How to Choose a Pest Control Company: A Guide

Start with the license. EPA tells consumers to make sure a pest control operator's license is current, to ask whether the technician is a certified applicator or licensed technician, and to get the labels for every pesticide used. Ask the company to inspect first and propose a written plan using the least toxic method that will work. EPA also advises getting bids from two or three companies and walking away from high-pressure or door-to-door pitches.

Key facts

EPA tells consumers to make sure a pest control operator's license is current and to ask for a copy of the license.
Every state has one pesticide regulatory agency that works with the EPA to enforce federal pesticide rules, according to the National Pesticide Information Center.
Every pesticide label carries the federal warning that using the product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling is a violation of federal law.
Signal words on a label run from CAUTION (lower toxicity) to WARNING to DANGER (most toxic), and DANGER products that are highly toxic must also say POISON in red.
EPA calls broadcast spraying of non-specific pesticides a last resort under integrated pest management.
The native subterranean termite is the most common termite in most of the United States, according to EPA.
Under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule, many sales made at your home of $25 or more can be canceled until midnight of the third business day after the sale.

What does a pest control license actually tell you?

EPA notes that most state or local agencies issue pest control licenses. It tells consumers to make sure the operator's license is current where one is required, to ask for a copy, and to ask whether the person doing the work is a certified, licensed applicator or a licensed technician. EPA also suggests asking your state pesticide agency about its certification and training programs and whether applicators must recertify.

Each state has one lead pesticide agency. The National Pesticide Information Center keeps a directory of state pesticide regulatory agencies with contact details.

Licensing is often layered. Texas, for example, licenses the business, the certified applicator and the technician separately, and splits licenses into categories such as pest control, termite control and lawn and ornamental work. Ask which person will treat your home and whether that person is licensed for the kind of work being done.

What is integrated pest management, and why ask about it?

The EPA describes integrated pest management, or IPM, as an effective and environmentally sensitive approach that controls pests with the least risk to people, property and the environment. It works in four steps:

Set action thresholds. Decide in advance what level of pest activity calls for action. One sighting does not always mean treatment is needed.
Monitor and identify. Correct identification prevents the wrong treatment, or treatment of harmless insects.
Prevent. Change conditions so pests do not become a problem.
Control. Use the lowest-risk effective method first. EPA calls broadcast spraying of non-specific pesticides a last resort.

EPA says pesticides should not be applied unless pests are actually present and cannot be controlled by other means. Its consumer fact sheet says any company should inspect your home and outline a control program covering the pests, the extent of the problem, the active ingredients, nonchemical alternatives and steps to prevent future problems. It also suggests asking the company to use the least toxic chemical method that will do the job.

How is termite work different from general pest control?

General pest service targets insects and rodents that invade living space. Termite work protects the structure itself, and the stakes are higher. EPA notes that termiticide application in most cases can only be properly performed by a trained pest management professional.

EPA lists the main treatment types as soil-applied liquid termiticides, baits with slow-acting insecticides, treated building materials and wood treatments. It warns that products which only kill termites on contact do not protect a structure.

Because termite treatments are long-term commitments, read the guarantee closely. EPA says termite guarantees typically run one to five years. Ask whether the company is responsible for structural damage if the treatment fails. EPA also warns that a termite guarantee may become invalid if you alter the structure of your home without telling the company first.

To tell a termite swarm from flying ants, EPA notes that termite wings are about equal in length and their antennae are straight. Ant front wings are longer, and their antennae are bent.

What red flags and scams does the EPA warn about?

EPA lists several warning signs when hiring a pest control service:

A special price if you agree to treatment right now, or pest control bundled with unrelated services.
No listed or working phone number.
Door-to-door selling, especially aimed at older or isolated residents. Check identification and credentials.
A price quoted per gallon. EPA calls this misleading because termite control can take several hundred gallons.
Claims of a secret formula. All pesticides must be registered.
Pressure to sign immediately, including claims your home may collapse.
Claims of a government endorsement. EPA states that government agencies do not endorse any service company or pesticide product.

