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May,16 2025

Pest Control vs. Extermination: What’s the Difference?

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Did you know pest control goes back hundreds of years? In America and Europe, “Rat Catchers” were popular for eliminating the most common vermin at the time, rats. Today, you find pest service providers online who can arrive at your door within a moment’s notice. At Wheeler’s Pest Control, we understand that both methods have a common goal: to get rid of unwanted critters. However, there are differences you should know to ensure you implement the right strategy for your needs without violating environmental codes.

What Is Pest Control?

Pest control involves dealing with the root cause of the infestation. Professionals will assess the affected areas on your property and devise tailored strategies to eliminate the pests and prevent future infestations. The main role of pest control services is to change the conditions that attract pests to your home or business. Additionally, professionals can perform comprehensive assessments to understand the nature and spread of infestation. This goes a long way to ensure a customized solution that eliminates the critters to prevent recurrences.

What Is Pest Extermination?

As the name suggests, pest extermination eradicates the problem. Whether you are dealing with termites, bed bugs, or other harmful insects, extermination is the most effective solution to reclaim your living and working spaces. However, extermination is regulated by local authorities, as some insects like bees are beneficial to the environment. Also, some areas have laws that prohibit mass extermination of rodents like squirrels, so consult a professional pest service in Temecula, CA to ensure compliance.

What Are the Key Differences?

Now that you know what pest control and extermination are, understanding the differences between them is crucial in protecting your home. Let’s delve into some of the differences to help you make informed decisions.

Focus

As mentioned, pest control focuses on long-term prevention and management of pest populations. This usually involves implementing tailored strategies to address the cause and prevent recurrences down the line. On the other hand, extermination is the immediate removal of existing pests. Pest control and extermination are suitable for different situations, allowing you to choose the right one for your needs.

Methods

Pest control involves combining several strategies, including sanitation, physical barriers, trapping, and targeted pesticides. The pest service provider will inspect affected areas to identify the pests, assess the damage, and recommend strategies to resolve the problem. Extermination relies primarily on pesticides and chemical treatments to kill pests.

Goal

The main goal of pest removal or control is to reduce the risk of future infestations and maintain a pest-free environment. This is usually achieved through a thorough assessment, accurate identification, and implementing strategies like installing door sweeps, using traps, and proper sanitation. Extermination is different because it aims to eradicate the existing pests by using a one–time treatment. Exterminators use insecticides to get rid of bed bugs or fumigation to kill invading termites.

On-Going Protection Is Key

The biggest difference between extermination and pest control is the focus on protecting your home. Pest control services do not just stop after getting rid of the current infestation, as professionals will provide ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the pests do not return. This includes routine checks, sealing potential entry points, and advising you on practices to keep your spaces comfortable and safe. According to pest removal experts, routine inspections every three months to treat your home can give you peace of mind knowing your home is protected.

The differences between pest control and extermination can help you make educated decisions on what your property needs. Contact us at Wheeler’s Pest Control and schedule a consultation with our experts enjoy long-term solutions and keep your living spaces safe from pests.

Hear from Our Happy Customers

Teresa Hutchinson

Guys came on time did their job in a very professional way and we are very happy with their service.

Joe English

Company is on top of their game David  showed up to get are gophers. came out three days in a row haven’t seen a go for since

Gary M.

Joseph is a great ambassador for Wheeler's pest control, and a shout out to Daniel for dealing with my crazy schedule. Thanks guys!

Kristen Forrester

A local business that everyone should support. All techs are knowledgeable, professional! FYI, they are also great w/ eradicating gophers as well!!