How To Choose a Pest Control Company
The first step is choosing the best pest control professional for the job. Factors you might consider include licensing and qualifications, pest intervention strategies, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost.
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 those that supervise them need to be licensed at the state level. The EPA sets minimum standards of competency, and the Delaware regulatory agencies handle the granting, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can earn the GreenPro Service Certification, which requires a company to show that its practices are environmentally friendly and that its employee training is up to date. Trade organizations such as QualityPro offer additional certifications. These are not required, but can help show that a company is reputable.
Pest control companies can also belong to certain professional organizations. A pest control company can obtain membership in both state-level organizations and national organizations like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). While not mandatory, membership in these organizations helps prove a company's reputability and gives it access to resources, education, and a network of other professionals to compare best practices with.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can get some insight into a company's level of pest management experience by looking at how long it has been in operation. Local reviews and the company's own website can also inform you whether the company has experience dealing with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can always contact a representative directly to learn this information if it is not available online.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can verify a company's legitimacy using local review sites or social media as well as the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can also check with Delaware's licensing board to verify the status of a company's license.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Cost is important when picking a pest control company. Cost may be determined by the size of your house, your location, the type of pest being treated, and other factors.
A pest control company may offer a free on-site estimate to help you figure out if it fits into your budget. You can also check to see if it offers a guarantee of satisfaction.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control provider 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
Your pest control provider should be using pesticides that are low toxicity or non-toxic whenever possible. If any pesticides used don't fit into one of these categories, your technician should explain what safety precautions they plan to use to protect you, your family, and your pets. All pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk are required to be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
Companies often begin with more eco-friendly treatment methods before employing harsh pesticides, following a framework called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). When using IPM, the following steps are taken:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and determine whether immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of physical, cultural, biological, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only if needed, and always with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and implement additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Dover
You might run into some pests more often in Dover. Certain ones to keep an eye out for include these:
- Cockroaches: Cockroaches can be found in many parts of Delaware, although they prefer wetter areas. Cockroaches might come inside through small cracks, and some can carry diseases like salmonella.
- Bed bugs: Infestations of bed bugs are often very difficult to eliminate, so we recommend hiring an exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs can be found throughout Delaware, and can infest not only your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even your wallpaper.
- Mice: Some common signs of mice include chewed wires and droppings around your home. Frequently, mice can be found in attics or in areas where food is stored.
