often found on pets, fleas can live on human beings as well. Their bites cause ceaseless itching, and they can easily be carried into the home, where they’ll bury deep into upholstery and carpeting, looking for their next “hosts”. Another issue that can come with fleas is that they can spread diseases. If your pet struggles with a flea problem, in particular, its itching can open up their skin to infections, making them seriously sick down the road. Although you can buy over the counter products to deal with fleas, many of them are not truly effective, especially after a true infestation has occurred. Therefore, it’s a good idea to work with professional pest control services, to better get a handle on your flea problem.

2. Rodents
Rodent problems can be embarrassing for homeowners; but they’re remarkably common. A lot of the time, people buy homes without realizing that rodent infestations can be an issue. Rodents often burrow themselves deep into a home’s walls or foundation. They may actually stay away from your house for much of the year, and only take to the house during winter, or cool season in general. Rodents can be quickly noticed, but difficult to get rid of, like any other type of vermin. It’s also difficult for many people to deal with the physical process of exterminating rodents. But if you don’t, you’ll lose more than you bargained for — it’s estimated that the amount of food consumed by rodents each year would feed 200 million people! Never mind that, like fleas, rodents are prone to spreading diseases, and are rather disgusting. By working with professional exterminators, you’ll be able to have your rodent problem dealt with remotely. Out of sight, out of mind — it can be quite a relief!

3. Termites
Perhaps due in part to where termites are found, we rely on professional pest control services to deal with them perhaps more often than we do any other kind of pest. Termites often don’t show themselves until some level of damage is already done. Each year, termites cause an estimated $5 billion worth of damage to structures in the United States. Few homeowners know where to really start when it comes to handling termite damage. But if any are left behind, they’ll only multiply; and cause more damage in the long term. If you suspect termites at all, it’s incredibly important to have them handled immediately!

In general, don’t hesitate to call an exterminator. It’s better to be safe than sorry!