How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When picking a pest control company, you want to be sure to find the right one for you. The qualifications of and treatment methods used by a company are important to consider, as well as its years of experience and reputation in customer reviews. Of course, you will 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 must be licensed at the state level. The EPA has established minimum standards of competency, and the Arizona regulatory agencies handle the granting, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
-
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can also obtain optional certifications like the GreenPro Service Certification. This certification is granted once a company has shown its methods to be more environmentally friendly and demonstrated that it also maintains certain other standards, such as up-to-date training for employees. A company can also earn other certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro to further verify its practices and methods.
Pest control companies can also become members of 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. Joining one of these organizations is not required, but it can help indicate that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
How long a company has been in business can give you some insight into its experience dealing with pests in your area. Online reviews or the company's website itself can also inform you whether it has the experience needed to deal with your particular pests. If you cannot find the answers to your questions online, reaching out to the company directly is an excellent way to learn more.
-
Reviews and Recommendations
You can check a company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, browse reviews on local review sites or social media, or check the standing of its license via the Arizona licensing board.
-
Cost of Services and Guarantees
Cost is important when hiring a pest control company. Cost can be affected influenced by the size of your house, the type of pest being treated, your location, and other factors.
Companies will often offer free on-site estimates before starting work, to help you determine whether it fits into your budget. You can also ask whether if your company has a satisfaction guarantee, meaning that it will continue to treat your pest problem until it is solved.
Safety and Treatment Methods
When it comes to picking a pest control provider, you want to choose a company that will help keep you, your family, and your pets safe. You'll likely also prefer an environmentally-conscious provider.
-
Safety
All pesticides used by your company (except those that pose only a minimum risk) must be registered with the EPA. Your pest control provider should provide information on every pesticide they plan to use. They should inform you whether the pesticides are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what safety precautions they plan to take.
-
Treatment Methods
You can ask if your technician will begin with lower-toxicity, more natural options before using harsher chemicals.
Many companies now use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to treat pest infestations with minimal personal or environmental risk. The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Figure out what pests are causing the problem and determine if immediate action is required.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Use a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and physical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only when required, and always in combination with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and continue with additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Phoenix
You might deal with some pests more frequently in Phoenix. Some pests to keep an eye out for include these:
- Cockroaches: Cockroaches can be found throughout Arizona, although they prefer wetter areas. Cockroaches can get into your house through small cracks, and they can sometimes spread diseases like salmonella.
- Termites: Termites often come into your home from nearby piles of rotting wood, firewood, or mulch. If left uncontrolled, they can do a substantial amount of damage and cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs.
- Bed bugs: Infestations of bed bugs can be very hard to quash, so we recommend hiring an exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs are found throughout Arizona, and can infest not only your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even your wallpaper.
- Spiders: You may find spiders in your attic or other damp, dark places. Most spiders are harmless and pose no threat to humans, but you still don't want a spider infestation in your house.
- Mice: Common signs of mice include chewed wires and droppings around your home. Mice are often found in attics or in places where you keep food.
Phoenix Pest Control FAQ
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviewsteam@thisoldhousereviews.com.
Pests come into your home looking for one of three things: food, water, or shelter. Some pests will opportunistically enter your home through a broken screen or foundation crack. Some are attracted to food, either actual food sitting out or trash left out in the open. Others are searching for water, whether it be standing water outside or puddles inside from leaky pipes.
There are certain steps you can take to help prevent pest infestations. First, avoid leaving food out. Keep your food stored in sealed containers, and avoid leaving trash sitting around.
Second, avoid having standing water in or around your house. Repair leaks indoors and eliminate places where standing water collects outside. Lastly, seal off possible pest entrances into your house, including foundation and siding cracks.
Normally it's recommended that you hire a pest control technician about once a year. If you have an active infestation, you will need pest control to come out more often. Ultimately, your pest professional is the person who is best-equipped to recommend a treatment schedule for you.
If you get pests in your home, you may end up spending a good deal of time and money ridding your house of them, as well as possibly recovering from illness or damages they caused. Preventive pest control can stop this from happening in the first place.
