Best 9 Pest Control Companies in Harlingen, TX

Pests such as bed bugs and wasps can be a nuisance in any Harlingen home. If you're dealing with an infestation, a licensed exterminator can help you contain it before pests damage your health and home.

Below, you can find our guide to the top pest control companies in Harlingen, who can help you tackle any pest problem.

How To Choose a Pest Control Company

The first step is choosing the best pest control company for the job. Some things you might consider include qualifications and licensing, pest intervention strategies, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost.

Below, we discuss each of these factors in more detail.

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 need to be licensed at the state level. The EPA has established minimum competency standards, and the Texas regulatory agencies take care of the granting, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.

Is the company a member of any professional organizations?

An optional certification that may be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. To receive this certification, a pest control company must both demonstrate that its practices are more eco-friendly and maintain certain technician training standards. Companies can obtain other certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations to further support their work.

Pest control companies can also hold membership in professional organizations. While not required, membership in organizations like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations help to prove a company's reputability. Organizations like the NPMA provide access to education, resources, and a network of professionals with whom to share best practices.

Professional Experience and Specialties

Browsing a pest control company's website can tell you how many years it has been in operation and what kind of pests it specializes in eliminating. Local reviews can also give you 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.

Reviews and Recommendations

Resources that can be used to verify a company's legitimacy include the Better Business Bureau (BBB), local review sites, and social media. Additionally, you can check the status of a company's license through the Texas licensing board.

Cost of Services and Guarantees

Cost is probably high on your list of priorities when hiring someone for pest control. Cost can be affected 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 before starting work, to help you determine 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

Keeping yourself, your family and your pets safe is an important consideration when choosing a pest control provider. You may also prefer one that uses eco-friendly treatment methods.

Safety

All pesticides used by your company (except those that are determined to be of minimal risk) are required to be registered with the EPA. Your pest control technician should be able to supply information on every pesticide they plan to use. They should be able to tell you whether the pesticides are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what safety precautions will be taken.

Treatment Methods

Many companies will begin with more environmentally friendly options before employing pesticides, following a technique called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). When using IPM, the following steps are taken:

1. Identify problem pests and assess whether immediate action is needed.
2. Decide on the safest course of action.
3. Use a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
4. Use chemical controls only if needed, and always along with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
5. Assess the outcome and provide additional pest control as needed.

Common Household Pests in Harlingen

In Harlingen, certain pests are more common than others. This list includes the following:

• Mosquitoes: On top of being a nuisance, mosquito infestations can lead to itchy bites and possibly even put you and your family at risk of diseases. Mosquitoes are most common in wetter climates and in warmer months.
• Ticks: If your house is near a forest or area of dense vegetation, or near a body of water, you may be at greater risk of a tick infestation. Ticks can spread Lyme or other diseases to you or your pets.
• Cockroaches: You can find cockroaches throughout Texas, though they prefer wetter areas. Cockroaches enter your home through small cracks, and some can spread diseases like salmonella.
• Spiders: You may encounter spiders in your attic or other moist, dark places. 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 bug infestations can be very difficult to eliminate, so we strongly recommend hiring an exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs can be found throughout Texas, and can infest not only your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even wallpaper.

Sources

• EPA
• National Pest Management Association