How To Choose a Pest Control Company
The most important step is choosing the best pest control professional for the job. A company's qualifications and treatment methods are important to consider, as well as its years of experience and what other customers have said. Of course, you also want to think about cost.
Below, we dive into detail on 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 their supervisors need to be licensed at the state level. The EPA has established minimum standards of competency, and the Florida regulatory agencies take care of the granting, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can obtain optional certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro. These certifications can help you assess the quality of a company's products. For example, the GreenPro Service Certification is given to companies that use comprehensive and effective pest control treatment that is safer for humans and the environment.
A pest control company can also belong to various professional organizations. While not required, membership in organizations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations help to prove a company's reputability. After joining an organization like the NPMA, a company receives access to resources, education, and a network of other professionals with whom to compare best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can get some insight into a company's experience level by looking at how long it has been in operation. The company's website and local reviews can also let you know whether a company has experience dealing with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can always contact a representative directly to learn this information if it is not available online.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can verify a company's legitimacy using the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and local review sites or social media. You can also check with Florida's licensing board to verify the status of a company's license.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
Cost is often a deciding factor when picking a pest control company. Cost may be determined by the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, your location, and other factors.
A pest control company may offer a free on-site estimate to help you match services to your budget. You can also see if it offers a guarantee of satisfaction.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control provider might be affected by how environmentally-friendly a provider's practices are, in addition to how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
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Safety
Make sure to ask your pest control provider if the chemicals they're using are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what kind of precautionary measures they will have in place. All pesticides that are not considered minimum-risk chemicals must be registered with the EPA. Your pest control provider should be able to supply information about all pesticides that they plan to use.
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Treatment Methods
Nowadays, many companies are exploring cleaner and greener pest management that can be implemented before (or in place of) chemical pesticides. Many are following the practice of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which goes as follows:
- Figure out what pests are causing the problem and determine if immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only if needed, and always with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and implement additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Jacksonville
Not all pests are equally prevalent in Jacksonville. Some species that you should keep an eye out for include the following:
- Termites: Termites often come into your home from nearby piles of firewood, mulch, or rotting wood. If left untreated, they can do a significant amount of damage and necessitate hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs.
- Mice: Some telltale signs of mice include chewed wires and droppings around your house. Mice are commonly found in attics or in places where food is stored.
- Bed bugs: Infestations of bed bugs are often very hard to get rid of, so we strongly recommend hiring an exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs can be found throughout Florida, and can infest not just your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even your wallpaper.
- Spiders: These pests prefer dark and moist places and are often found in attics.
Jacksonville Pest Control FAQ
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Pest infestations happen when pests enter your home looking for something, usually food, water, or shelter. Pests might be looking to eat food or trash that is sitting out. Some may also be drawn by standing water collecting outside (from rain collecting in one spot) or inside (from leaky pipes). They might also enter your house looking for shelter and get in through weak spots like foundation cracks or broken screens.
There are several things you can do to help prevent pest infestations. First, avoid leaving food out. Make sure food is 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. Finally, seal off possible pest entrances into your house, including foundation and siding cracks.
In general, it's recommended that your house is treated for pests around once a year, more often if you have an active infestation. Your pest professional will ultimately be the one best equipped to recommend a treatment schedule for you.
How soon you see results from pest control will depend on the issue and treatment. If your pest control technician does something like remove a wasp nest, you can see the results almost immediately. For most pest control, however, you may need to wait anywhere from one to two days to up to six weeks to see substantial results. Some pest problems may require your pest professional to make multiple visits to your house.
Whether you can clean your home after pest control services will vary depending on the type of treatment(s) used. Make sure that you ask your pest control technician before they leave. Generally, you will be able to vacuum, dust, and wipe down certain surfaces, but you should be careful not to wipe away chemical barriers or touch any traps unless you have been explicitly told to do so. You might notice a lingering smell after the application of some pesticides.
After pest control, it is important to maintain a clean home to avoid encouraging pests to return.
