How To Choose a Pest Control Company
The most important step is choosing the best pest control professional for the job. You might take into consideration a company’s qualifications, methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost of services.
Below, we dive into detail on each factor.
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Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains minimum competency standards for pesticide applicators, but licensing is taken care of at the state level. All pesticide applicators and their supervisors in Connecticut must be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.
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Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
An optional certification that might be worth looking for is the GreenPro Service Certification. In order to receive this certification, a pest control company needs to both demonstrate that its practices are more environmentally friendly and maintain certain technician training standards. Companies can obtain other certifications from trade organizations like QualityPro to further support their work.
There are various professional organizations that a pest control company can be a member of. When a company obtains membership in an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gets access to resources, education, and a network of other pest experts with whom to compare methods. This can offer extra peace of mind that a company is following industry 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 the pests that live in Stamford. Customer reviews or the company’s own website can also help you figure out whether it has the skills and experience necessary to deal with your particular pests. If you cannot find the answers to your questions online, contacting the company directly is a great way to learn about its areas of expertise.
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Reviews and Recommendations
You can look up a company’s reviews and rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), check out local review sites and social media to hear what other people are saying, or verify its license standing through the Connecticut 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 size of your house, your location, the type of pest being treated, and other factors.
Many companies offer free on-site estimates at the beginning of their process, to help you determine whether it fits into your budget. You can also ask whether a company offers a satisfaction guarantees, meaning that it will continue to treat your pest problem until it is solved.
Safety and Treatment Methods
When 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 an environmentally-conscious provider.
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Safety
Your pest control provider should be using low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides any time they can. If any pesticides they intend to use don’t fit into one of these categories, your technician should explain what safety precautions they plan to use to protect your family, your pets, and you. All pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk must be registered with the EPA.
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Treatment Methods
Pest professionals looking to reduce their use of chemical pesticides often implement procedures such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Using IPM involves a series of steps:
- Identify problem pests and determine if 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.
- Use chemical controls only when required, and always with other solutions for effective long-term pest management.
- Evaluate outcomes and provide additional pest control as needed.