How To Choose a Pest Control Company
It's important to choose the right pest control company for you. Important factors include a company's qualifications, its treatment methods, experience and reviews, and of course the cost of services.
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?
While the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established minimum competency standards for pesticide applicators, licensing is handled at the state level. All pesticide applicators (and their supervisors) in Texas should be licensed by all the necessary state regulatory agencies.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can optionally obtain certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro. These are not required, but can help you assess the quality of a company's products. For example, the GreenPro Service Certification recognizes comprehensive and effective pest control methods that are safer for humans and the environment.
Pest control companies can also hold membership in various professional organizations. While not mandatory, membership in organizations like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations help verify a company's reputability. After joining an organization like the NPMA, a company receives access to education, resources, and a network of professionals with whom to discuss 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 pests in your area. Online reviews or the company's own website can also help you figure out whether it has the skills and experience needed to handle your specific pest problem. If the answers to your questions aren't available online, contacting the company directly is an easy way to learn about its areas of expertise.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can look up a company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, explore reviews on local review sites or social media, or check the standing of its license via the Texas 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 size of your house, the type of pest being treated, your location, and other factors.
Companies will often 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 a provider offers a satisfaction guarantee, meaning that it will continue to treat your pest problem until it is solved.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control provider might be affected by how environmentally-friendly a company's practices are, in addition to how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
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Safety
Your pest technician should use low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides when possible. If they plan to use pesticides that don't fall into one of these categories, your technician should explain what safety precautions will be in place to protect your family, your pets, and you. Any pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk need to be registered with the EPA.
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Treatment Methods
It is now common for companies to begin with more environmentally friendly options before using pesticides, using a technique called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). When using IPM, the following steps are taken:
- Identify the source of the pest problem and assess whether immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Use a combination of mechanical, physical, biological, and cultural controls to manage the pest problem.
- Use chemical controls only if needed, and always along with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Assess the outcome and continue with additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Plano
Certain pests are more common than others. In Plano, common pests to be watchful for include the following:
- Termites: Termites frequently get into your home from nearby piles of firewood, mulch, or rotting wood. If not stopped, they can cause a significant amount of damage and necessitate hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs.
- Wasps: Wasps are often found in places like roof overhangs, sheds, attics, and garages. They have painful stings and are often difficult to get rid of. Your local pest experts can help remove wasp nests from your property safely.
- Mice: Telltale signs of mouse activity include chewed wires and droppings around your house. Mice tend to frequent attics or areas where food is stored.
- Spiders: These pests prefer dark and moist places and are commonly found in attics.
- Bed bugs: Bed bug infestations are often very hard to get rid of, so we recommend calling a local 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 your wallpaper.
Plano Pest Control FAQ
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Pests come into your house looking for one of three things: food, water, or shelter. Some pests will enter your home simply because they have the opportunity to do so, through a foundation crack or broken screen. Some are attracted to food, either actual food sitting out or trash left out in the open. Others look for water, whether it be standing water on your property or puddles inside from leaky pipes.
There are certain steps you can take to help prevent pest infestations. First, avoid leaving food out. Keep your food stored in sealed containers, and avoid leaving trash sitting around.
Second, avoid having standing water in or around your home. Fix leaks inside and eliminate standing water sites outdoors. Finally, seal off any potential pest entrances into your home, including foundation and siding cracks.
You should consider hiring an exterminator any time you notice signs of pest activity in your Plano home. You might see nests, droppings, pest damage, or even the pests themselves. If you get recurrent or seasonal pest infestations, we recommend setting up yearly preventive pest management.
Your pest control expert will let you know how far your pets should be kept away from treated areas, and for how long after treatment. Some pesticides are non-toxic or have low toxicity, but as a general rule you'll be asked to keep pets away from the area during and for some time after treatment.
