Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: RSS
With the DIY Do it Yourself Pest Control Craze, any in the pest control industry is concerned and alarmed about the fact that homeowners can buy the same chemicals we use.
The fact is most of the over the counter OTC pesticides are sold at Ready to Use RTU at about the same rates we apply them at, with the same active ingredient we use.
The reality of now being able to buy and apply concentrates online and being able to apply them at any rate they choose without pest control training, oversight, licensing and certification is a serious cause for concern and federal and state regulators do not seem to be overly concerned.
Tha fact that pesticides today are safer than they were 50 years ago and that most homeowners think that the insecticides we use to control their pests are harsher and more toxic than over the counter products simply isn’t so.
All chemical products have EPA Registered labels with the same instructions and limits as we do yet homeowners do not seem to know that they must read labels and understand them before they can apply them.
We have to spend years training and take numerous courses voluntary and mandated CEU continuous education units in order to comply with state and federal mandates. This is in addition to all the licenses and insurances we must carry to be allowed to apply a product to your property in accordance with label directions.
The cost to start, own and operate a pest control business is very high when compared to other home services such as landscaping, pool service, appliance repairs, fencing, roofing, painting, floor and carpet, carpet cleaning, and yes the do it all handyman.
Things you must know just be able to apply a pesticide in non site states where the pest must be present to legally apply a pesticide, positively identify the pest, know which active ingredients will actually control that pest, report the amount of chemical used, the site it was applied to and how often can you reapply it before you legally have to switch to another product, how many times per year can you legally apply it and thus just a few of dozens of insecticide we have to memorize.
