How To Choose a Pest Control Company
There are a number of factors you can weigh when selecting the best pest control companyfor you. You might take into consideration a company's qualifications and treatment methods as well as its years of experience and customer reviews. Of course, there is also the cost of services to consider.
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 need to be licensed at the state level. The EPA maintains minimum competency standards, and the New Mexico regulatory agencies take care of the granting, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
A pest control company can receive optional certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro to verify its methods and standards. One particular certification is the GreenPro Service Certification, which is awarded when a company can demonstrate that its methods are more environmentally friendly. Companies that receive this certification also need to maintain certain training standards for employees.
Pest control companies can also hold membership in various professional organizations. When a company obtains membership in an organization like 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 added peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can look at a pest control company's years in business to help determine how much experience it has taking care of common pests in Las Cruces. You can also explore its website or peruse customer reviews to figure out whether it has experience eliminating the type of pests you are dealing with. If this information is not available online, getting in touch with a company representative is a good way to learn more.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can check 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 Mexico licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
It's important to think about cost when hiring someone for pest control. Cost can be affected by your location, the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, and other factors.
Companies will often offer free on-site estimates as part of their process, to help you determine whether it fits into your budget. You can also ask whether a provider offers a satisfaction guarantee, meaning that it will continue to treat your pest problem until it is solved.
Safety and Treatment Methods
When it comes to picking a pest control provider, you want to choose a company that will help keep you, your family, and your pets safe. You'll likely also prefer a provider that is eco-friendly.
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 provider should be able to supply information on every pesticide they plan to use. They should inform you whether the pesticides are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what safety precautions will be taken.
Treatment Methods
You can ask if your pest control provider will begin with more eco-friendly and lower-toxicity methods before moving on to harsher chemicals.
Many companies now use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to reduce personal or environmental risk when treating pest infestations. The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and determine if immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always along with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and continue with additional pest control as needed.
