How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When hiring a pest control company, there are several things that you can consider to be sure that you're choosing the right one for you. You might consider a company's qualifications, methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and service prices.
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?
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 sets minimum competency standards, and the Oklahoma regulatory agencies handle the granting, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
An optional certification that could be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. In order to obtain this certification, a pest control company must both show that its practices are more environmentally friendly and maintain certain training standards for its technicians. Companies can also obtain other certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to further support their work.
Pest control companies can also join certain professional organizations. A pest control company can join state-level organizations as well as national organizations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). While not mandatory, membership in these organizations helps prove a company's reputability and gives it access to education, resources, and a network of other professionals with whom to compare best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
The number of years that a company has been in business can tell you something about its experience dealing with various pests. Online reviews or the company's website itself can also help you figure out whether it has the skills and experience needed to handle your specific pest problem. If you cannot find the answers to your questions online, speaking with a representative is an easy way to learn about the company's areas of expertise.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can verify a company's legitimacy using the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and social media or local review sites. You can also check with Oklahoma's licensing board to see the status of a company's license.
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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 your location, the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, and other factors.
Many companies offer free on-site estimates before starting work, to help you decide whether it fits into your budget. You can also ask whether if your company has a satisfaction guarantee, meaning that if your pest problem is not solved by the initial treatment, it will continue returning until it is.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your preferences regarding safety for yourself, your children, your pets, and the environment can affect the provider and the treatment methods you choose.
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Safety
Your pest control provider should be able to discuss the safety of all pesticides they plan to use. 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 will put in place to protect your family, your pets, and you. Any pesticides that pose above a minimum risk are required to be registered with the EPA.
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Treatment Methods
Many companies are now trialing options for more environmentally friendly methods of pest control before relying on harsh pesticides.
One common method for making pest control safer and greener is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and determine if immediate action is required.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and mechanical controls.
- Use chemical controls only when absolutely necessary, and always in combination with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and continue with additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Tulsa
In Tulsa, some species of pests are more common than others. This list includes the following:
- Ticks: If your house is near a forest or area of dense vegetation, or close to a body of water, you may be at greater risk of a tick infestation. Ticks can spread Lyme or other diseases to you and your pets.
- Moths: If you've started finding holes in your linens or clothing, you may have moths in your home. Moths like dark places like closets, and are more commonly found in warmer places (like Tulsa).
- Mice: If there are mice in your home, you may notice droppings around your house, or things like chewed wires. Frequently, mice are found in places where food is kept, or in attics.
- Spiders: Spiders usually prefer dark and moist places and are often found in attics.
- Bed bugs: Bed bugs are found throughout Oklahoma and can cause serious problems if left untreated. Because bed bug infestations are tricky to get rid of, we recommend getting professional extermination as soon as you discover the problem. Bed bugs can infest bedsheets, wallpaper, furniture, and more.
Tulsa Pest Control FAQ
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Pest infestations occur when pests come into your home 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 one area) or inside (from leaky pipes). They might also come into your home looking for shelter. They can get in through places like broken screens or foundation cracks.
There are a number of steps you can take 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, try not to have standing water in or around your house. Fix leaks indoors and eliminate places where standing water collects outdoors. Lastly, seal off any potential pest entrances into your house, including foundation and siding cracks.
Normally it's recommended that you hire a pest control technician about once a year. If there is an active infestation, you will need pest control to come out more often. Ultimately, your pest professional will be the person best-equipped to recommend a treatment schedule for you.
It's common to feel like you're seeing more pests in the first few days or weeks after pest control treatment. Pest control tends to flush pests out of their hiding places, which makes them more visible; you may also start seeing more dead pests around your house. If this uptick in pests sightings doesn't begin to decrease after one to two weeks, reach out to your Tulsa pest professional, as further treatment may be necessary.
