How To Choose a Pest Control Company
It's important to choose the right pest control expertfor you. Important factors can include the company's qualifications, its treatment methods, experience and reviews, and of course the cost of services.
Below, we discuss each of these factors in more detail.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
While the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established minimum competency standards for pesticide applicators, licensing is handled at the state level. All pesticide applicators (and their supervisors) in Florida should be licensed by all the necessary state regulatory agencies.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
A pest control company can optionally apply for certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations in order to back up its standards and methods. One particular certification is the GreenPro Service Certification, which is awarded to any company that can demonstrate that its methods are more environmentally friendly. These companies also need to maintain certain training standards for employees.
Pest control companies can also belong to professional organizations. When a company obtains membership in an organization like the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gets access to resources, education, and a network of other pest experts with whom to compare methods. This can offer added peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
A pest control company's website can tell you how long it has been in operation and what kind of pests it specializes in eliminating. Online reviews can also give you some insight into a company's experience dealing with a certain type of pest. If this information isn't available online, you can try contacting the company directly.
Reviews and Recommendations
Resources you can use to check a company's reputation include social media, local review sites, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Additionally, you can confirm the status of a company's license through the Florida licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Cost is important when hiring a pest control company. Cost can be influenced by the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, your location, and other factors.
Many companies offer free on-site estimates at the beginning of their process, to help you determine whether it fits into your budget. You can also ask whether if your company has a satisfaction guarantee, meaning that if your pest problem is not solved by the initial treatment, it will continue returning until it is.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control company might be influenced by how environmentally friendly a provider's pest control servicesare, in addition to how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
Safety
Your pest control expert should be using low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides whenever possible. If they plan to use pesticides that don't fit into one of these categories, your technician should explain what safety precautions will be used to protect your family, your pets, and you. Pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk are required to be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
Many companies are using options for more eco-friendly treatment methods before employing harsh pesticides.
One common way of making pest control safer and greener is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify problem pests and assess whether immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of physical, biological, mechanical, and cultural controls to manage the pest problem.
- Use chemical controls only if needed, and always with other techniques for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and continue with additional pest control as needed.
