July 7 (Fairfax, VA) – The “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) spirit of Americans has been lauded during the current economic downturn as The Washington Post reported in late June that 23 percent of people who took on home renovation projects did so to enact cost-saving measures. Although this would seem to be a natural inclination, The New York Times recently analyzed the perils of DIY projects for untrained and often unprepared homeowners. While there is no official tracking of (DIY) injuries within a recession, annual research from the Home Safety Council reports that home injuries result in nearly 21 million medical visits and close to 20,000 deaths every year.
One area where homeowners have ventured more frequently into DIY is with regard to pest control. Although there are maintenance issues that homeowners can undertake to prevent pests from entering their homes, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) reminds homeowners that there are several types of pest infestations that cannot be eradicated through DIY efforts.
“In economic downturns, many homeowners attempt to take on a variety of projects that are often better left to professionals, notably pest prevention and treatment,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “Many pest infestations pose far too serious health and property risks to be effectively dealt with through DIY efforts. Termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage each year. Bed bugs can spread rapidly through a home if not identified and treated in an efficient manner. Rodents can reproduce quickly and chew through electrical wires in walls, raising the risk of home fire.”
Summer is a season where DIY projects tend to increase in frequency and scope. However, Henriksen warns that simple summer pest management tasks can pose health risks as “stinging insects can aggressively sting, especially if their nest is being threatened, and send more than half million people to the emergency room every year.”
For more information regarding selecting a pest professional and other pest-related issues, please visit Pestworld.org.
The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 6,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry's commitment to the protection of public health, food and property.
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