When you hear the words "pest control company," what comes to mind? Most people think of sprays and chemical insecticides, which is not that appealing. It's important to realize, however, that pest control companies do a lot more than just spray chemical pesticides in and around your home. While pesticides are sometimes necessary, they are not always needed, and there are definitely many cases that can be handled without them. Here are some non-chemical tactics that pest control companies often employ.

Trapping

Many pests can be trapped and relocated. This is a tactic often used for rodents. Especially if you call a pest control company early on in the infestation, before the rodents have much of a chance to breed, the pest control company may be able to set a few traps, round up the pests, and take them far away. This is why it's important to call the second you suspect you may have rats or mice — not wait to see if they go away on their own. (They won't.) Pest control companies can also use traps to get rid of squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and groundhogs. In some municipalities, they may be required to use these methods rather than chemical methods.

Exclusion

Exclusion is a fancy term that basically means keeping the pests from entering in the first place. This tactic can take many forms. It may mean caulking around your windows so box elder bugs don't crawl in anymore. It may mean putting a cap on your chimney so that squirrels can't go down there again. A good pest control expert will take plenty of time to look over your home and identify exclusionary measures that can be taken to keep pests at bay.

Heat

Heat treatment is only really used for a few specific pests: bed bugs, fleas, and some types of cockroaches. Basically, it involves using a special device to heat the home up to 120 degrees F. Few bug can survive above this temperature. Heat treatment can be expensive, but it's very safe. There are no chemical residues to worry about, and you can return to your home just an hour or two after treatment. 

If you have pests in your home and would prefer not to use chemical methods to get rid of them, talk to a pest control company near you. They may be able to use one or more of the methods above to rid your home of pests.