10 best pest control companies in Dayton, Ohio

Common pests such as bees, bed bugs and ants can easily make their way into living spaces in Dayton. While you can try DIY removal and prevention methods, an active infestation usually requires the help of a pest control expert. Qualified pest specialists in Dayton know how to correctly identify pests, apply suitable treatments and resolve your pest problem.

Pests that invade your property put your home and loved ones in danger. Insects and small animals can cause long-term structural damage, contaminate foods and spread disease.

Bringing in expert pest controllers lowers these risks. A pest professional will find infestations and treat them in a variety of ways, from plugging holes to using traps or chemicals. Once the right solution is administered, pests can be kept at bay for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Dayton

Look for pest control companies in Dayton with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

What are common pests in Dayton?

While pests are everywhere, not all of them invade the same regions. Here are some indications of common pests in Dayton.

• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are active at night and tend to run when you turn on a light. Still, you may see a cockroach or two on the run if you have an infestation. Their nests tend to be around bathrooms, basements and kitchens. Cockroaches often leave brown smear marks on walls and floors, and droppings that look like black pepper flakes around your home. Cockroaches can spread disease through contamination and aggravate respiratory problems.
• Rats: Signs of rats include seeing a rat, finding droppings about half an inch long or hearing skittering in your walls or ceiling. Rats can nibble through doors, food packaging and walls to create access points for themselves.
• Fleas: If your pet is always scratching itself, and has black specks on its skin, you might have a flea infestation. Although fleas do not live on human skin or hair, they leap to bite, especially around the ankles. Fleas can transmit various diseases, including bubonic plague.
• Flies: It's common to see a few flies inside your home in the summer, but an excessive number likely signals an infestation. Flies leave feces resembling clusters of black dots by drains, shelves, or trash. Finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in your trash also indicates an infestation.
• Mosquitos: If you live in a humid area or have large bodies of water nearby, you're at a higher risk for a mosquito infestation. Mosquitoes are attracted to standing water and become more active at night. As the sun sets, you'll hear a high-pitched buzzing noise that indicates their presence. Bites may go unnoticed initially, but later on you'll find red, itchy spots. Mosquitoes can carry a variety of diseases including West Nile, dengue fever and malaria.
• Ants: Your home could be infested with various ant types. Carpenter ants burrow into wood, while fire ants like oily food scraps. Both bite, unlike pavement ants, which also frequently invade homes. Ant trails inside your home signal larger ant nests are nearby.
• Wasps: A surge of wasp activity, including frequent indoor appearances, may signal that there's a nest nearby. Wasp nests can be on or in your home, but they can also be underground, which you may not realize until you step on one. More hostile than bees, wasps readily swarm, so don't attempt to remove a wasp nest on your own. Contact a pest control professional to remove a wasp nest as they have the tools to do so safely.

How can you prevent pests in your Dayton home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are precautions you can take before pests become a problem to keep them at bay.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Left uncontrolled, pests can significantly impact your home and well-being. Discuss preventive options with a pest control company to stop infestations before they start. Experts may suggest that you set traps, seal cracks or apply pesticides in specific areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are generally in search of sustenance, restricting their access to food sources will prevent them from settling in. Store food at least half a foot above the ground and slightly away from walls. Ensure sinks, food storage areas and counters are clean and sanitized when not being used. Quickly dispose of food waste and other garbage, and keep the spaces near trash cans and dumpsters tidy.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can hide in tall grass, standing water, trash and leaves. Keeping your yard clear of debris and your lawn and foliage well-maintained is one of the most straightforward ways to stop an infestation before it starts. If professional lawn maintenance is needed, find out if national lawn care services such as TruGreen are available in your region.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off ways will discourage insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as tiny as half an inch wide. Be sure to address gaps in your roof or siding and seal damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on pest prevention and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to make sure you hire a pest control expert that can address your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pest control chemicals. Moreover, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to hold certifications according to the agency's standards and the laws of the affected states, territories and tribes.

Ohio requires pest control professionals to have a Commercial or Private Applicator License through the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment schedule a pest specialist suggests will depend on the pest type, treatment type, infestation severity and property location. Pest control companies generally do not recommend getting a single treatment to rid a home of pests, as insects are often at different points in their life cycle, and can lay eggs in areas that are challenging to get to.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are carried out in all seasons. They may also suggest bimonthly or quarterly preventative treatments to stop an infestation before it starts.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it takes for your pest problem to go away will vary based on the infestation nature and severity, as well as the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may notice a decline in activity, but pests could resurface after hatching, requiring further treatments. On the other hand, you might see increased activity after the first treatment, as it can drive pests from their hiding places. Fortunately, this should subside within a few days' time.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to remain in your home for certain portions of the pest control treatment, such as sealing entry points. Should your service provider use a pesticide, you'll most likely need to leave your home along with your family and pets while you wait for the pesticide to dry. This typically takes a few hours.

Some pest control services can be particularly lengthy. During termite fumigation, the pest control professional must set up a tent around your home for three days to release the pesticide. Throughout this timeframe, you'll have to stay at a hotel or with friends or family.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

An experienced pest control professional can gauge how much of a product to use, the time needed for it to dry and when children and pets can safely return to the treated location. Before beginning any treatment, your service provider should inform you about what should be taken out of the area, including food, animals and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control providers offer environmentally friendly methods for treating infestations. This means they use techniques with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Eco-friendly pest control methods may include sealing off areas where pests can gain access, capturing rodents or applying pesticides made from natural sources.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control companies provide guarantees and warranties in the event that pests reappear before a specific date. To resolve a returning pest issue, specialists may offer a one-time treatment or continued treatments. Consult with your service provider to learn about the treatments they offer.

Our methodology for selecting pest control companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score. We review national pest control companies against our full pest control methodology. We score pest control companies based on service options, safety and certifications, service guarantees and customer service.