How To Choose a Pest Control Company
Hiring the right company for you is the most important step in the pest control process. The qualifications of and treatment methods used by a company are important to consider, as well as its years of experience and reputation in customer reviews. Of course, you also want to consider cost.
Below, we dive into detail on each of these factors.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains minimum competency standards for pesticide applicators, but licensure is taken care of at the state level. All pesticide applicators and their supervisors in Illinois need to be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies have the option to obtain certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro. While not required, they can help you assess the quality of a company's products. For example, the GreenPro Service Certification recognizes comprehensive and effective pest control methods that are safer for humans and the environment.
Pest control companies can also belong to various professional organizations. When a company becomes a member of an organization like the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gets access to education, resources, and a network of other pest professionals with whom to compare treatment methods. This can offer extra peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
The number of years that a pest control company has been in business can shed some light on its experience dealing with various pests. Customer reviews or the company's own website can also enlighten you about whether it has the experience necessary to eliminate the particular pests that are plaguing you. If the answers to your questions aren't available online, reaching out to the company directly is an excellent way to learn more.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can browse reviews and recommendations on social media or local review sites, verify a company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, or check the status of its license through the Illinois licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Things like your location, the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, and other factors can all affect the cost of pest control.
You can look into whether a company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget) and what type of guarantees it has. Often, a company will guarantee that if it does not resolve your pest problem, it will keep coming back until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Keeping yourself, your family and your pets safe is an important consideration when picking a pest control provider. You may also prefer a provider that employs environmentally friendly practices.
Safety
Your pest control provider should be using low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides any time they can. If any pesticides used don't fit into one of these categories, your technician should explain what safety precautions they will put in place to protect you, your family, and your pets. All pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk need to be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
Many pest control companies have begun using more natural and eco-friendly treatment methods before (or instead of) harsh chemical pesticides. Some follow a program called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify problem pests and determine if immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of mechanical, cultural, biological, and physical controls.
- Employ chemical controls only when required, and always in combination with other techniques for effective long-term pest control management.
- Evaluate outcomes and implement additional pest control treatments as needed.
