How To Choose a Pest Control Company
Choosing the best pest control treatment plan for you is key. You may take into consideration a company's qualifications, methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost of services.
Below, we dive into detail on each factor.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set minimum competency standards for pesticide applicators, but licensure is overseen at the state level. All pesticide applicators and their supervisors in California must be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
An optional certification that might be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. To receive this certification, a pest control company must both show that its practices are more eco-friendly and maintain certain technician training standards. Companies can also obtain other certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to further support their work.
There are certain professional organizations in which pest control companies can hold membership. 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 control experts with whom to compare methods. This can give you extra peace of mind that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can gain some insight into a company's level of experience by seeing how many years it has been in business. Local reviews and the company's own website can also let you know whether the company has experience dealing with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can always call the company directly to learn this information if you can't find it online.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can look up a company's rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), browse reviews on social media or local review sites, or check the standing of its license via the California licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
The cost of pest control can vary based on things like the size of your house, your location, the type of pest being treated, and other factors.
When considering the cost of services, you should try to determine whether a company includes free on-site estimates as part of its process. This can help determine whether the company fits into your budget. Also look into a company's guarantees: If the problem is not fixed, or if it returns, does the company provide additional treatments until the problem is satisfactorily resolved?
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control company might be affected by how environmentally friendly a provider's pest control servicesare, as well as how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
Safety
All pesticides (except those that are determined to be of minimal risk) need to be registered with the EPA. Your pest control technician should supply information on all the pesticides that they will be using. They should be able to tell you whether these chemicals are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what safety precautions will be in place.
Treatment Methods
You can ask if your pest control provider will start with more eco-friendly and lower-toxicity methods before trying harsher chemicals.
Many companies are using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to treat pest infestations with minimal personal or environmental risk. The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify problem pests and determine if immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only if needed, and always in combination with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and provide additional pest control as needed.
