How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When selecting a pest control company, there are several factors you can consider to be sure that you're choosing the right one for you. You may take into consideration a company's qualifications, methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and price of services.
Below, we dive into detail on each factor.
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 maintains minimum competency standards, and the New Jersey regulatory agencies handle the granting, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can also obtain optional certifications such as the GreenPro Service Certification. This certification is awarded once a company has proven its methods to be more eco-friendly and demonstrated that it also holds itself up to certain other standards, such as up-to-date employee training. A pest control company can also earn other certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro to further support its practices and methods.
Pest control companies can also become members of various professional organizations. A pest control company can obtain membership in state-level organizations in addition to national organizations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). By being a member of these optional organizations, a company helps support its reputability and gains access to resources, education, and a network of other professionals with whom to compare best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
A pest control company's website can tell you how long it has been in operation and what type of pests it specializes in exterminating. Online reviews can also provide some insight into a company's experience dealing with specific pests. If you can't find this information online, you can try contacting the company directly.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can check a company's reputation using the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and local review sites or social media. You can also check with New Jersey's licensing board to verify the status of a company's license.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Cost is an important consideration when choosing a pest control company. Cost may be determined by the type of pest being treated, your location, the size of your house, and other factors.
A pest control company may offer a free on-site estimate to help you determine if it fits into your budget. You can also look at whether it offers a satisfaction guarantee.
Safety and Treatment Methods
It's important to consider safety when selecting a pest control company, and you might prefer a provider who uses more natural, eco-friendly pest control management.
Safety
All pesticides used by your company (except those that are classified as minimum-risk) need to be registered with the EPA. Your pest control technician should supply information on all the pesticides that they are using. They should be able to tell you whether the pesticides are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what safety precautions will be taken.
Treatment Methods
Many companies have begun using more natural and eco-friendly treatment methods before, or in place of, harsh chemical pesticides. Some follow a program called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and assess whether immediate action is required.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Use a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and physical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only when required, and always with other techniques for effective long-term pest control management.
- Assess the outcome and implement additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Freehold
Some pests are seen more commonly in Freehold, and these pests are the ones you should keep an eye out for. Some of these include the following:
- Ants: Whether smaller soil ants or larger carpenter ants, these pests are found in most parts of New Jersey. Carpenter ants can cause more problems than their smaller counterparts because they can do damage to your house.
- Bed bugs: Bed bug infestations can be very hard to get rid of, so we recommend hiring an exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs are found throughout New Jersey, and can infest not just your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even your wallpaper.
- Mice: Some telltale signs of mouse activity include chewed wires and droppings around your home. Mice are often found in attics or in areas where you keep food.