If you do sign at your door, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel home sales of $25 or more. The seller must tell you about that right and give you cancellation forms. Some states add their own rules.

What should you ask before you sign a pest control contract?

EPA suggests these questions:

How many years have you been in business at your present address?
Can you give me a list of references?
Will the person doing the work be a certified, licensed applicator or a licensed technician?
Can I have a copy of your license and the labels for every pesticide you will use, including application rates?

EPA also suggests asking whether employees are bonded, asking for proof of insurance on paper, and thinking twice about a company that is not insured. Do not rely on the salesperson for a track record. Ask neighbors, and call your state or local pesticide regulatory agency or local consumer office about complaints. Get bids from two or three companies and look at value more than price.

EPA says you and the company should develop the contract together, noting safety concerns such as allergies, infants or older residents, pets, and nearby fish and wildlife.

How do you read a pesticide label?

The label is the law. Every label carries the federal statement that it is a violation of federal law to use the product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. EPA registration is the license to sell the product in the United States.

The National Pesticide Information Center says a label answers these questions:

Ingredients: what is in the product.
Signal word: how toxic it is.
Precautionary statements: how to use it safely.
First aid: what to do after exposure.
Protective equipment: what the applicator should wear.
Storage and disposal.
EPA registration number: the product's unique number.

Signal words describe short-term toxicity. CAUTION means slightly toxic. WARNING means moderately toxic. DANGER means highly toxic by at least one route of exposure. Ask your provider for the label of each product before treatment, and follow the technician's instructions on when children and pets can return. EPA says to keep them out of treated areas until spray has dried.

How to choose a provider

Ask for the company's state license and confirm it with your state pesticide regulatory agency.
Ask whether the technician who comes to your home is a licensed applicator or a licensed technician, and who supervises that person.
Ask how the company inspects and identifies pests before treating, and whether it follows integrated pest management.
Get the label for every product to be used, including application rates, before work starts.
Ask for proof of insurance on paper and whether employees are bonded.
Check for complaints with your state or local pesticide regulatory agency or local consumer office.
Ask what you must do to keep a guarantee valid, such as notifying the company before structural changes.
Get written estimates from more than one company and compare what each one covers.
For termite work, get the guarantee in writing, including its length and whether it covers repairs.
Decline any offer that requires you to sign today, claims a secret formula, or quotes a price per gallon.

Pest control guides by state and city

Questions people ask

Do pest control companies need a license?

In most places, yes. EPA notes that most state or local agencies issue pest control licenses and tells consumers to make sure a license is current where one is required. Your state pesticide regulatory agency can confirm a license.

What is integrated pest management?

Integrated pest management, or IPM, is an approach EPA describes as controlling pests with the least risk to people, property and the environment. It sets action thresholds, identifies pests, prevents problems and uses the lowest-risk effective control first. Broadcast spraying of non-specific pesticides is a last resort.

What do CAUTION, WARNING and DANGER mean on a pesticide label?

They are signal words that describe short-term toxicity. CAUTION means slightly toxic, WARNING means moderately toxic, and DANGER means highly toxic by at least one route of exposure. EPA requires the signal word on the front panel in capital letters.

Is a per-gallon price for termite treatment a red flag?

EPA says yes. It calls per-gallon pricing misleading because termite control can require several hundred gallons of diluted product. Ask for the total treatment plan and the guarantee terms in writing.

Can I cancel a pest control contract I signed at my door?

Often, yes. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule generally lets you cancel home sales of $25 or more until midnight of the third business day after the sale, and the seller must give you cancellation forms. Exceptions apply, and some states have their own rules.

Does the government endorse any pest control company?

No. EPA states that government agencies do not endorse any service company or specific pesticide product. A salesperson who claims an endorsement is a warning sign.

How long do termite guarantees last?

EPA says termite guarantees typically last one to five years. Ask whether the guarantee covers repair of structural damage if the treatment fails, what renewal requires, and what could void it.

Sources

This guide was written by our editorial team from the public sources listed above. It is general information, not legal advice; confirm licensing and terms directly with any provider.

How do you choose a pest control company you can trust?