How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When hiring a pest control company, you want to find the right one to meet your needs. You may consider a company's qualifications and treatment methods, in addition to its customer reviews and years of experience. Of course, there is also the cost of services to consider.
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?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all pesticide applicators and those that supervise them are required to be certified at the state level. The EPA does set minimum standards of competency, but all pesticide applicators in Nevada need to be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
One optional certification that may be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. To get this certification, a pest control company must both demonstrate that its practices are more environmentally friendly and maintain certain training standards for its technicians. Companies can also earn other certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to further support their work.
Pest control companies can also hold membership in professional organizations. Becoming a member of an organization like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or a state-level organization grants a pest control company access to resources and education, as well as a network of professionals with whom to compare best practices. Membership in organizations like these is not required, but it can help indicate that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
Generally, a company provides information like its specialities and years of experience on its website. Online reviews can also tell you whether a company has experience dealing with a particular pest in your area. If you're unable to find the information you need online, you can contact a company representative directly to get the answers to your questions.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can verify a company's legitimacy using social media or local review sites as well as the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can also check with Nevada's licensing board to verify the status of a company's license.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
The cost of pest control can vary based on things like the size of your house, the type of pest being treated, your location, and other factors.
When thinking about the cost of services, you should verify whether a company offers free on-site estimates as part of its services. This can help determine whether the company fits into your budget. Also look into what guarantees a company offers: If the problem is not fixed, or returns, will the company provide additional treatments until the issue is satisfactorily resolved?
Safety and Treatment Methods
It's important to consider safety when choosing a pest control provider, and you might prefer a provider who uses more natural, environmentally-friendly methods.
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Safety
Your pest control provider should be able to discuss the safety of any and all pesticides that will be used in your home. They should be able to answer questions as to whether the pesticides are low toxicity or non-toxic; if they are not, they should explain what safety precautions they plan to use to protect you, your family, and your pets. All pesticides that pose above a minimum risk are required to be registered with the EPA.
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Treatment Methods
You can ask if your technician will start with more natural and lower-toxicity options before using harsher chemicals.
Many companies have started to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to treat pest infestations with minimal personal or environmental risk. The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify problem pests and determine if immediate action is needed.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of mechanical, physical, biological, and cultural controls.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always in combination with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and continue with additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in North Las Vegas
Not all pests are equally prevalent around North Las Vegas. Some species that you should keep an eye out for are these:
- Beetles: In North Las Vegas and across the U.S., there are a number of species of beetles that could cause problems. While many beetles are harmless, others can do damage by eating carpeting, wood, and more.
- Flies: Flies can be a year-round nuisance in your North Las Vegas home, but they may be especially common when the weather is warmer. You may spot flies around sinks or in areas where you keep food.
- Cockroaches: It's important to take care of a cockroach infestation quickly, as they can bring in diseases such as salmonella. Cockroaches can be found throughout Nevada, and they prefer wetter areas.
- Bed bugs: Bed bugs can be found throughout Nevada, and they can cause major problems if left untreated. Because bed bug infestations are difficult to get rid of, we recommend getting professional extermination as soon as you discover the problem. These pests can infest wallpaper, furniture, bedsheets, and more.
- Mice: Common signs of mouse activity include chewed wires and droppings around your house. Mice are commonly found in attics or in places where food is stored.
- Spiders: You may encounter spiders in your attic or other dark, damp areas. Even though most species of spider are harmless to humans, you don't want a spider infestation in your house.
North Las Vegas Pest Control FAQ
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Pest infestations occur when pests enter your house looking for something, generally food, water, or shelter. Pests might come looking for food or trash left sitting out. Some could also be drawn by standing water collecting outside (from rain collecting in a particular spot) or inside (from leaky pipes). They might also enter your house simply looking for shelter and get in through places like foundation cracks or broken screens.
One method for preventing pest infestations is to seal off potential entrances into your house. This includes things like cracks in your foundation or siding. Second, avoid leaving food out for pests. This includes keeping food in sealed containers and not leaving trash out. Third, reduce standing water in and around your house. Work to reduce places where water collects outside, and fix leaks inside.
Normally it's recommended that you hire a pest control technician about once a year. If your home has an active infestation, you will need pest control to come out more often. Ultimately, your pest professional is the person who is best-equipped to recommend a treatment schedule for you.
Preventive pest control is important to help stop pest problems before they start. Local pest control companies will be familiar with the pests in your part of North Las Vegas, including how they get into homes and the times of the year during which they are most active.Your technician can make changes and put barriers in place to keep pests out of your house, which can save time and money that would otherwise be spent on future pest control visits--and on the damage and illness caused by pests.
