How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When selecting a pest control expert, there are a number of things you can consider to be sure you choose the best one for you. You might take into consideration a company's qualifications and treatment methods in addition to its customer reviews and years of experience. And of course, there's the cost of services to consider.
Below, we explore the details of each of these factors.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
While the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established minimum competency standards for pesticide applicators, licensing is handled at the state level. All pesticide applicators (and those who supervise them) in Wisconsin need to be licensed by all 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 a company to show that its practices are more eco-friendly and that its employee training is up to date. Trade organizations such as QualityPro offer additional certifications. While not required, these can help demonstrate that a pest control company is reputable.
A pest control company can also belong to professional organizations. Companies can belong to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), or state-level organizations. Membership in the NPMA provides companies with access to resources, education, and a network of other pest professionals. While not required, membership in professional organizations helps back up a company's reputability.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can gain some insight into a pest company's experience level by looking into how long it has been in business. The company's website and local reviews can also inform you whether the company has the experience needed to deal with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can call the company directly to learn this information if you can't find it online.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can check a company's rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), explore reviews on social media or local review sites, or check the standing of its license via the Wisconsin licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Things like the size of your house, the type of pest being treated, your location, and other factors can all influence the cost of pest control.
You can look into whether a company provides free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget), as well as what type of guarantees it has. Often, a company will provide a guarantee that if it does not take care of your pest problem, it will keep coming back until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Keeping yourself, your family and your pets safe is an important concern when choosing a pest control provider. You might also prefer a provider that uses eco-friendly treatment methods.
Safety
Your pest control technician should be able to discuss the safety of any and all pesticides that they're going to use. They should be able to explain whether the pesticides are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not what safety precautions will be in place to protect you, your family, and your pets. Any pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk should be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
Many companies have started offering options for more environmentally friendly treatment methods before employing harsh pesticides.
One popular way of making pest control safer and greener is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Figure out what pests are causing the problem and determine if immediate action is needed.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Use a combination of mechanical, physical, biological, and cultural controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only when required, and always in combination with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and implement additional pest control as needed.
