How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When hiring a pest control company, you want to make sure that you find the best one to meet your needs. You may consider a company's qualifications, treatment methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and price of services.
Below, we discuss each factor in more detail.
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 those that supervise them need to be licensed at the state level. The EPA has established minimum standards of competency, and the Connecticut regulatory agencies take care of the granting, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
A pest control company can receive optional certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to verify its methods and standards. One particular certification is the GreenPro Service Certification, which is awarded when a company can demonstrate that its methods are more eco-friendly. These companies also need to maintain certain employee training standards.
There are various professional organizations in which pest control companies can hold membership. Membership in organizations like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations is not mandatory, but helps verify a company's reputability. Membership in the NPMA gives companies access to resources, education, and a network of other professionals with whom to discuss practices and methods.
Professional Experience and Specialties
How long a pest control company has been in business can tell you something about its experience dealing with pests in your area. Online reviews or the company's website itself can also inform you whether it has the skills and experience needed to handle your specific pest problem. If the answers to your questions aren't available online, calling a representative is an excellent way to learn about the company's areas of expertise.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can look for reviews and recommendations on local review sites or social media, verify a company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, or check the status of its license through the Connecticut licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Things like the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, your location, and other factors can all influence the price of pest control.
You can look into whether a company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget), as well as what sort of guarantees it offers. Often, a company will guarantee that if it does not solve your pest problem, it will continue treatment until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your preferences regarding safety for yourself, your children, your pets, and the environment can influence which provider and treatment methods you choose.
Safety
You will want to understand the precautions around pesticides used around your home, for the sake of your family, your pets, and yourself. Your pest control provider should be able to provide information about the pesticides they plan to use, whether they are low toxicity or non-toxic, and (if not) what safety measures will be used. All pesticides (except minimum-risk ones) need to be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
Companies looking to reduce their use of chemical pesticides often implement procedures such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Using IPM involves a series of steps:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and determine if immediate action is required.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Use a combination of physical, cultural, biological, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always in combination with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and continue with additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in West Haven
Certain pests are more common than others. In West Haven, common pests to be wary of include the following:
- Cockroaches: You can find cockroaches throughout Connecticut, though they prefer wetter areas. This can make them an even bigger problem in West Haven. Cockroaches might get into your house through small cracks, and they can sometimes bring in diseases like salmonella.
- Ants: Whether smaller soil ants or larger carpenter ants, these bugs can be found in most parts of Connecticut. Carpenter ants can cause more problems than their smaller counterparts by causing damage to your home.
- Mice: Common signs of mouse activity include chewed wires and droppings around your house. Mice are commonly found in attics or in places where food is kept.
- Bed bugs: Bed bug infestations can be very difficult to quash, so we recommend calling a professional as soon as possible. Bed bugs can be found throughout Connecticut, and can infest not only your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even your wallpaper.
- Spiders: These pests prefer moist, dark places and are often found in basements or attics.
