Sometimes, using store roach exterminators doesn’t work the way you expect them to. The reasons are quite different: a low concentration of the active ingredient, a detrimental effect on insects, etc.
That’s why more and more people manage to call professional exterminators who have enough experience to solve the problem. And therefore, it is important to understand what roach exterminator cost is made of.
Exterminator prices for roaches are different due to many reasons. However, let’s take a closer look at how much does it cost to fumigate a house for roaches.
Roach Exterminator Costs
National Average Cost | $550 |
Minimum Cost | $200 |
Maximum Cost | $1,280 |
Average Range | $330 – $815 |
The average cost of an exterminator for roaches is usually calculated based on the total area of the premises, the number, and the complexity of the infestation in an office or private house.
But before you go on Google to find a local extermination agency, let’s see if you really need to spend money on professional extermination.
When Should You Call for a Roach Exterminator?
Once a cockroach gets into your apartment, the pest can destroy anything that can be found on its way. Most often, its diet consists of different food leftovers and bread, but it can also feast on fabrics, leather goods, books, soap, leather shoes, and toilet paper.
With all the richness of species diversity, all representatives of cockroaches are characterized by several features, the most striking of which is the need for water. Therefore, it is not difficult to find the traces of pests in the apartment:
- The check-in takes place first from the kitchen and the bathroom. These are the places that you should inspect first;
- The signs of the presence of cockroaches are traces of their vital activity: accumulations of black dots (excrement) in places where insects often stay, fragments of wings and shell discarded during molting;
- When the light is suddenly turned on, insects scatter. Although all varieties of cockroaches are not afraid of lighting, they feel uncomfortable in the light;
- If you have a severe infestation level, there’s a specific smell.
So, if you have already tried to deal with one-two roaches and it didn’t work, it’s time to call the professional cockroach treatment crew.
The disinfection and extermination service offers effective means for pest control and also guarantees a complete disappearance of insects. To eliminate pests, professionals use different ways of extermination. Most often, it’s a fumigation procedure containing glycerin used for disinfection.
Main Factors of Roach Exterminator Cost
There are three things that influence how much is pest control for roaches:
- Insect extermination method;
- The number of pests;
- Room area that should be processed;
- Number of treatments needed;
- Additional services.
Removal Cost by Types of Cockroaches
There are different types of roaches, and this factor can also affect the exterminator prices for roaches.
1. German cockroach
This type of cockroach is most often found in city apartments. The body length of an adult (imago) is 10-17 mm; the color is from light red to dark brown. Individuals live 5-6 months, experiencing 6 molts before.
One German roach female is capable of laying 200-300 eggs per life cycle, and for this, it needs to mate only once. They’re probably harmless for your health, but you won’t be pleased when spotting them in your kitchen.
2. Brown banded cockroach
These cockroaches get into the room with things and furniture brought home. Once inside, one finds dry, warm places (bookcases, sideboards, closets, electrical appliances) and settles down there. Brown-banded cockroaches tend to avoid water sources and are more common in the area of ceilings.
These roaches carry and spread harmful bacteria and protozoa that cause gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Indoors, these insects sometimes cause asthma and allergies.
3. Smoky brown cockroach
The smoky brown cockroach is omnivorous and can feed on a wide range of organic (including decaying) substances. Like most cockroaches, it is a scavenger. It generally loses more moisture than its relatives and, therefore, requires water every 2-3 days.
The smoky cockroach can enter the premises in search of food and even live there, but in general, however, in warm weather, it prefers to settle in the fresh air.
4. American cockroach
If we consider all types of cockroaches living next to humans, American roaches have the largest sizes (up to 50 mm) and the color from brownish red to chocolate brown. The main difference is that they can fly. These pests feed on organic residues, as well as paper, shoes, soap, book bindings, etc.
5. Oriental cockroach
Orientals are more adapted to life in a natural environment. As a rule, orientals are mostly found in private houses: under the floor, on the porch, in the voids of the walls. If these insects settle in cities, they live in storm drains, sewers, and basements, and when cold weather sets in, the pests hide in human dwellings.
Roach Exterminator Price Depending on the Size of the House
The owner of an apartment can pay from $200 to $1000 for professional cockroach treatment, depending on the size of the home to be treated. Usually, a one-time inspection and treatment will cost $150-200 for a one-two rooms house.
