How To Choose a Pest Control Company
Choosing the best pest control treatment for you is key. Factors you may 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?
All pesticide applicators (and those that supervise them) are required to be certified at the state level. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established minimum standards of competency, but any pesticide applicators working in the state of Washington should be licensed via the necessary state regulatory agencies.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
One certification that pest control companies can earn is the GreenPro Service Certification, which requires that a company show that its practices are environmentally friendly and that its employees receive up-to-date training. QualityPro and similar trade organizations also offer other certifications. These are not required, but can help show that a pest control company is reputable.
Pest control companies can also join certain professional organizations. Companies can be members of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), or state-level organizations. NPMA membership provides companies with access to education, resources, and a network of other pest control companies. While not required, membership in professional organizations helps back up a company's reputability.
Professional Experience and Specialties
In general, a company will list information like its years of experience and specialities on its website. Online reviews can also tell you whether a company has experience dealing with a specific pest. If you're unable to locate the information you need online, you can speak with a company representative directly to get the answers to your questions.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can browse reviews and recommendations on social media or local review sites, verify a company's rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or check the status of its license through the Washington 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 influenced by factors like the size of your house, the type of pest being treated, and your location.
You can consider whether a particular company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget), and what sort of guarantees are provided. Often, a company will guarantee that if your pest problem isn't fixed by its treatment, it will continue to treat until it is.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your preferences regarding safety for yourself, your children, your pets, and the environment may affect which provider and treatment methods you choose.
Safety
You should ask your pest control provider if the chemicals they're using are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what precautionary measures they will have in place. Any pesticides that are not minimum-risk chemicals must be registered with the EPA. Your pest control provider will be able to supply you with information about all chemicals they are going to use.
Treatment Methods
Companies often begin with more environmentally friendly options before employing pesticides, following a framework called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). When using IPM, the following steps are taken:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and determine if immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of physical, cultural, biological, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Use chemical controls only if needed, and always in combination with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and implement additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Wenatchee
Some pests are more common than others. In Wenatchee, common pests to be watchful for include the following:
- Ticks: A tick infestation can be dangerous because they might bring Lyme or other diseases into your home. You may be at increased risk of a tick infestation if you live near a forest, a body of water, or an area of dense vegetation.
- Flies: You might find flies around sinks or in places where you keep food. Flies can get into your Wenatchee home year-round, but they're especially common during warmer months.
- Wasps: In many cases, wasps are difficult to rid yourself of, especially while trying to avoid being stung. They can often be found in areas like roof overhangs, attics, sheds, and garages.
- Bed bugs: Infestations of bed bugs can be very hard to eliminate, so we strongly recommend hiring an exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs are found throughout Washington, and can infest not only your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even your wallpaper.
- Spiders: You may encounter spiders in your basement, attic, or other dark, damp places. Even though most species of spider are harmless to humans, you don't want an infestation of them in your home.
