How To Choose a Pest Control Company
Hiring the right company for you is the most important step in the pest control process. A company's qualifications and pest treatment methods are important to consider, as well as its years of experience and customer reviews. Of course, you also want to think about 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 need to be certified at the state level. The EPA sets minimum standards of competency, but all Ohio pesticide applicators should 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 QualityPro or similar trade organizations in order 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. A company that receives this certification also needs to maintain certain employee training standards.
Pest control companies can also belong to certain professional organizations. Membership in an organization such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or a state-level organization grants a pest control company access to resources and education, and a professional network to compare best practices with. Belonging to one of these organizations is not mandatory, but it can help show that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
The amount of time that a pest control company has been in business can give you some insight into its experience dealing with pests in your area. Customer reviews or the company's website itself can also enlighten you about whether it has the experience necessary to eliminate the particular pests that are plaguing you. If the answers to your questions aren't available online, calling a representative is a great way to learn about the company's areas of expertise.
Reviews and Recommendations
Resources that can be used to verify a company's legitimacy include local review sites, social media, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Additionally, you can check the status of a company's license via the Ohio licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
For many people, cost is one of the main deciding factors when looking for pest control. Cost can be determined by factors like the size of your house, the type of pest being treated, and your location.
You can think about whether a specific 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 its treatment doesn't resolve your pest problem, it will continue to come back until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
When it comes to picking a pest control provider, you want to choose a company that will keep you, your family, and your pets safe. You'll likely also prefer a provider that is eco-friendly.
Safety
Your pest technician should use pesticides that are low toxicity or non-toxic whenever possible. If any pesticides used don't fit into one of these categories, your technician should explain what safety precautions they plan to use to protect your family, your pets, and you. All pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk are required to be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
Nowadays, many companies are exploring more eco-friendly pest control solutions that can be used before (or in place of) chemical pesticides. Many are following the practice of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which goes as follows:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and assess whether immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of physical, biological, mechanical, and cultural controls to manage the pest problem.
- Use chemical controls only if needed, and always along with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and continue with additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Delaware
Certain pests are more common in Delaware, and these are the ones you should keep watch for. Some of these include the following:
- Fleas: Generally, fleas tend to prefer warmer weather and often are brought into the home by pets.
- Wasps: Wasps are often found in places like sheds, garages, roof overhangs, and attics. They are often difficult to exterminate, and have painful stings. Your local pest experts can remove wasp nests from your property safely.
- Bed bugs: Bed bug infestations can be very hard to eliminate, so we strongly recommend hiring an exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs are found throughout Ohio, and can infest not only your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even wallpaper.
- Spiders: These pests prefer dark and moist places and are often found in basements or attics.