One visit of a professional exterminator can also cost $500-700 if you want the whole house to be processed. So, if you’re trying to answer how much does pest control for roaches cost, you have to consider whether you want the whole residence to be processed at once or you need several visits from an exterminator. The roach treatment prices are quite different for every case.
Roach Exterminator Price by Infestation Level
Exterminator prices for roaches infestations can run up to $1200, but you will be 100% sure that you won’t see any insect in your kitchen after. How to define the level of the infestation you’re dealing with?
You can try to do it yourself, but you have to remember that if you spotted one or two individuals, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have other roaches hiding in cracks and crevices.
Let the professionals inspect and estimate the proper level of the infestation severeness. Usually, this procedure is done during the first visit of the exterminator, so they can calculate the roach exterminator cost specifically for your case, the number of visits and treatments, and choose the method for roach extermination that will work quickly and provide the best effect.
Serious infestation cost
Severe or serious infestation removal can cost you from $350 to $1500. It also depends on the type of cockroach and the area that should be processed.
Roach prevention cost
It’s easier to take time and do everything for roach prevention than to remove cockroaches and fight them for a long time. Preventive disinfection can be performed once or periodically, and it should include a complex of procedures to reach the best effect possible. That’s why the cost of roach prevention can also be different. Usually, it starts at $50.
Roach Treatment Cost by Treatment Type
As I have said before, different types of cockroaches also require different types of disposal. In addition, the size of your home and the number of cockroaches also affects the treatment you choose.
Many pest controllers tend to use a combination of different treatments in your home for the best effect, and others can offer you a treatment price of roach bomb cost.
The cost of treatment usually also includes the cost of labor or application service. Learn about how much does it cost to tent a house for roaches and how much does it cost to spray for roaches extermination below.
Glue trap
Glue roach traps are usually used for determining how many cockroaches you have in your house. It should be considered as a pre-treatment because a glue trap isn’t really a way to get rid of a cockroach infestation. Glue traps are often included in the inspection service, which can be $50-100.
Gel bait
Gel baits (like Advion) are the most common and effective method against almost all cockroach species. The only downside to this method is that it takes time to give the effect and the fact that pets and children should not be near where the bait is used, as it is toxic.
Such baits are used to lure cockroaches and poison them. Also, gel baits have a time bomb effect. One individual can transmit poison to ten other parasites, thereby killing the whole infestation. The cost of this method ranges from $100 to $600.
Spraying
A spray is a faster method of extermination, and it’s safer for pets and children than other options. Spraying can be done monthly or quarterly as a preventative method. The cost of spraying cockroaches ranges from $40 to $100 per month. Also, spraying is usually used to treat open or hard-to-reach areas.
Dust
Professionals can also use cockroach dust. This method involves scattering the dust around the house. Cockroaches can transfer dust on their shell to the nest and thus poison others as well. However, this method is not recommended for the most part since the dust contains boric acid, and it should not enter the body of people or pets. The cost is $100-600.
Tenting
The cockroach tent is a more extreme extermination method, also called fumigating cockroaches. The entire house is covered with a tent-like cloth, and the house is filled with gas to kill insects. This method is not used except in emergencies as the cost of a cockroach lodge tent is between $1,200 and $7,500, depending on the size of the house.
Health Risks Associated with Infestation of Roaches
Cockroaches are dangerous because these pests are carriers of many diseases: dysentery, gastroenteritis, a number of urogenital infections, salmonella infection, meningitis, pneumonia. Roaches tend to hide in different places, from the sewer, garbage chute, basement to the bedroom.
In these places, insects collect a huge amount of various bacteria and viruses, which are practically harmless to the cockroaches themselves but are serious threats to people living in the house.
Roaches collect pathogenic bacteria on their bodies, as well as spores of fungi and helminth eggs. Therefore, it can bring a lot of bacteria to your dwelling and cause serious health problems.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Let’s take a look at the tables of the pros and cons of both professional pest extermination and doing a DIY procedure.
DIY Extermination
Pros: | Cons: |
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Professional Extermination
Pros: | Cons: |
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Yes, DIY pest control can be as efficient as professional, but it takes time and effort to deal with. However, there are cases when you can really do everything without calling a professional. Yet, if the level of infestation is severe, you probably won’t get the result you want quickly.
