How To Choose a Pest Control Company
When hiring a pest control company, you want to be sure to find the best one to meet your needs. In addition to a company's qualifications and pest extermination methods, you might also consider how long it has been in business and what the reviews look like. Finally, you'll likely want to look at the cost of services.
Below, we explore the details of each of these factors.
Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?
Per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all pesticide applicators and their supervisors must be licensed at the state level. The EPA maintains minimum competency standards, and the California regulatory agencies take care of the issuing, maintaining, and revoking of licenses.
Is the company a member of any professional organizations?
Pest control companies can earn the GreenPro Service Certification, which requires that a company show that its practices are environmentally friendly and that its employees receive up-to-date training. Trade organizations such as QualityPro offer additional certifications. While not required, these can help demonstrate that a company is reputable.
Pest control companies can also become members of certain professional organizations. A pest control company can join both state-level organizations and national organizations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). By being a member of these optional organizations, a company helps support its reputability and gains access to education, resources, and a network of professionals to compare best practices with.
Professional Experience and Specialties
You can gain some insight into a company's experience level by finding out how long it has been in business. Local reviews and the company's own website can also clue you in as to whether a certain company has the experience needed to deal with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can reach out to a representative directly to learn this information if you can't find it online.
Reviews and Recommendations
You can verify a company's legitimacy using the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and local review sites or social media. You can also check with California's licensing board to see the status of a company's license.
Cost of Services and Guarantees
For many people, cost is one of the main deciding factors when hiring for pest control services. Cost can be influenced by factors like the size of your house, the type of pest being treated, and your location.
You can take into consideration whether a particular company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits your budget), and what sort of guarantees are provided. Often, a company will guarantee that if its treatment doesn't resolve your pest problem, it will continue to come back until it does.
Safety and Treatment Methods
Your choice of pest control company might be influenced by how eco-friendly a provider's pest control servicesare, as well as how safe its methods are around your family and pets.
Safety
Your pest control expert should be using low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides any time they can. If they plan to use pesticides that don't fit into one of these categories, your technician should explain what safety precautions will be in place to protect your family, your pets, and you. Pesticides that pose more than a minimum risk are required to be registered with the EPA.
Treatment Methods
Many pest control companies are making the switch to using more natural and greener 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 the source of the pest problem and determine whether immediate action is required.
- Determine the best and safest course of action.
- Manage the pest problem using a combination of mechanical, physical, biological, and cultural controls.
- Use chemical controls only if needed, and always along with other solutions for effective long-term pest control management.
- Assess the outcome and continue with additional pest control methods as needed.
Common Household Pests in Los Angeles
You might deal with some pests more frequently in Los Angeles. Some to keep an eye out for include these:
- Beetles: Around the country and in Los Angeles, there are a number of species of beetles that could cause problems. Many beetles are harmless, but others can do damage by eating wood, carpeting, and more.
- Termites: Termites frequently get into your house from nearby piles of rotting wood, firewood, or mulch. If not stopped, they can do significant damage and cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs.
- Flies: Flies can be a nuisance in your Los Angeles home year-round, but they are especially common in warmer weather. You might find flies around sinks or in places where food is kept.
- Mice: If your home has a mouse infestation, you might start noticing droppings or things like chewed wires. Frequently, mice are found in attics or in places where food is kept.
- Bed bugs: Bed bugs can be found throughout California and can lead to big problems if left untreated. Because bed bug infestations can be tricky to get rid of, we recommend having professional extermination as soon as you discover the problem. These pests can infest wallpaper, furniture, bedsheets, and more.
- Spiders: You may encounter spiders in your attic or other damp, dark places. Even though most species of spider are harmless to humans, you don't want a spider infestation in your house.