How To Choose a Pest Control Company
Choosing the best pest control company for you is important. A company's qualifications and treatment methods are important to consider, as are its years of experience and what other customers have said. Of course, you will also want to think about cost.
Below, we discuss each of these factors in more detail.
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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 must be certified at the state level. The EPA sets minimum standards of competency, but all pesticide applicators in Georgia must be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can earn the GreenPro Service Certification, which requires that a company show that its practices are environmentally friendly and that its employees receive up-to-date training. Trade organizations such as QualityPro offer additional certifications. These are not required, but can help demonstrate that a pest control company is reputable.
Pest control companies can also become members of various professional organizations. When a company becomes a member of an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it receives access to resources, education, and a network of other pest control experts with whom to compare methods. This can give you additional peace of mind that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
The amount of time that a company has been in business can tell you something about its experience dealing with the pests that live in Roswell. Online reviews or the company's own website can also help you figure out whether it has the experience necessary to deal with your particular pests. If you cannot find the answers to your questions online, speaking with a representative is an excellent way to learn about the company's areas of expertise.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can browse reviews and recommendations on local review sites or social media, view a company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, or check the status of its license through the Georgia licensing board.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
For many people, cost is one of the main deciding factors when picking a company for pest control. Cost can be affected by factors like your location, the type of pest being treated, and the size of your house.
You can think about whether a specific company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits your budget), and what sort of guarantees are provided. Often, a company will guarantee that if your pest problem isn't fixed by its treatment, it will continue to treat until it is.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control company might be influenced by how environmentally-friendly a company's practices are, as well as how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
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Safety
It's important to understand the precautions for the pesticides used around your house, for the sake of you, your family, and your pets. Your pest control technician should provide information about all pesticides they plan on using, whether they are low toxicity or non-toxic, and (if not) what safety measures will be used. All pesticides (except minimum-risk ones) must be registered with the EPA.
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Treatment Methods
You can ask if your technician will begin with more natural and lower-toxicity options before using harsher chemicals.
Many companies are now using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to eliminate pests while reducing personal and environmental risks. The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and determine whether immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of physical, biological, mechanical, and cultural controls.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and implement additional pest control as needed.
