How To Choose a Pest Control Company
There are a number of factors that you can take into consideration when choosing the right pest control company for you. You might consider a company's qualifications and treatment methods as well as its years of experience and customer reviews. And of course, there's the cost of services to consider.
Below, we explore the details of each of these factors.
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Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all pesticide applicators and those that supervise them must be certified at the state level. The EPA sets minimum standards of competency, but all Colorado pesticide applicators must be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
An optional certification that might be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. In order to get this certification, a pest control company needs to both demonstrate that its practices are more environmentally friendly and uphold certain technician training standards. Companies can obtain other certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to further support their work.
Pest control companies can also hold membership in various professional organizations. When a company becomes a member of an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gains access to resources, education, and a network of other pest 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
Browsing a company's website can tell you how long it has been in business and what kind of pests it specializes in eliminating. Local reviews can also give you some insight into a company's experience dealing with a certain type of pest. If this information isn't available online, you can try calling the company directly.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can look at a company's reviews and rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), read social media and local review sites to see what other people are saying, or verify its license standing via the Colorado licensing board.
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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 type of pest being treated, the size of your house, 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 company offers a satisfaction guarantees, meaning that it will continue to treat your pest problem until it is solved.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your preferences regarding safety for yourself, your children, your pets, and the environment can influence the provider and the treatment methods you choose.
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Safety
You should ask your pest control provider if the chemicals they're using are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what sort of precautionary measures they plan to take. All pesticides that are not considered minimum-risk chemicals should be registered with the EPA. Your pest technician should be able to supply you with information about all pesticides they plan to use.
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Treatment Methods
Many companies are using options for more environmentally friendly methods of pest control 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 the source of the pest problem and assess whether immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of mechanical, physical, biological, and cultural controls.
- Employ chemical controls only if needed, and always along with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and implement additional pest control as needed.