How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When choosing a pest control company, you want to make sure that you find the right one to meet your needs. A company's qualifications and pest treatment methods are important to consider, as are its years of experience and reputation in customer reviews. Of course, you also want to think about cost.
Below, we explore the details of each of these factors.
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 standards of competency, 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 earn the GreenPro Service Certification, which requires a company to show that its practices are 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 pest control company is reputable.
Pest control companies can also belong to certain professional organizations. When a company obtains membership in an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gets access to resources, education, and a network of other pest control experts with whom to compare treatment methods. This can offer extra peace of mind that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
Looking at how long a company has been in business can help determine how much experience it has taking care of pests in Union City. You can also browse its website or look through customer reviews to determine whether it has adequate experience with the species of pests you are looking to get rid of. If this information can't be found online, contacting a representative directly is a great way to learn more.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can check a company's reputation using local review sites or social media as well as the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can also check with New Jersey's licensing board to see the status of a company's license.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
The cost of pest control can vary based on things like the size of your house, your location, the type of pest being treated, and other factors.
When considering the cost of services, you should verify whether a company offers free on-site estimates as part of its services. This can inform you whether the company fits into your budget. Also consider a company's guarantees: If the problem is not fixed, or if it returns, does the company promise to offer additional treatments until the problem is satisfactorily handled?
Safety and Treatment Methods
When it comes to picking a pest control provider, you want to select one that will help keep you, your family, and your pets safe. You'll likely also prefer an eco-friendly provider.
Safety
You should ask your pest control technician if the chemicals they're using are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what kind of precautionary measures they plan to take. All pesticides that are not considered minimum-risk chemicals need to be registered with the EPA. Your pest technician will be able to provide you with information about all pesticides they plan on using.
Treatment Methods
Many pest control companies are making the switch to using more natural and environmentally friendly treatment methods before (or in place of) harsh chemical pesticides. Some use a program called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and determine if immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of mechanical, physical, biological, and cultural controls.
- Employ chemical controls only if needed, and always with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and continue with additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Union City
You might run into some pests more often in Union City. Some to keep an eye out for include these:
- Bees: Your local pest expert can help eliminate bee infestations around your home (and some companies even have resources to safely relocate hives). You might be especially concerned with having bees' nests removed if someone in your household has an allergy.
- Ticks: Tick infestations can be dangerous if they bring diseases like Lyme into your home. You are likely at increased risk of these infestations if your home is close to a forest, a body of water, or an area of dense vegetation.
- Ants: Ants are common in basically all of New Jersey. Large carpenter ants can be even more of a problem than regular soil ants, as they can cause structural damage to your house.
- Mice: If you have mice, you may notice droppings or things like chewed wires. You can often find mice in attics or in places where food is kept.
- Spiders: These pests prefer dark and damp places and are commonly found in basements or attics.
