An exterminator’s expertise is priceless, so don’t hesitate to hire
Wondering when to call an exterminator for fleas in your home? These tiny, disease-carrying pests feed off of human and animal blood, and they can lay thousands of eggs within a short life span, resulting in a full-blown infestation that’s hard to eradicate. While DIY extermination can be somewhat effective, calling a professional exterminator is often the safest and most effective option. Learn when to call an exterminator for fleas for your peace of mind.
If your flea problem doesn't resolve itself after implementing DIY removal methods, it's time to call in a professional exterminator. Don't hesitate to take pest control action to prevent the infestation from growing.
When it comes to fleas in your home, you can never go wrong calling an exterminator to look into the issue. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs each day, and thousands in her lifetime. If you see one flea in your home, hundreds or thousands more are likely hiding nearby. This scenario is especially true if you have a pet since your furry friend is the ideal host for fleas.
DIY removal methods can be helpful but usually aren’t enough to get rid of fleas entirely. If you’ve tried a few flea DIY treatments, like vacuuming and steaming all soft goods and treating your pets, and there are still signs of these pests, call a professional exterminator immediately.
As a general rule, calling an exterminator to remove fleas can never hurt. Even if your local flea control pro only finds a few fleas in your home, you can have peace of mind knowing they’ve taken care of the problem.
Consider the following two factors when deciding whether or not to call an exterminator.
It’s usually best to call an exterminator as soon as you suspect a flea infestation—no matter how small it may seem. Fleas multiply quickly and can hide extremely well. The untrained eye cannot locate or eliminate a colony of fleas like a professional can.
When caught in its beginning stages, DIY extermination may be useful. However, hiring a local flea exterminator is highly recommended for severe infestations. With several visits and a strategic approach, a professional exterminator can completely eradicate fleas and any unhatched eggs from your home.
Did you know that there are more than 2,500 species of fleas worldwide? Certain species reproduce more aggressively than others and can be even harder to remove. If you’re dealing with an especially pesky kind of flea, you should call an exterminator. A professional flea control exterminator will determine the type of flea in your home and implement a plan to permanently remove them.
If you have a severe flea infestation in your home, your exterminator may recommend multiple treatments to fully eradicate the issue. Some pros may return a few weeks after the initial service to apply a second treatment to any eggs that hatched in the interim. If that’s the case, talk with your flea exterminator about pricing, as some companies charge up to $200 per follow-up.
The cost to hire a flea exterminator ranges from $75 to $400, with the average cost being $270. Flea removal costs will vary based on several factors, including the severity of the infestation, type of flea, property size, and extermination method. Be sure to get quotes from multiple exterminators to find the best fit for you.
Keep in mind that the severity of the infestation will determine the cost of the removal service.
| Infestation Level | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Small | $100–$175 |
| Medium | $175–$300 |
| Large | $325–$550 |
Compared to the cost of hiring a professional exterminator, the cost of DIY flea removal is significantly less. Over-the-counter pesticides typically cost anywhere from $5 to $30 per bottle or package. However, DIY methods can be unsafe for humans and animals, and usually aren’t as effective as professional treatments.
While hiring a professional flea exterminator may cost more, it’s often a worthwhile investment to guarantee a higher success rate. Professional exterminators have the expertise and high-quality materials needed to get rid of fleas in your yard and home for good. Plus, they’ll help you implement ways to prevent a similar problem from happening again. Not to mention, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and stress; your peace of mind is priceless.
Since fleas reproduce so quickly, the mere presence of one flea could mean you have an infestation on your hands. Hundreds and even thousands of fleas can lurk in your pet’s fur, carpet, furniture, and even your body. If you see fleas jumping on household items or notice your pet scratching more than usual, those are signs of infestation.
Besides checking your pet’s fur, you can use two other tests to find fleas in your home: the white sock test and the water and lamp test.
To perform the white sock test, simply put on a pair of long white socks and drag your feet along the carpets in your home. Fleas will gravitate to the heat created by your socks. The water and lamp test involves placing a bowl of water on the floor and shining a light over it. Fleas will then be attracted to the light and land in the bowl of water.
