How to Choose Best Pest Control Services
When insects and rodents enter your yard and home, they can quickly become a nuisance. You can try to exterminate them yourself, but the likelihood of them returning, without regular treatment, is high. This is when an exterminator becomes handy. Pest control services are separated into two distinct categories: general household pest control and termite control. Depending upon which type of service you are looking for, there are a couple of things to take into consideration to choose the best pest control companies.
General household pest control services cover the extermination of cockroaches, fleas, ticks, termites, household and fire ants, beetles, gnats, fleas and several other pests. Due to the fact that these nuisances can enter your house by flying, crawling and being carried in, the residence must be treated year-round.
When selecting your general household pest control service, learn which chemicals they use and verify that you aren’t sensitive to them. The chemicals used to exterminate pests vary between the exterminators and the pests being exterminated. Regular exposure to intolerable chemicals can cause severe allergic reactions.
Study the contract closely to verify that it doesn’t contain any undisclosed clauses that may result in penalties should you cancel the service. Make sure the service will not charge you extra should you need them to spray between scheduled quarterly or yearly visits. Unfortunately, you can not predict when pests will pay a visit.
Verify that the company is licensed before signing a contract. The pest control service should have a Certified Operator within 100 miles of the office near you. Check that the pest control services have insurance coverage with an errors and omissions clause, which covers unexpected damage to your property
Tips for Choosing a Good Pest Control Expert
Pest management has never been a walk in the park. There are instances when you have pest infestations and you try to eliminate them on your own but in vain. Sometimes you also hire a pest exterminator and still the problem persists. That is an indication that you are not keen on the process of hiring a pest exterminator. This is why it is crucial that anytime that you think of hiring a pest extermination specialist, you make sure that you choose the best one. The following are important points to note anytime you are looking for a good pest control company. You can also check out exterminator Tampa Bay for more information.
License
You need to work within the constraints of the law to avoid problems with the government. That, however, cannot happen if you are going to hire a company that is not licensed. It essential to understand that a license is only given to those companies that prove to be capable of offering quality services and still be able to protect the environment. Therefore, if you meet a pest extermination specialist who is not licensed, then that is an indication that you are looking for a shoddy job.
Consider the Experience
The pest management company is another critical consideration to make when looking for a pest control company that you can rely on. This is important because treating some pests is hard because of the mutation process. A pest control specialists who have been in the business for many years is likely to have a clear understanding of how to deal with the stubborn pests.
Chemicals
Before hiring a pest specialist, it is good to find out the type of chemicals that they use to treat the pest infestations. This is essential because some insecticides used can be very catastrophic to humans and that is why you should pay special attention to this particular matter. Ensure that the insecticides used are certified with the relevant body.
Online Reviews
Always take time to read the online reviews before hiring a pest exterminator. The online reviews will always tell you more about what to expect if you hire those particular companies. A company that has many online reviews is better placed to give you the quality services that you seek.
HOW TO CHOOSE A PEST CONTROL COMPANY
Hiring a pest control company is often a necessary part of home maintenance. We cannot control nature and sometimes pests just try their best to get into our homes. The only answer is to hire a professional who will be able to deal with the pests and get things back to normal. Here are some of the best tips for choosing an exterminator for your home.
Choose Someone Local
You always want to choose a local exterminator. Though they may be part of a national chain, they are still going to know some of the issues you are facing better than someone who has come in from out of state. For example, if you live in Florida then you should be searching for the best pest control West Palm Beach has to offer. Someone here is going to fully understand some of the pest problems Floridians face, compared to if you were to bring in someone else.
Do Your Research
Just as you would not hire any other trade without conducting research, you need to make sure you are looking into the companies you are considering for this pest control job. There are so many little things that need to be checked out before you commit to a company.
What to Watch Out For
As with any industry, there will be some less-than-reputable characters trying to make a quick buck with bad practices. You may get a knock at the door from someone explaining they just cleared next door and want to check your home too in case the infestation has spread wider. Thank them and say you will look into it yourself. Never accept a cold-call like this or a door-to-door sales technique
Long-Term or One-Off Contract
Depending on where you live, you may want to engage the pest control company on a long-term inspection contract. At a rate agreeable to you, they will come to your property and perform a quick and non-invasive inspection to ensure that your property has no bugs. If any are found, they can then make an appointment to return and carry out the pest removal. This could be handy if you live in a state with lots of invasive local wildlife.