How to Hire a Professional
Hiring a specialist for professional cockroach treatment is easy. You can simply Google a nearby pest extermination agency or choose one by considering the feedback.
You also have to describe your problem in all details so the professional can understand better how to help you in the best way. If you don’t really know where to start, here’s a checklist to hire a professional exterminator:
- Make sure that the agency is a member of a national or local pest association;
- Ask your neighbors or friends whether they have experience and if they could advise you of an agency they worked with;
- Check the certifications and licenses of the agency;
- Ask for a guarantee;
- Determine if the agency can give you service on time.
And also don’t rush to make a decision.
How to Pick a Pro
There are many things to consider when choosing a specialist, but the main factors are:
- Certification & license;
- Contract;
- Knowledge & feedback;
- References;
- Price.
Always make sure that the agency you’re hiring has a current license and certification of the local or national level. Don’t forget to discuss possible options for service and the contract. Knowledge of the professional can only be verified by appropriate licensing and references given by people who already worked with the agency.
And of course, you should know the prices for services and determine whether your needs can be satisfied. Calling a cheap exterminator for roaches doesn’t always mean that the effect of the procedure will be poor.
Things to Discuss with Roach Exterminator
Many people don’t even consider things to discuss with the exterminator. However, it’s an important part of the process.
- Discuss whether the exterminator has positive reviews and references;
It’s worth knowing how much experience the exterminator has. - Which treatments are needed in my specific situation, and how did you decide this?
Check if the agent can give you an explanation of their decision; - Talk about whether you’ll need several visits from the professional;
- Discuss the options for the prevention of roach infestation.
How to Prepare for Treatment
- Before the actual process of extermination, you have to remove small objects and move the cabinets away from the walls. This will help the specialist to do their work without hindrance and more thoroughly, and will increase the interaction zone of treatments for the entire space;
- Do the cleanings. In addition to visible dirt and debris, it is necessary to wipe the dust on horizontal surfaces, floors, window sills, baseboards. It will help the professional to process the surface in the best way and, thanks to its prolonged action, will destroy individuals moving in the most unexpected places and narrow cracks;
- Place the food in a hermetically sealed container and put it in the refrigerator;
- Make sure that the house is empty on the date of the extermination process.
Your Actions After Extermination
First, do not enter the apartment for three hours after the procedure. Plan your family’s leisure time in advance so that they do not have to return to the apartment before the agreed time.
After the roach treatment, you must ventilate the room, wipe tables, chairs, and thoroughly wash the dishes. It is also better not to wash the floors for 2-3 days. After that, you can vacuum the apartment to remove dead insects and their eggs to speed up the process of extermination.
Roach Exterminator Cost FAQ
If you still have questions about roach extermination or prices, I think this section might help.
What will an exterminator do for roaches?
Professional roach exterminators usually apply various types of pesticides to kill the insects quickly and efficiently. These pesticides include baits (pellets, liquid, gel), aerosol cans, and dust-containing chemicals that are dangerous for insects and human health.
Should I hire an exterminator for roaches?
Consider the situation you’re in. If you determine that you don’t have a severe pest infestation, you can deal with the roaches by yourself.
How do I get rid of roaches permanently?
You can do it only by following the advice of the professional. Do the prevention cures regularly to make sure that the roaches don’t come back to your apartment.
How do you get rid of a roach infestation?
It depends on the level of infestation. You can use DIY methods or call a professional for better effect and a long-term guarantee of the treatment.
How long does it take for an exterminator to get rid of roaches?
A pest control exterminator can deal with the infestation in a week or two. More severe cases can take months to get rid of.
Roach Treatment Prices: Final Thoughts
So, how much does an exterminator for roaches cost? As you can see, it depends on many factors, including:
- The level of infestation;
- Treatments used by the specialist;
- Number of visits;
- Processed area.
Roach fumigation costs can also be different because of the agency license level and whether you need several professionals to give you the service.
So, before you call an agency, decide whether you need it or you can deal with the infestation yourself. Take time to do research if you want to call a professional. You have to make sure that the agency is valid to offer you services.
Have you already experienced calling a professional pest exterminator? How did you choose the agency? Share your tips with others in the comments section!
Also read:
- Cockroach Eggs
- Cockroach Poop
- Baby Roaches
- Do Cockroaches Bite
- Bugs That Look Like Cockroaches but Aren’t
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