When you have a pest problem at home that you can’t solve yourself (or that you can no longer ignore), it’s probably time to contact a pest control company. For many, this might seem daunting. And if you have children or pets – even more so.
Your first “Google” search is probably going to be “pest control near me”, which will quickly be followed by “how to choose a pest control company”. But why shouldn’t you just choose the first one? When you choose any supplier to do work at your home, you want to be assured that the supplier you choose is reputable and that your household will be safe. A second requirement would probably be that after the supplier leaves your household remains safe, meaning that whatever poison or treatment is used to treat the pest problem doesn’t cause poisoning or illness to people or pets.
In a recent interview on ENCA, Dr Gerhard Verdoorn explained why we have a huge outbreak of cockroaches in South Africa. He also explained the dangers of purchasing insecticides over social media platforms or from unregistered providers. Insecticides are highly toxic and can be lethal if not handled by a registered pest control provider as we have seen on so many occasions.
How to choose the right pest control provider?
I suggest you compare providers based on the following criteria:
- How long has the pest control company been operating?
- Is the company registered with the South African Pest Control Association (SAPCA)?
- Are the pest control technicians who work for the company well trained and registered with the Department of Agriculture?
- What’s the company’s attitude towards health and safety for both employees and customers?
- Does the company adhere to the Department of Agriculture approved product list?
- Are the technicians uniformed and do they use a branded vehicle when servicing?
Why is this important, and how does this keep my family safe?
Pest control is a highly specialized service that can be harmful and sometimes lethal if not carried out correctly. By ensuring that your provider is reputable, registered, and holds health and safety in high regard, you can feel more at ease that your pest problem will be taken care of professionally.
A reputable provider with an established history and with the right credentials is more likely to train their technicians well and ensure that all their accreditation are up to date. The company will also provide a branded vehicle and uniform so that you can easily identify the pest control technician when they arrive to do the work.
A knowledgeable technician will do a thorough inspection. This process will ensure that the technician understands which pests need to be dealt with and where they are prevalent. The technician will also assess health and safety risks and take the occupants on the premises into account in order to formulate a treatment plan that doesn’t put your household at risk.
For example, if you have small children who play on the floor or unable to walk yet the technician will avoid using dusting powders. If you have dogs, the technician will elect to use tamper-proof bait stations so that your dogs can’t chew through housings that contain poison. Or if you have owls in your area, technicians will take a treatment plan into account to keep them out of harm’s way, like using poisons off the approved list that don’t cause secondary poisoning.
In our previous blog post we provided some tips on how to get rid of cockroaches in your home. As mentioned by Dr Verdoorn, hygiene plays a major factor in keeping cockroaches out of your home.
If you are concerned you may have a cockroach infestation, we would advise you to follow the guidelines we’ve provided above and employ the services of a reputable pest control company.
To find out more about our cockroach services before booking a service, learn about our cockroach prevention tips, or contact us on 0800 77 77 88.
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