How To Choose a Pest Control Company
The most important step in the pest control process is hiring the right company for you. Factors you may consider include licensing and qualifications, treatment methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost.
Below, we discuss each of these factors 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 their supervisors must be licensed at the state level. The EPA sets minimum standards of competency, and the Illinois regulatory agencies handle the issuing, 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 more 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 demonstrate that a company is reputable.
Pest control companies can also belong to various professional organizations. When a company joins an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gains access to education, resources, and a network of other pest experts with whom to compare methods. This can offer extra peace of mind that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
Generally, a company provides information like its years of experience and specialities on its website. Local reviews can also tell you whether a company has experience dealing with a particular pest in your area. If you're unable to find the information you need online, you can speak with a company representative directly to get your questions answered.
Reviews and Recommendations
Resources that can be used to verify a company's legitimacy include the Better Business Bureau (BBB), social media, and local review sites. Additionally, you can check the status of a company's license through the Illinois licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Pest control costs can vary based on things like the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, your location, and other factors.
When thinking about the cost of services, you should verify whether a company provides free on-site estimates as part of its process. This can inform you whether the company fits into your budget. Also consider what guarantees a company offers: If the problem is not fixed, or returns, does the company provide additional treatments until the problem is resolved satisfactorily?
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control company might be influenced by how eco-friendly a provider's pest control management solutionsare, in addition to how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
Safety
It's important to understand the precautions around pesticides being used around your home, for the sake of your family, your pets, and yourself. Your pest control technician should supply information about the pesticides they intend 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) should be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
It is now common for companies to start with more eco-friendly options before employing pesticides, using a technique called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). When using IPM, the following steps are taken:
- Identify problem pests and determine whether immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and physical controls.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always with other solutions for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and continue with additional pest control as needed.
