How To Choose a Pest Control Company
The first step is hiring the right pest control company for the job. You may take into consideration a company's qualifications, methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost of services.
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) has established minimum standards of competency for pesticide application, licensure is taken care of at the state level. All pesticide applicators (and their supervisors) in Ohio should 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 obtain optional certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro in order to support its standards and methods. One particular certification is the GreenPro Service Certification, which is awarded when a company can demonstrate that its methods are more environmentally friendly. These companies also need to maintain certain training standards for employees.
There are several professional organizations that pest control companies can be members of. When a company obtains membership in 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 control experts with whom to compare methods. This can give you extra peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can gain some insight into a company's level of experience by seeing how long it has been in operation. Local reviews and the company's own website can also inform you whether a company has experience dealing with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can contact a representative directly to learn this information if it is not available online.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can browse reviews and recommendations on local review sites or social media, look up a company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, or check its licensure status through the Ohio licensing board.
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Cost of Services and Guarantees
The cost of pest control can vary based on things like your location, the size of your house, the type of pest being treated, and other factors.
When thinking about the cost of services, you should try to determine whether a company offers free on-site estimates as part of its services. This can inform you whether the company fits into your budget. Also take into account a company's guarantees: If the problem is not fixed, or returns, does the company provide additional treatment until the problem is satisfactorily handled?
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your preferences regarding safety for yourself, any children or pets, and the environment may affect the provider and the treatment methods you choose.
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Safety
All pesticides used by your company (except those that are determined to be of minimal risk) must be registered with the EPA. Your pest control technician should provide you with information on each pesticide they will be using. They should inform you whether the pesticides are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what safety precautions will be in place.
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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 popular way of making pest control safer and greener is 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.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of mechanical, physical, biological, and cultural controls.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always along with other solutions for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and implement additional pest control as needed.
