How To Choose a Pest Control Company
There are a number of things you can consider when choosing the best pest control companyfor you. 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 consider cost.
Below, we dive into detail on each of these factors.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set minimum standards of competency for pesticide applicators, but licensure is overseen at the state level. All pesticide applicators and supervisors in Wisconsin must be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
An optional certification that may be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. In order to get this certification, a pest control company must both demonstrate that its practices are more eco-friendly and uphold certain technician training standards. Companies can obtain other certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro to further back up their work.
Pest control companies can also be members of various professional organizations. When a company joins an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it receives access to education, resources, and a network of other pest control experts with whom to compare methods. This can give you extra peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
A pest control company's website can tell you how many years it has been in operation and what kind of pests it specializes in eliminating. Online reviews can also give you some insight into a company's experience dealing with a specific pest. If this information isn't available online, you can try calling the company directly.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can browse reviews and recommendations on local review sites or social media, view a company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, or check the status of its license through the Wisconsin licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Cost is often a deciding factor when picking a pest control company. Cost may be determined by the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, your location, and other factors.
Certain pest control companies offer a free on-site estimate to help you figure out if it fits into your budget. You can also see if it offers a guarantee of satisfaction.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control company might be affected by how eco-friendly a provider's pest control management solutionsare, in addition to how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
Safety
Make sure to ask your pest control provider 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 should be registered with the EPA. Your pest control provider should be able to provide information about all pesticides they plan on using.
Treatment Methods
Nowadays, many companies are exploring more environmentally friendly pest control solutions that can be used before (or instead of) chemical pesticides. Many are following the practice of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which goes as follows:
- Identify problem pests and assess whether immediate action is needed.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Use a combination of physical, cultural, biological, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only when required, and always in combination with other solutions for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and provide additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Appleton
In Appleton, there are some pests that are more common than others. This list includes the following:
- Bees: Bees around your home can be a nuisance, especially if someone in your household has an allergy. Your pest control technician can help get rid of bees, and some may even be able to help safely relocate hives.
- Ants: Ants can be found in just about every part of Wisconsin. Large carpenter ants can be an even bigger problem than normal soil ants, as they can cause structural damage to your home.
- Mice: Some common signs of mice include chewed wires and droppings around your home. Mice are often found in attics or in places where food is kept.
- Bed bugs: Bed bugs are found throughout Wisconsin, and they can cause big problems if left untreated. Because infestations of bed bugs are often hard to get rid of, we recommend having professional extermination as soon as you discover the problem. Bed bugs can infest bedsheets, wallpaper, furniture, and more.
- Spiders: You may find spiders in your attic or other damp, dark places. While most spiders are harmless and pose no threat to humans, you don't want a spider infestation in your home.