Pest Control: Tips and Secrets
This is the most comprehensive list of pest control tips and information on the web. Knowing that small steps taken by homeowners can dramatically reduce or eliminate many pest problems, we reached out to over 100 experts and asked them to weigh in with simple, actionable pest control tips
The experts are truly renowned and represent many sides of the pest control/DIY/entomology/gardening/organic/natural living spectrum. Naturally, there are a few differences of opinion, which we feel contribute to the authenticity of this resource. To round out a few topics, helpful tips already found on the web were curated from reliable sources and noted as such.
Commonly found in most homes and gardens, geraniums are known to repel cabbage worms, leafhoppers and red spider mites. However, a special variety of geranium known as the citronella geranium or mosquito plant has been known to repel mosquitoes. This plant contains citronella oil, the same oil that is contained in citronella candles, that can be released when the leaves are rubbed or crushed.
Before asking a pest management company to use the “green and organic stuff”, consumers should take a moment to understand what they are asking for. There are three questions that consumers should ask themselves. 1. How are green and organic defined? 2. Why do I desire green and organic pest management? 3. Am I willing to partner with a pest management provider towards green and organic goals? A true green and organic pest program begins with a thorough understanding of the environment, pest pressures and client tolerances. Before any pesticides; even green, organic or exempt products, are selected, all reasonable and sustainable non-chemical pest removal and avoidance measures should be taken. Even without declaring a pest program green and organic, these principles should still be applied.
Most people do not realize flies carry more disease-causing pathogens than cockroaches. By simply cleaning up animal feces and closing trash cans we can reduce the number of places that filth flies can breed.
How To Choose a Professional Termite Company
What should I look for when choosing a professional termite pest control company?
Every professional pest control company should offer a guarantee of effective services. Before signing with a company, make sure you understand the terms and conditions and how long the guarantee is good for.
Ask around for recommendations. A good reputation is an indicator of good and dependable service.
When you have a company in mind, check with your local Department of Agriculture or Better Business Bureau to find out if they have had any substantial complaints filed against them.
Don’t underestimate the power of credentials. The company you select should be a member of your state pest control association and the NPCA (National Pest Control Association). This is good indication that the company has access to the latest pest control technologies and education.
Don’t go with the first company recommended. Obtain proposals from a minimum of 3 reputable termite control companies. A proposal is very important and should document the company’s plan for chemical treatment procedures, bait station placements, repair or wood work, copies of insecticide labels, and warranties.
Find out about liability insurance.
Thoroughly compare bids before making a decision.
Make sure that follow-up inspections are included in the contract. The extermination contract should also include annual or semi-annual follow-up inspections to make sure the home is protected on an ongoing basis.
What should I know about annual termite pest control contracts?
It is a common misconception that an “annul contract” implies re-treatment by the pest control company on an annual basis. This is not how an annual contract works. Annual treatments are actually illegal under state and federal law, unless evidence of termite activity is present.
If an annual contract is written up, then the pest control company is liable for termite treatment only if you or the company can detect evidence of termite activity.
Termite treatments carry an automatic one-year guarantee in most cases, as do some homes. After one year, the contract may be renewed if deemed necessary.
On average, it costs between $75 and $200 to renew your annual contract. The exact price will depend on the size and construction of the structure.
The answer to this question is a matter of preference. Some things to consider:
If you have plans to sell your house in the near future, an annual contract is a good idea. This ensures that if termites are discovered at the time of inspection, the pest control company, NOT YOU will be responsible for termite treatment.
If you plan to sell your home, find out whether the pest control company allows for the transfer of the contract to a new homeowner, or if it automatically terminates.
If you do not plan on selling anytime soon and you feel comfortable with doing home inspections yourself, you don’t need an annual contract. The day that you find evidence of termite activity, however, you will need to decide if you can handle your own termite treatments or choose a professional company at that time.
Termites are always present in nature, but that does not mean they are always attacking our homes. However, it does mean there is a chance they will attack and that every home is at risk. Bait Stations can be a great tool for self-monitoring, to lend peace of mind.