Find Local Pest Control Companies

A single ant or spider is not always a problem. It is time to call when you see pests often, in more than one room, or in places where they can damage your home or get into food.

This Old House describes how an infestation grows. A mild problem stays in one area, like the kitchen or pantry. A moderate one spreads to several rooms, with frequent sightings, activity at night, droppings, chew marks, or musty odors. A severe one shows up inside walls and crawl spaces, with scratching sounds or strong odors.

Common signs to watch for:

• Droppings in cabinets, drawers, or along baseboards
• Chewed food packaging, wires, or wood
• Live insects in daylight, which can mean a larger colony is hiding nearby
• Small blood spots on sheets or bites after sleeping, a possible sign of bed bugs
• Mud tubes on the foundation or hollow-sounding wood, possible signs of termites
• Nests near doors, eaves, or decks, such as wasp nests

Heavy thumping, scratching in the attic at night, or a nest of larger animals is usually a job for a wildlife company, not an exterminator. See our wildlife removal guide for raccoons, squirrels, bats, and other animals.

It depends on the pest. Some problems clear up after one visit, while others need a series of treatments or regular checks because eggs, hidden nests, or new arrivals keep the problem going.

Ask the company why it recommends a one-time visit or a service plan, how many visits the plan includes, and what the cancellation terms are.

Mosquitoes are more than an itch. The CDC notes that mosquitoes spread germs through their bites, including dengue, malaria, and West Nile virus.

Standing water is where mosquitoes breed. The EPA points out that some species lay eggs in places as small as bottle caps. Steps the CDC recommends at home:

• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, and trash containers.
• Use screens on windows and doors, and repair holes in them.
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents when you are outdoors.

A yard treatment company adds to those steps. Common options include barrier sprays on shrubs and shady resting spots, larvicides for water that cannot be drained, and in some yards a misting system. Treatments should use EPA-registered products applied according to the label. Ask which product will be used and how long people and pets should stay off treated areas.

Mosquitoes are active in the warm months, so yard treatments are usually repeated through the season rather than done once. Ask the company how many visits it suggests for your yard and when the first one should happen.

Start with the license. According to the EPA, state pesticide regulatory agencies issue certifications to pesticide applicators, and many states require applicator certification for all commercial pesticide use. Ask to see the company's state license or the applicator's certification, and check it with your state's pesticide regulatory agency.

Questions worth asking:

• Will you inspect before you recommend a treatment plan? Ask for the plan and any follow-up visits in writing.
• What product will you use? Ask for the product name so you can read its label.
• How should I prepare, and when can my family and pets go back into treated rooms?
• Is this a one-time visit or a service plan? What are the cancellation terms?
• What happens if the pests come back? Many companies offer re-service terms; ask about them and get them in writing.

The FTC's home improvement guide adds useful steps for larger jobs like termite work: talk to more than one company, ask for proof of insurance, get the agreement in writing, and be wary of pressure to decide on the spot.

When you call through Swupi, you speak with an independent local company and agree on the plan and timing with them directly. Here is how Swupi works.

Preparation depends on the pest and the product, so follow the company's prep list and the directions on the product label. Common steps include:

• Put away food, dishes, utensils, and pet bowls in treated rooms.
• Clear space along baseboards, under sinks, and in cabinets so the technician can reach problem areas.
• Ask where people and pets should be during the treatment and how long to stay off treated areas, as the label directs.
• Cover or move fish tanks and bird cages if the company asks, since some products are harmful to fish and birds.
• For bed bugs, you may be asked to wash bedding and clothing and dry them on high heat, and to bag items before moving them out of the room.

After the visit, ask when you can clean treated areas. Wiping or mopping too soon can remove baits or residual treatments before they have time to work.

Most visits follow the same basic steps, though details vary by pest and company.

1. Inspection: the technician looks for entry points, nests, droppings, and moisture problems inside and outside the home.
2. Identification: naming the pest matters, because ants, roaches, and termites each need different treatments.
3. Written plan: you get the treatment method, products, and number of visits.
4. Treatment: baits, sprays, traps, or dusts are placed where the pest lives and travels. Severe termite or bed bug cases may need fumigation or heat treatment.
5. Follow-up: many treatments include a return visit to check results.

Between visits, a few habits make your home less inviting:

• Store food, including pet food, in sealed containers, and wipe up crumbs and spills.
• Fix leaky pipes and faucets. Many insects are drawn to moisture.
• Seal gaps around pipes, cables, doors, and windows.
• Keep firewood, mulch, and leaf piles away from the foundation.
• Empty standing water outside once a week, as the CDC recommends for mosquitoes.

If you find signs of larger animals, like torn vent screens or droppings bigger than a mouse's, read our wildlife removal guide.