How To Choose a Pest Control Company
The most important step is selecting the best pest control professional for the job. Some things you may consider include licensing and qualifications, treatment methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost.
Below, we explore the details of each of these factors.
-
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
All pesticide applicators (and those who 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 all pesticide applicators working in the state of California must be licensed via the necessary state regulatory agencies.
-
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can earn the GreenPro Service Certification, which requires a company to 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. While not required, these can help show that a pest control company is reputable.
Pest control companies can also belong to certain professional organizations. Holding membership in organizations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations is not required, but helps show that a company is reputable. The NPMA gives companies access to education, resources, and a network of professionals with whom to discuss practices and methods.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can get some insight into a company's experience level by looking into how long it has been in operation. The company's website and local reviews can also inform you whether a company has experience dealing with the specific species of pests that are afflicting your home. You can contact the company directly to learn this information if you can't find it online.
-
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 California licensing board.
-
Cost of Services and Guarantees
It's important to think about cost when hiring someone for pest control. Cost can be affected influenced by your location, the size of your house, the type of pest being treated, and other factors.
Companies will often offer free on-site estimates as part of their process, to help you decide whether it fits into your budget. You can also ask whether a provider offers a satisfaction guarantee, meaning that if your pest problem is not solved by the initial treatment, it will continue returning until it is.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control provider might be affected by how environmentally-friendly a provider's practices are, as well as how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
-
Safety
Your pest technician should use pesticides that are low toxicity or non-toxic whenever possible. If they plan to use pesticides that 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. Any pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk should be registered with the EPA.
-
Treatment Methods
You can ask if your technician will start with lower-toxicity, more natural options before trying harsher chemicals.
Many companies are now using 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 assess whether immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and physical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always along with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and continue with additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Sacramento
You might deal with some pests more often in Sacramento. Some to keep an eye out for include these:
- Mosquitoes: Mosquito infestations are more common if you live in a wetter area. They're also more common when the weather is warmer. Mosquitoes can be more than just a nuisance--they can cause itchy bites and even spread diseases.
- Bees: Having bees around your home can be a nuisance, particularly if someone in your household has an allergy. Your local pest control company can help eliminate bees, and some might even be able to help safely relocate hives.
- Beetles: There are a number of species of beetles around the U.S. and in California. Many are harmless, but some may eat and do damage to things like your carpeting and the wooden structure of your house.
- Bed bugs: Bed bug infestations can be very difficult to eliminate, so we recommend calling a local exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs are found throughout California, and can infest not just your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even wallpaper.
- Mice: If you have mice, you may notice droppings or things like chewed wires. You can often find mice in attics or in places where food is stored.
Sacramento 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 enter your home simply because they have the opportunity to do so, through a foundation crack or broken screen. Some are drawn by food, either actual food sitting out or trash left out in the open. Others look for water, either standing water on your property or puddles inside from leaky pipes.
One method for preventing pest infestations is to seal off potential entrances into your home. These include things like cracks in your foundation or siding. Second, avoid leaving food out for pests. This includes keeping food in sealed containers as well as not leaving trash out. Finally, get rid of standing water in and around your home. Work to reduce places where water can collect outside, and repair leaks inside.
Any time you notice signs of pests in your Sacramento home--such as droppings, nests, signs of damage, or the pests themselves--you should contact an exterminator. If you've had recurrent or seasonal pest infestations, we suggest getting in touch with a local pest control company to set up annual pest management services.
If pests get into your home, you might end up spending a good deal of time and money ridding your house of them, and potentially recovering from illness or damages they have caused. Preventive pest control can stop this from happening.
