How To Choose a Pest Control Company
The most important step is selecting the best pest control company for the job. You might take into consideration a pest control company's qualifications and methods of treatment in addition to its customer reviews and years of experience. Of course, there is also the cost of services to consider.
Below, we dive into detail on each of these factors.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
All pesticide applicators, as well as those that supervise them, must be licensed via the appropriate New Jersey regulatory agencies. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established minimum standards of competency, while providing, maintaining, and revoking licensing is handled at the state level.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
One optional certification that may be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. To get this certification, a pest control company needs to both show that its practices are more environmentally friendly and uphold certain technician training standards. Companies can obtain other certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro to further support their work.
A pest control company can also obtain membership in professional organizations. When a company obtains membership in an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gains access to resources, education, and a network of other pest experts with whom to compare methods. This can offer additional peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can get some insight into a pest control company's level of experience by seeing how long it has been in operation. Local reviews and the company's own website can also clue you in as to whether a company has experience dealing with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can contact the company directly to learn this information if you can't find it online.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can view a company's rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), look for reviews on local review sites or social media, or check the standing of its license via the New Jersey licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Things like the size of your house, the type of pest being treated, your location, and other factors can all affect the price of pest control.
You can learn whether a company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget) and what kind of guarantees it provides. Often, a company will guarantee that if it does not take care of your pest problem, it will keep coming back until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Safety is an important consideration when deciding on a pest control provider. You might also prefer a provider who uses more natural, eco-friendly pest control management.
Safety
Your pest control expert should be using low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides any time they can. If any pesticides used don't fall into one of these categories, your technician should explain what safety precautions will be in place to protect you, your family, and your pets. Any pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk must be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
It is now common for companies to start with more environmentally friendly treatment methods before employing pesticides, following a framework called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). When using IPM, the following steps are taken:
- Identify problem pests and assess whether immediate action is needed.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Use a combination of mechanical, cultural, biological, and physical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only when absolutely necessary, and always with other solutions for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and implement additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Pennsauken
You might deal with some pests more often in Pennsauken. Certain ones to keep an eye out for include these:
- Ticks: A tick infestation can be dangerous because they can bring diseases like Lyme into your home. You may be at increased risk of a tick infestation if your home is near a body of water, a forest, or an area of dense vegetation.
- Mice: If you have a mouse infestation, you might start noticing droppings around your house, or things like chewed wires. Frequently, mice are found in attics or in places where food is stored.
- Bed bugs: Bed bugs are found throughout New Jersey, and they can lead to serious problems if left untreated. Because infestations of bed bugs are often difficult to get rid of, we recommend hiring a professional exterminator as soon as you discover the problem. Bed bugs can infest wallpaper, furniture, bedsheets, and more.
