Tips for choosing a pest control service
You’re planning to call an exterminator for an infestation problem, but you don’t know what to look for to make the best decision? Here are some tips to help you make a wise choice.
Tips for choosing the right pest control service
The pest control market is vast and it can become complicated to know how to choose an exterminator. Opting for a government-recognized pest control company is the best way to ensure that you hire a certified exterminator with an operating permit issued by the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques.
Ideally, choose exterminators who are members of a professional association such as the Association québécoise de la gestion parasitaire (AQGP). A certified exterminator must have the training and experience to identify what type of pest it is; he or she must be able to identify the areas to be treated, and then set up and implement an effective extermination program with the client’s approval.
Make sure that the pesticides or insecticides offered by this specialist are registered by the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and that they will be used for the purpose for which they were designed. He or she must also be licensed to use these pesticides; you can ask to see their permit. It is always prudent to deal with a company that has liability insurance in case of an accident.
What types of pests can an exterminator eradicate?
Pest control experts have the know-how to handle the prevention, treatment and control of various species of unwanted invaders.
This may include:
- Ants
- Cockroaches
- Cockroaches
- Mice
- Rats
- Flies
- Mosquitoes
- Fleas
- Bats
- Hornet or wasp nests
- Bees
Once the origin of the infestation is determined, a solution will be proposed to get rid of it. Depending on the type of pest and your agreement, different options can be considered by the exterminator in order to obtain an appropriate sanitization: baiting, trapping, fumigation, spraying, capturing and moving the animals to another location.
If you prefer a less invasive, holistic approach, ask the specialist if he or she uses Integrated Pest Management.
What is integrated pest management?
For decades, it has been common practice to use pesticides and insecticides based on chemical mixtures to get rid of unwanted pests. Unfortunately, many of these substances are harmful to the environment and biodiversity.
Every year, humans and domestic animals are also affected. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is based on the principle that not all pests are a threat; it proposes better pest management and, where possible, pest control rather than total extermination of the species.
This holistic approach adopted by some certified exterminators is a less aggressive solution because it limits the use of chemical pesticides to a minimum. These will only be used as a last resort and at a minimum, after having first experimented with different natural approaches.
This pest management method is based on the following five modes of action: inspection adapted to the type of pest, identification, control, prevention and documentation.
When should I call an exterminator?
The presence of a few mice or ants may seem trivial, but since these pests can reproduce very quickly, you could end up with an infestation. A problem taken care of in time is much easier to solve.
A specialized exterminator can confirm whether or not it is an infestation and provide you with solutions to treat or prevent it. In particular, if you are dealing with carpenter ants or bed bugs, or if you notice the presence of bees or wasp nests, calling on this expert becomes an urgent necessity.
In addition to the health problems that some pests can cause, they increase the risk of fire and can damage the structure of a home. A certified exterminator has the training and equipment to remove pests responsibly and safely, both for the occupants of the home and for the environment. The specialist usually provides tips on how to prevent pests from coming back to invade you.
What should the service contract contain?
It is a detailed document in which you must find the nature of the proposed services as well as their justification and the rates. Full contact information for the professional pest control company as well as the specific names of the products to be used (including their registration numbers) and the location of the areas to be treated must also be included.
Choose a pest control service that guarantees customer satisfaction on the contract. This implies that the exterminator who will visit you agrees to return to the site to ensure some follow-up or to provide emergency treatment if the pests concerned reappear.
Note: For your health and safety, you may be asked to evacuate your home by the pest control service during the operation.
