How To Choose a Pest Control Company
It's important to choose the best pest control company for you. You may 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 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?
All pesticide applicators, as well as those that supervise them, must be licensed via the appropriate New Jersey regulatory agencies. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets minimum standards of competency, but issuing, maintaining, and revoking licensure is handled at the state level.
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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 receive this certification, a pest control company must both show that its practices are more environmentally friendly and maintain certain technician training standards. Companies can obtain other certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to further support their work.
There are certain professional organizations that pest control companies can be members of. When a company obtains membership in an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gets access to education, resources, and a network of other pest control professionals with whom to compare treatment methods. This can offer additional peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
The number of years that a company has been in business can give you some insight into its experience dealing with the pests that live in Newark. Customer reviews or the company's own website can also inform you whether it has the skills and experience necessary to handle your specific pest problem. If you can't find the information you need online, reaching out to the company directly is an excellent way to learn more.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can look up a company's reviews and rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), read local review sites and social media to find out what other people are saying, or verify its license standing via the New Jersey licensing board.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
Cost is probably high on your list of priorities when hiring someone for pest control. Cost can be affected influenced by the type of pest being treated, your location, the size of your house, and other factors.
Often, companies will offer free on-site estimates at the beginning of their process, to help you decide whether it fits into your budget. You can also ask whether if your company has a satisfaction guarantee, meaning that it will continue to treat your pest problem until it is solved.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Safety is an important consideration when selecting a pest control provider. You might also prefer a provider who employs more natural, environmentally-friendly methods.
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Safety
You can ask your pest control provider if they plan on using 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 needs to be registered with the EPA. Your pest control company should provide information about all pesticides used, as well as how safe they are around people and pets.
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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.
- 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 solutions for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and provide additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Newark
Certain pests are more common in Newark, and these are the ones to keep watch for. Some of these include the following:
- Flies: Flies can be a nuisance in your Newark home year-round, but they are especially common when the weather is warmer. You may spot flies around sinks or in areas where you keep food.
- Bees: Bees around your home can be a nuisance, particularly if someone in your household has an allergy. Your local pest control company can help get rid of bees, and some may even have the resources to safely relocate hives.
- Cockroaches: Cockroaches can be found in many parts of New Jersey, although they prefer wetter areas. This can make them an even bigger problem in Newark. Cockroaches might get into your house through small cracks, and they can sometimes carry diseases like salmonella.
- Bed bugs: Bed bug infestations are often very hard to get rid of, so we strongly recommend calling a local exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs can be found throughout New Jersey, and can infest not only your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even your wallpaper.
- Spiders: You may encounter spiders in your basement, attic, or other damp, dark areas. Even though most species of spider are harmless to humans, you don't want a spider infestation in your house.
Newark Pest Control FAQ
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Pest infestations happen when pests enter your home looking for something, normally food, water, or shelter. Pests might be looking to eat food or trash left sitting out. Some may also be drawn to standing water outside (from rain collecting in one area) or inside (from leaky pipes). Pests might also come into 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, don't leave food out. Make sure food is stored in sealed containers, and don't leave trash sitting around.
Second, avoid having standing water in or around your house. Repair leaks inside and eliminate places where standing water collects outside. Finally, seal off possible pest entrances into your house, including foundation and siding cracks.
When you see signs of pest activity in your Newark home--which could include droppings, nests, signs of damage, or the pests themselves--you should contact an exterminator. If your home has had recurrent or seasonal infestations, we suggest getting in touch with a local pest control company to request annual pest management services.
How long pest control takes to work depends on the issue and treatment. For example, if a wasp nest is removed, you should see the results immediately. In other cases, it could take anywhere from one to two days to up to six weeks for significant pest control results to be noticeable. Some pest issues might require your technician to make multiple trips to your house.
It's normally a smart idea to keep pets away from treated areas during and for some time following application. Some pest control chemicals are non-toxic or have low toxicity, but generally they should not be ingested by animals. Your pest control company will tell you how far to keep pets away from treated areas, and for how long.
