How To Choose a Pest Control Company
It's important to choose the best pest control company for you. You might consider a company's qualifications, methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and service prices.
Below, we discuss each factor in more detail.
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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) sets the minimum competency standards for pesticide applicators, licensure is taken care of at the state level. All pesticide applicators (and those who supervise them) in Arizona need to be licensed by all the necessary state regulatory agencies.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
A pest control company can receive optional certifications from QualityPro or similar trade organizations in order to back up its standards and methods. One particular certification is the GreenPro Service Certification, which is awarded to any company that can demonstrate that its methods are more environmentally friendly. A company that receives this certification also needs to maintain certain training standards for employees.
There are certain professional organizations that a pest control company can belong to. When a company becomes a member of an organization like the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gains access to resources, education, and a network of other pest professionals with whom to compare methods. This can offer added peace of mind that a company follows industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can gain some insight into a company's experience level by looking into how long it has been in business. Local reviews and the company's own website can also inform you whether the company has the experience needed to deal with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can always call the company directly to learn this information if it is not available online.
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Reviews and Recommendations
Resources you can use to check a company's reputation include social media, local review sites, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Additionally, you can confirm the status of a company's license through the Arizona licensing board.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
Things like the size of your house, your location, the type of pest being treated, and other factors can all affect the cost of pest control.
You can find out whether a company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget) and what kind of guarantees it has. Often, a company will provide a guarantee that if it does not take care of your pest problem, it will continue treatment until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
When it comes to choosing a pest control provider, you want to select one that will help keep you, your family, and your pets safe. You'll likely also prefer a provider that is environmentally-conscious.
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Safety
All pesticides (except those that are classified as minimum-risk) are required to be registered with the EPA. Your pest control technician should be able to provide information on every pesticide they will be using. They should inform you whether these chemicals are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what safety precautions will be taken.
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Treatment Methods
Many companies have begun using more natural treatment methods before (or in place of) harsh chemical pesticides. Some utilize a program called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The steps of IPM are as follows:
- Identify problem pests 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.
- Use chemical controls only when absolutely necessary, and always with other controls for effective long-term pest management.
- Observe the results and provide additional pest control as needed.
