How To Choose a Pest Control Company
Choosing the best pest control company for you is key. You might take into consideration a company's qualifications and treatment methods, in addition to its years of experience and customer reviews. Of course, there is also the cost of services to consider.
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?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set minimum standards of competency for pesticide applicators, but licensing is overseen at the state level. All pesticide applicators and supervisors in Indiana must be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
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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 employee training is up to date. QualityPro and similar trade organizations also offer other certifications. These are not required, but can help show that a pest control company is reputable.
There are various professional organizations that a pest control company can belong to. Being a member of organizations like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations is not required, but helps verify a company's reputability. The NPMA gives companies access to education, resources, and a network of other professionals with whom to discuss practices and methods.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can look at a company's years in business to help determine how much experience it has dealing with various pests. You can also browse its website or look through customer reviews to decide whether it has the right kind of experience handling the type of pests you are looking to get rid of. If this information is not available online, speaking with a company representative is a good way to learn more.
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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 Indiana's licensing board to verify the status of a company's license.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
Things like your location, the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, and other factors can all influence the price of pest control.
You can look into whether a 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 it does not solve your pest problem, it will continue treatment until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Safety is an important consideration when selecting a pest control provider, and you might prefer a provider who employs more natural, environmentally-friendly methods.
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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 sort of precautionary measures they are going to use. 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 are going to use.
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Treatment Methods
Many companies have started offering options for more environmentally friendly methods of pest control before moving to harsh pesticides.
One popular method for making pest control safer and greener is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Figure out what pests are causing the problem and determine if immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and physical controls.
- Use chemical controls only if needed, and always in combination with other solutions for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and implement additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Fort Wayne
In Fort Wayne, there are some pests that are more common than others. This list of pests includes the following:
- Snakes: Snakes prefer damp, cool, and dark places like basements and often come into a home in search of food. While most species of snakes are harmless, this is not a risk that you want your family or pets to take.
- Bed bugs: Bed bug infestations can be very difficult to eliminate, so we strongly recommend hiring an exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs are found throughout Indiana, and can infest not only your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even your wallpaper.
- Spiders: Spiders usually prefer dark and damp places and are often found in basements or attics.
- Mice: If there are mice in your home, you may start noticing droppings around your house, or things like chewed wires. Frequently, mice are found in attics or in places where food is stored.
Fort Wayne Pest Control FAQ
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Pests come into your home looking for one of three things: food, water, or shelter. Some pests will opportunistically enter your home through a foundation crack or broken screen. Some are attracted to food, either actual food left out or trash sitting out in the open. Others are searching for water, either standing water on your property or puddles inside from things like leaky pipes.
There are certain things you can do to help prevent pest infestations. First, don't leave food out. Keep your food stored in sealed containers, and don't leave trash sitting around.
Next, avoid having standing water in or around your home. Fix leaks inside and eliminate places where standing water collects outdoors. Lastly, seal off any possible pest entrances into your home, including foundation and siding cracks.
Any time you see signs of pest activity in your Fort Wayne home--things like droppings, nests, signs of damage, or the pests themselves--you should contact an exterminator. If you've had seasonal or recurrent infestations, we suggest getting in touch with a local pest control company to set up annual pest management services.
Your pest control professional will let you know how far your pets need to be kept away from treated areas, and for how long after treatment. Some pesticides are low toxicity or non-toxic, but as a general rule you'll be asked to keep pets away from the area during and for some time after application.
