How To Choose a Pest Control Company
The most important step in the pest control process is hiring the right company for you. You might consider a company's qualifications, methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and price of services.
Below, we discuss each factor in more detail.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
Per 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 maintains minimum competency standards, and the Texas regulatory agencies take care of the issuing, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Obtaining additional optional certifications can help show that a pest control company is reputable. One example is the GreenPro Service Certification. For this certification, a company must show that its methods are more eco-friendly and that its employee training is up to date. Other certifications can be obtained through QualityPro and similar trade organizations.
There are various professional organizations that a pest control company can be a member of. Being a member of organizations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations is not mandatory, but helps verify a company's reputability. Membership in the NPMA gives companies access to resources, education, and a network of professionals with whom to discuss practices and methods.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can get some insight into a pest control company's level of experience by looking into how many years it has been in business. Local reviews and the company's own website can also clue you in as to whether the company has experience dealing with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can always call the company directly to learn this information if you can't find it online.
Reviews and Recommendations
Resources that can be used to verify a company's legitimacy include social media, local review sites, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can also verify the status of a company's license via the Texas licensing board.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
The cost of pest control can vary based on things like the type of pest being treated, your location, the size of your house, and other factors.
When thinking about the cost of services, you should confirm 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 a company's guarantees: If the problem is not fixed, or returns, does the company promise to offer additional treatment until the issue is satisfactorily resolved?
Safety and Treatment Methods
It's important to consider safety when deciding on a pest control company, and you might prefer a provider who uses more natural, environmentally friendly treatment methods.
Safety
Be sure to ask your pest control technician if they are going to use low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides—if not, ask about what precautionary measures they plan to use. Any pesticide that poses greater than minimum risk should be registered with the EPA. Your pest control company should provide information about all of the pesticides to be used, as well as how safe they are around people and pets.
Treatment Methods
Many companies have started offering options for more eco-friendly pest control management solutions before moving to harsh pesticides.
One common way of 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.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and physical controls to manage the pest problem.
- Employ chemical controls only if needed, and always in combination with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and provide additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Irving
Not all pests are equally common around Irving. Some species that you should keep an eye out for include the following:
- Ants: Whether larger carpenter ants or smaller soils ants, these pests can be found in most of Texas. Carpenter ants can cause more problems than their smaller counterparts by causing damage to your home.
- Bed bugs: Bed bugs may be found throughout Texas and can lead to serious problems if left untreated. Because infestations of bed bugs are often hard to get rid of, we recommend getting professional extermination as soon as you discover the problem. Bed bugs can infest furniture, bedsheets, wallpaper, and more.
- Mice: If you have mice, you might notice droppings or things like chewed wires. Frequently, mice are found in places where food is stored or in attics.
