How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When choosing a pest control company, you want to be sure to find the right one to meet your needs. You may take into consideration 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?
All pesticide applicators, as well as those that supervise them, must be licensed via the appropriate Oregon regulatory agencies. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets minimum standards of competency, but providing, maintaining, and revoking licensure is handled at the state level.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies also have the option to obtain additional certifications such as the GreenPro Service Certification. This certification is given once a company has proven its methods to be more environmentally friendly and demonstrated that it also holds itself up to certain other standards, such as up-to-date employee training. A company can also earn other certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to further verify its practices and methods.
Pest control companies can also belong to certain professional organizations. While not mandatory, membership in organizations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations help demonstrate a company's reputability. Organizations like the NPMA provide access to education, resources, and a network of professionals with whom to discuss best practices.
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 look at its website or peruse customer reviews to decide whether it has the right kind of experience handling the species of pests you are struggling with. If this information is not available online, getting in touch with a company representative is a great way to learn more.
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Reviews and Recommendations
Resources that can help you verify a company's reputation include social media, local review sites, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Additionally, you can check the status of a company's license via the Oregon licensing board.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
Things like the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, your location, 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 type of guarantees it has. Often, a company will provide a guarantee that if it does not eliminate your pest problem, it will continue treatment until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
When choosing a pest control provider, you want to choose one that will keep you, your family, and your pets safe. You might also prefer a provider that is environmentally-conscious.
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Safety
Be sure to ask your pest control technician if they plan to use low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides, and if not, what kind of precautionary measures they are going to use. All pesticides that are not considered minimum-risk chemicals must be registered with the EPA. Your pest control provider should be able to provide you with information about all pesticides that they plan on using.
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Treatment Methods
Pest professionals looking to reduce their use of chemical pesticides often implement procedures such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Using IPM involves a series of steps:
- Figure out what pests are causing the problem and determine whether immediate action is required.
- Decide on the safest course of action.
- Use a combination of physical, cultural, biological, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only when absolutely necessary, and always along with other techniques for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and provide additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Portland
Some pests are more common than others. In Portland, common pests to be wary of include the following:
- Snakes: Snakes often enter homes in search of food, and once inside they tend to prefer cool, dark, and damp places like basements. While the majority of snakes are harmless, you and your family should not take that risk.
- Spiders: You may find spiders in your basement, attic, or other dark, damp areas. While most spiders are harmless and pose no threat to humans, you don't want an infestation of them in your home.
- Bed bugs: Bed bugs can be found throughout Oregon, and they can cause serious problems if left untreated. Because infestations of bed bugs are often difficult to get rid of, we recommend having professional extermination as soon as you discover the problem. Bed bugs can infest furniture, bedsheets, wallpaper, and more.
- Mice: If your home has a mouse infestation, you might notice droppings or things like chewed wires. Frequently, mice are found in places where food is stored, or in attics.
Portland 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 be looking to eat food or trash that is left out. Some might also be drawn to standing water outside (from rain collecting in one area) or inside (from leaky pipes). They might also come into your home looking for shelter and get in through weak spots such as broken screens or foundation cracks.
One thing you can do to prevent pest infestations is seal off possible entrances into your house. These include things like cracks in your siding or foundation. Next, try to avoid leaving out food for pests. This includes keeping food in sealed containers as well as not leaving trash out. Lastly, get rid of standing water in and around your house. Work to reduce places where water can collect outside, and fix leaks inside.
You should consider hiring a pest control professional any time you notice signs of pests in your Portland home. This could include droppings, nests, damage caused by pests, or even the pests themselves. If your home has seasonal or recurrent pest infestations, we recommend setting up yearly preventive pest management.
The majority of pesticides last around 30 to 90 days after application. Chemicals applied outdoors may not last as long as those applied indoors due to precipitation. Some other things that can affect how long pesticide application lasts include the extent of the pest problem, what specific pests are present, the chemicals used, and the method of applying them.
You may think you're seeing a greater number of pests around your house in the days after pest control treatment. This is because living pests are being flushed out of their hiding places deep in your home, or you may be finding more dead pests. If pest activity hasn't started to go down in one to two weeks following treatment, get in touch with your Portland pest control professional to see if another treatment is required.
