How To Choose a Pest Control Company
Hiring the best company for you is the most important step in the pest control process. In addition to a company's qualifications and treatment methods, you might also consider how long it has been in business and what the reviews are like. Last but not least, you'll likely want to look at the cost of services.
Below, we explore the details of each of these factors.
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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 must be licensed at the state level. The EPA has established minimum standards of competency, and the Virginia regulatory agencies handle the issuing, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
One optional certification that could be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. To obtain this certification, a pest control company needs to both demonstrate that its practices are more environmentally friendly and uphold certain technician training standards. Companies can also earn other certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro to further support their work.
There are several professional organizations that a pest control company can be a member of. While not mandatory, membership in organizations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) or state-level organizations help verify a company's reputability. In the NPMA and other organizations, pest control companies have access to education, resources, and a network of professionals with whom to compare best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
Generally, a company provides information like years of experience and specialities on its website. Online reviews can also help you figure out if a company has experience dealing with a specific pest. If you're unable to locate the information you need online, you can speak with a company representative directly to get the answers to your questions.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can view a company's rating and reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), check out local review sites and social media to see what others in your area have to say, or verify its license standing via the Virginia licensing board.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
Cost is important when hiring someone for pest control. Cost can be affected influenced by the type of pest being treated, your location, the size of your house, 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 if your pest problem is not solved by the initial treatment, it will continue returning until it is.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control provider might be influenced by how environmentally-friendly a company's practices are, as well as how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
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Safety
Make sure to ask your pest control technician if the chemicals they're using are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what precautionary measures they will have in place. Any pesticides that are not minimum-risk chemicals should be registered with the EPA. Your pest control provider will be able to provide you with information about all pesticides they plan to use.
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Treatment Methods
Many companies have started offering options for more environmentally friendly pest control techniques 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 whether immediate action is needed.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and physical controls.
- Employ chemical controls only when required, and always along with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and implement additional pest control as needed.
Common Household Pests in Virginia Beach
You might run into some pests more frequently in Virginia Beach. Some pests to keep an eye out for include these:
- Termites: Termites often come into your house from nearby piles of rotting wood, firewood, or mulch. If left uncontrolled, they can cause significant damage and necessitate hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs.
- Cockroaches: You can find cockroaches in many parts of Virginia, though they prefer wetter areas. Cockroaches get into your house through small cracks, and they can carry diseases like salmonella.
- Bed bugs: Bed bugs can be found throughout Virginia, and they can lead to big problems if left untreated. Because bed bug infestations are often difficult to get rid of, we recommend hiring a professional exterminator as soon as you discover the problem. Bed bugs can infest bedsheets, furniture, wallpaper, and more.
- Mice: If you have mice, you may start noticing 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 damp and dark places and are commonly found in basements or attics.
Virginia Beach 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, via a broken screen or foundation crack. Some are attracted to food, either actual food left out or trash sitting out in the open. Others are searching for water, either standing water on your property or puddles inside from leaky pipes.
There are a number of 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.
Next, avoid having standing water in or around your house. Repair leaks inside and eliminate places where standing water collects outdoors. Lastly, seal off any potential pest entrances into your house, including foundation and siding cracks.
You should consider hiring a pest control professional any time you identify signs of pests in your Virginia Beach home. This could include droppings, nests, damage caused by pests, or even the pests themselves. If you've had seasonal or recurrent pest infestations, we recommend yearly preventive pest management.
It's not uncommon to feel like you're seeing more pests in the first few days or weeks after pest control. Pest control tends to flush pests out of their hiding places, which makes them more visible; you might also start seeing more dead pests around your home. If this uptick in pests sightings doesn't start to decrease after one to two weeks, reach out to your Virginia Beach pest professional. Another treatment may be required.
