10 best pest control companies in Gloucester, New Jersey

Pests such as mosquitos, ants and bed bugs can often infest homes in Gloucester. While you can try DIY removal and prevention methods, an active infestation usually requires the attention of a pest control professional. Certified pest exterminators in Gloucester know how to correctly identify pests, apply suitable treatments and resolve your pest problem.

Pests that invade your property put your home, family and pets at risk. Insects and small animals can pass on disease, damage the structure of your home and contaminate food.

A professional pest control company can lower these risks. A pest professional will find infestations and treat them with a range of methods, from sealing cracks and holes to using traps or pesticides. The right pest solution can take care of your pest infestation for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Gloucester

Look for pest control companies in Gloucester 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 Gloucester?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally affect the same regions. Here are some signs of common pests in Gloucester.

• Mosquitos: Standing water draws mosquitoes, so humid climates and nearby bodies of water increase your infestation chances. Mosquitoes alert you to their presence with a sharp buzzing noise. They're nocturnal — feeding after sunset. You may not notice their bites initially, but the surrounding skin eventually becomes itchy and swollen. Mosquitoes are also known to harbor diseases such as dengue fever, malaria and West Nile.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are wingless insects about the size and shape of apple seeds. They have a flat reddish-brown appearance. Multi-unit apartments and hotels can harbor them and follow you home by getting into clothing, secondhand furniture, backpacks and purses. They take refuge in beds and sleeping areas by day, then bite at night. If you see the insects themselves or find bloody marks on your bedding or mattress, you may have a bed bug infestation.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches come out at night and flee when you turn a light on. With a serious infestation, however, you may see them during the day. Their nesting spots tend to be in bathrooms, basements and kitchens. Cockroaches often leave droppings that look like brown or black specks, brown stains on walls and floors and egg casings. They can spread disease and worsen allergies and respiratory issues.
• Ants: Your home could be infested with various ant types. Carpenter ants nest in wood, while fire ants like oily food scraps. Both bite, unlike pavement ants, which also frequently infest homes. Ant trails inside your home indicate larger infestations are nearby.
• Rats: If you find droppings about half an inch long or hear scratching in your walls or ceiling, you may have a rat problem. Rats nibble through food bags, doors and walls, forming entryways for themselves.
• Moths: Clothes moths and pantry moths are often seen as household pests. Clothes moths feed on wool and cotton, leaving trenches, tunnels, silky furrows and small tubes, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths puncture plastic food packaging, leaving webbing in pantry corners and on or in dried goods. Moths are naturally attracted to fermented sugar, light and ripe fruits.
• Spiders: The best way to know you have a spider infestation is a noticeable increase in spiderwebs in and around your home. egg sacs and plenty of other insects that the spiders can feed on are some other signs of an infestation. Aside from hazardous brown recluses and black widows, which have painful, venemous bites, most spiders found in homes are harmless.

How can you prevent pests in your Gloucester home?

Fighting a pest infestation can be a nightmare, so preventative measures are the most effective way to prevent future problems. Though infestations often require expert intervention, you can take action to keep pests away before they make their way into your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals are problematic and can cause significant damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control company about taking proactive measures to keep pests from invading your home. They may recommend sealing cracks and holes, setting traps or spraying the area with pesticides.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are generally in search of sustenance, restricting their access to food sources will deter them from settling in. Store food at least half a foot above the ground and slightly away from walls. Ensure food storage areas, counters and sinks 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

Tall grass, standing water, trash and leaves create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly mowing your lawn and trimming foliage are among the easiest ways to prevent an infestation from taking hold. Should you need expert lawn care assistance, check whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen cover your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off entry points will prevent insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for instance, can squeeze into holes as little as a half-inch in diameter. Don't neglect gaps in your roof or siding, and remember to seal up broken window frames. Some pest control services specialize in blocking pests.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

When selecting a pest control company, ask the following questions to verify they have the skills to handle your unique situation.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

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

New Jersy pest control professionals should be licensed through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Compliance & Enforcement, having completed 40 hours of training in order to earn a Commercial or Private Applicator License.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment plan a pest professional recommends will vary based on the severity of the infestation, the location of the property, the specific treatment method and the particular pest type. In most cases, pest control companies advise against relying on a single treatment to eliminate household pests, as there will likely be insects at various stages of their life cycles that may have laid eggs in hard-to-find spots.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are done throughout the year. 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?

The time it will take for your pest problem to go away depends on the nature and extent of the infestation as well as the pest's life cycle. After your home's initial treatment, you might notice a decrease in activity, but pests may reemerge after hatching, requiring more treatments. Conversely, you could see a surge in activity following the first treatment, as it can push pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should subside within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can stay in your home for some stages of the pest control treatment, such as when the professional is sealing up entry points. But if a pesticide is used, it may need hours to dry completely, and you'll have to leave the house while it dries.

Some services take a particularly long time. During termite fumigation, the pest control company needs to erect a tent around your home for three days to apply the pesticide. You must find alternative accommodations during that time.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A professional will understand the proper amount of a product to apply, the duration necessary for it to dry, and when it is safe for children and pets to come back to the treated area. Your pest control provider should tell you what items you must remove from the space such as plants, animals and food before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control services provide green solutions for treating infestations. These companies employ techniques that have a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional methods. Some examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing entry points for pests, setting catch-and-release traps for rodents, and using pesticides derived from organic ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place if pests return before a certain date. Companies may offer a single treatment or ongoing treatments to resolve a stubborn pest problem. Ask your service provider what options 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.