How To Choose a Pest Control Company
Hiring the best company for you is the most important step in the pest control process. You may take into consideration a company's qualifications, methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost of services.
Below, we dive into detail on each factor.
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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) has established minimum standards of competency, but any pesticide applicators working in the state of Louisiana must be licensed via the necessary state regulatory agencies.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
One certification that pest control companies can earn is the GreenPro Service Certification, which requires a company to show that its practices are more environmentally friendly and that its employee training is up to date. QualityPro and similar trade organizations also offer additional certifications. While not required, these can help show that a pest control company is reputable.
Pest control companies can also hold membership in professional organizations. While not mandatory, membership in organizations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations help show a company's reputability. In the NPMA and other organizations, pest control companies have access to education, resources, and a network of other professionals with whom to discuss best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
A company's website can tell you how long it has been in business and what kind of pests it specializes in exterminating. Online reviews can also provide some insight into a company's experience dealing with a certain type of pest. If you're unable to find this information online, you can try contacting 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), check out local review sites and social media to learn what homeowners near you think, or verify its license standing via the Louisiana licensing board.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
For many people, cost is one of the most important factors when hiring for pest control. Cost can be affected by factors like your location, the type of pest being treated, and the size of your house.
You can look into whether a company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget), and what sort of guarantees are provided. 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 preferences regarding safety for yourself, your children, your pets, and the environment might affect which provider and treatment methods you choose.
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Safety
Ask your pest control provider if they are going to use low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides, and if not, ask what precautionary measures they will take. Any pesticide that has been deemed above minimum risk should be registered with the EPA. Your pest technician should be able to provide information about all pesticides to be used, in addition to how safe they are around people and pets.
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Treatment Methods
Many companies have started offering options for more environmentally friendly pest control techniques before jumping into using harsh pesticides.
One common way of 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, cultural, biological, and mechanical controls.
- Use chemical controls only when absolutely necessary, and always with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and provide additional pest control as needed.