How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When picking a pest control company, there are several factors that you can consider to be sure you choose the best one for you. Important decision-making factors can include the company's qualifications, its treatment methods, experience and reviews, and of course the cost of services.
Below, we discuss each of these factors in more detail.
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Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
All pesticide applicators (and those that supervise them) must be certified at the state level. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets minimum standards of competency, but all pesticide applicators working in the state of Colorado should be licensed via the necessary state regulatory agencies.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
One optional certification that could be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. To earn this certification, a pest control company must both show that its practices are more environmentally friendly and maintain certain training standards for its technicians. Companies can also obtain other certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro to further support their work.
Pest control companies can also belong to certain professional organizations. Becoming a member of an organization like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or a state-level organization gives companies access to education and resources, as well as a professional network to compare best practices with. Membership in organizations like these is not mandatory, but it can help show that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
Looking at how long a company has been in business can help determine how much experience it has handling pests in your area. You can also explore its website or look through customer reviews to decide whether it has the right kind of experience handling the species of pests you are looking to get rid of. If this information can't be found online, calling the company directly is a good way to learn more.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can look at a company's reviews and rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), explore social media and local review sites to see what others in your area have to say, or verify its license standing through the Colorado licensing board.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
For many people, cost is one of the most important factors when looking for pest control. Cost can be determined by factors like the size of your house, your location, and the type of pest being treated.
You can look into whether a certain company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget), and what kind of guarantees it provides. 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 choice of pest control provider might be influenced by how environmentally friendly a company's practices are, in addition to how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
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Safety
It's important to understand the precautions around pesticides used around your home, for the sake of your family, your pets, and yourself. Your pest control provider should be able to supply information about any pesticides they will be using, whether they are low toxicity or non-toxic, and (if not) what safety measures they have in place. All pesticides (except minimum-risk ones) need to be registered with the EPA.
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Treatment Methods
Many companies are now trialing options for more environmentally friendly pest control techniques before jumping into using harsh pesticides.
One popular method for making pest control safer and greener is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify problem pests and assess whether immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of physical, biological, mechanical, and cultural controls.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always along with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and implement additional pest control as needed.