How To Choose a Pest Control Company
There are a number of things that you can weigh when selecting the right pest control treatment planfor you. A company's qualifications and treatment methods are important to consider, as are its years of experience and reputation in customer reviews. Of course, you will also want to think about cost.
Below, we explore the details of each of these factors.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
All pesticide applicators, as well as those that supervise them, need to be licensed via the appropriate California regulatory agencies. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets minimum standards of competency, but issuing, maintaining, and revoking licensure is handled at the state level.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can optionally obtain additional certifications like the GreenPro Service Certification. This certification is awarded once a company has proven its methods to be more eco-friendly and demonstrated that it also maintains certain other standards, such as up-to-date training for employees. A pest control company can also earn other certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to further back up its methods and practices.
Pest control companies can also belong to various professional organizations. When a company becomes a member of an organization like the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gains access to education, resources, and a network of other pest professionals with whom to compare treatment methods. This can give you additional peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
The amount of time that a company has been in business can shed some light on its experience dealing with various pests. Customer reviews or the company's website itself can also help you figure out whether it has the skills and experience needed to handle your specific pest problem. If you cannot find the answers to your questions online, contacting the company directly is an easy way to learn about its areas of expertise.
Reviews and Recommendations
Resources you can use to check a company's reputation include the Better Business Bureau (BBB), local review sites, and social media. You can also verify the status of a company's license through the California licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Pest control costs can vary based on things like the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, your location, and other factors.
When considering the cost of services, you should first look into whether a company provides free on-site estimates as part of its process. This can help determine whether the company fits into your budget. Also consider what guarantees a company offers: If the problem is not resolved, or returns, will the company provide additional treatment until the issue is resolved satisfactorily?
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control provider might be affected by how eco-friendly a company's pest control management solutionsare, in addition to how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
Safety
Ask your pest control provider if they will be using low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides—if not, ask about what precautionary measures will be in place. Any pesticide that presents above a minimum risk needs to be registered with the EPA. Your pest control company should supply information about all pesticides to be used, and how safe they are around people and pets.
Treatment Methods
Many companies will begin with more environmentally friendly solutions before using pesticides, following a framework called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). When using IPM, the following steps are taken:
- Identify problem pests and determine whether immediate action is required.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and physical controls.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always in combination with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and implement additional pest control as needed.
