How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When picking a pest control company, you want to be sure to find the best one to meet your needs. You might take into consideration a pest control company's qualifications and treatment methods in addition to its years of experience and customer reviews. Of course, there is also the cost of services to consider.
Below, we dive into detail on each of these factors.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
Per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all pesticide applicators and their supervisors must be certified at the state level. The EPA does set minimum standards of competency, but all Alabama pesticide applicators should be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
A pest control company can optionally apply for additional certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro in order to back up its methods and standards. One particular certification is the GreenPro Service Certification, which is granted to any company that can demonstrate that its methods are more eco-friendly. A company that receives this certification also needs to maintain certain training standards for employees.
There are certain professional organizations that a pest control company can belong to. A pest control company can join both state-level organizations and national organizations like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). By being a member of these optional organizations, a company helps support its reputability and gains access to resources, education, and a network of other professionals with whom to compare best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can look at a company's years in business to help determine how much experience it has dealing with pests in Mobile. You can also browse its website or read customer reviews to figure out whether it has experience eliminating the type of pests you are looking to get rid of. If you cannot find this information online, getting in touch with a company representative is a good way to learn more.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can verify a company's legitimacy using the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and local review sites or social media. You can also check with Alabama's licensing board to verify the status of a company's license.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Pest control costs can vary based on things like your location, the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, and other factors.
When thinking about the cost of services, you should first look into whether a company provides free on-site estimates as part of its process. This can inform you whether the company fits into your budget. Also look into a company's guarantees: If the problem is not resolved, or returns, does the company provide additional treatments until the problem is handled satisfactorily?
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your preferences regarding safety for yourself, your children, your pets, and the environment may influence which provider and treatment methods you choose.
Safety
Your pest technician should be using low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides any time they can. If they plan to use pesticides that don't fall into one of these categories, your technician should explain what safety precautions will be in place to protect you, your family, and your pets. All pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk must be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
Many companies are using options for more eco-friendly pest control management solutions before relying on harsh pesticides.
One popular way of making pest control safer and greener is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Figure out what pests are causing the problem and assess whether immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of mechanical, cultural, biological, and physical controls.
- Use chemical controls only when absolutely necessary, and always with other techniques for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and provide additional pest control as needed.
