What is the difference in the product that pest control companies use vs store bought pest contol home defense

Question

Thanks to all that responded. I do not have a current pest problem, I ofter spray over the counter products once a month for prevention. I was just curious of the professional products vs home products.

Answer 1

Many of the professional products contain active ingredients that are not available to the homeowner, or contain the same active ingredients at higher concentrations.

Professionals use "restricted use" products.  Although more effective, they are more dangerous if used incorrectly and require proper training.  The professionals must have a state-issued applicator certification and be licensed by the state to apply the chemical for the labeled use.

Answer 2

This is a question I get asked quite often and am willing to answer fairly. Yes, some products do contain specialist agents that improve effectiveness whilst others do not. It is always possible to self treat a problem though in many instances the advice on the 'can' is poor and a bad result is reached. Often the products available off the shelf are near the end of their shelf life and cannot be relied upon, othertimes they are as good as products used by professionals. Even we have to buy wisely - many of the products we use are at their optimum and cost us three or four times what you could pay for seemingly similar products. However in my case It's cheaper to get me in to treat a flea infestation than to buy the products. This is also true of rodent infestations etc... In truth you get what you pay for.

Answer 3

Probably a higher concentrate

Answer 4

Chris P is right for some chemicals, but not all.

A terminator will sometime mention certain chemical names to impress you, but if you go looking for it, they are sometimes readily available.

We recently had our house inspected for termites and the person recommended that they spray Timbor (a boric salt) as a preventative measure saying how they could only get it with a license.  Bah!!  I found it online and it is safer to humans and pets than table salt.  Do your research.  

Try:  http://doityourselfpestcontrol.com/

Answer 5

Very good question.  I'm a pest control professional and I never lie about this stuff.

Ortho Home Defense uses bifenthrin as it's active ingredient. Bifenthrin is absolutely the #1 longest lasting, lowest toxicity pesticide on the market. That's why I use bifenthrin.

However, the difference is knowing where, how, how often, and how to apply safely. Also, sometimes it takes two or three different pesticides to do the trick.

The main reason for pest control professionals is that they have the time and motivation to learn about a bug's lifecycle, habits, food, harborage and behavior. All of this together is called Integrated Pest Management.

http://competitionpest.com/index.php/Fre...

If you're willing to buy ten gallons of Ortho Home Defense, learn about the bugs you're trying to get rid of, and are willing to splurge on other products as necessary, and take the time to do the treatment, then by all means you can do it.

For instance, what types of ants, if you stress the colony, will actually bud into smaller colonies? What's the difference between a yellow sac spider and an agressive house spider? Should you spray for roaches or bait for them or use a dust for them? If you say dust, which one can you use in a restaurant, and where?

You could also change your own oil in your truck, clean your own carpet, clean your own pool, add the right amount of chemicals to your pool to keep the PH where it needs to be, assemble your own computer... etc.

So - you can buy stuff that's just like, or very much like, the stuff we use. My only advice is to follow the label EXACTLY!  If you read the label it talks about using the product improperly is a federal offense. It's not a joke. It's the law.

Be safe, and if you hire a professional, be picky.