How To Choose a Pest Control Company
There are a number of things you can weigh when choosing the best pest control treatmentfor you. Some things you might consider include qualifications and licensing, pest intervention strategies, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost.
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 those that supervise them are required to be certified at the state level. The EPA does set minimum standards of competency, but all pesticide applicators in North Dakota need to be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
A pest control company can receive optional certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro to support its standards and methods. One particular certification is the GreenPro Service Certification, which is given when a company can demonstrate that its methods are more eco-friendly. These companies also need to maintain certain training standards for employees.
Pest control companies can also belong to certain professional organizations. Joining an organization such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or a state-level organization gives companies access to resources and education, plus a network of professionals with whom to compare best practices. Membership in one of these organizations is not mandatory, but it can help indicate that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
How long a pest control company has been in business can shed some light on its experience dealing with various pests. Online reviews or the company's website itself can also enlighten you about whether it has the experience needed to handle your specific pest problem. If the answers to your questions aren't available online, reaching out to the company directly is an easy way to learn more.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can check a company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, explore reviews on social media or local review sites, or check the standing of its license via the North Dakota 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 influence 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 sort of guarantees it offers. Often, a company will guarantee that if it does not resolve your pest problem, it will continue treatment until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your preferences regarding safety for yourself, your children, your pets, and the environment may affect the provider and the treatment methods you choose.
Safety
You want to ensure that you understand the precautions for the pesticides used in your home, for the sake of you, your family, and your pets. Your pest control technician should provide information about all pesticides they plan to use, whether they are low toxicity or non-toxic, and (if not) what safety measures they have in place. All pesticides (except minimum-risk ones) must be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
Organizations looking to reduce their use of chemical pesticides often follow practices such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Using IPM involves a series of steps:
- Figure out what pests are causing the problem and determine whether immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of mechanical, physical, biological, and cultural controls to manage the pest problem.
- Use chemical controls only when absolutely necessary, and always along with other solutions for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and implement additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Fargo
In Fargo, there are some pests that are more common than others. This list of pests includes the following:
- Ants: Ants are common in just about every part of North Dakota. Large carpenter ants can be an even bigger problem than regular soil ants, because they can cause structural damage to your house.
- Spiders: You may encounter spiders in your basement, attic, or other moist, dark places. Even though most species of spider are harmless to humans, you don't want an infestation of them in your house.
- Bed bugs: Bed bugs are found throughout North Dakota, and they can cause serious problems if left untreated. Because infestations of bed bugs can be difficult to get rid of, we recommend hiring a professional exterminator as soon as you discover the problem. These pests can infest bedsheets, wallpaper, furniture, and more.
