10 best pest control companies in Meriden, Connecticut

In Meriden, you may face pests such as mice, cockroaches and rats. DIY prevention techniques may help your pest problem, but you may need to hire a pest control company for an existing infestation. These qualified pest experts in Meriden can identify the problem and treat it safely and effectively.

Letting a pest issue go unchecked can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family members and your pets. Insects and small animals can pass on disease, damage the structure of your home and contaminate food.

An experienced pest control company can lower these risks. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create tailored treatment plans that may include plugging cracks, using traps or applying pesticides. Once the right solution is applied, pests can be kept in check for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Meriden

Look for pest control companies in Meriden 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 Meriden?

Different pests infest different places. Check for the following signs of common Meriden pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart past you unexpectedly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a noticeable musky smell and damage household items by chewing through them. They build nests from scavenged materials and torn fibers. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear scratching sounds inside your walls or ceiling.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are nocturnal, but you may see some during the day if you have a major infestation. Their nesting areas concentrate around basements, kitchens and bathrooms. Cockroaches commonly leave brown smudges on walls and floors and leave droppings that resemble crushed black pepper. Cockroaches spread disease and can even aggravate breathing problems.
• Rats: You may have a rat infestation if you see a rat, hear skittering in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long. Rats also create entryways for themselves by gnawing through walls, doors and food packaging.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are wingless insects about the size and shape of apple seeds. They have a reddish-brown flat appearance. Multi-unit apartments and hotels can harbor them and follow you home by getting into clothing, used furniture, purses and backpacks. They nest in beds and sleeping areas by day, then bite at night. If you spot the insects themselves or find bloody marks on your bedding or mattress, you may have a bed bug infestation.
• Snakes: Snakes are more active during the warmer months and make homes among debris, overgrown grass, wood and rock piles. Signs of a snake infestation include the appearance of snake skins and snake eggs. You can test for a snake infestation by laying down some flour where you think a snake lives. If you see trail marks in the flour, get in touch with a pest control expert right away.
• Ticks: Though ticks usually stay close to the ground outside, they can enter your home via pets, shoes or clothing. Inside, female ticks can lay eggs on curtains, in carpet fibers or in upholstery. Nests may also be hidden in corners, along baseboards and in the lining or pockets of clothing.
• Fleas: Fleas typically target pets. Your pet may have fleas if it's constantly scratching itself and has black dots on its skin. While fleas don't live on human skin or hair, they do jump up and bite people, particularly around the ankles. Fleas can also carry various diseases, such as the bubonic plague.

How can you prevent pests in your Meriden home?

Getting rid of pests isn’t easy, but a good defense is always the best offense. While an infestation probably requires professional help, there are steps you can take on your own to reduce the risk of infestations.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals can cause serious issues in your home and health if not addressed quickly. Talk to a pest control expert about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your living space. Their recommendations may include sealing off small entry points, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Because pests commonly seek out food sources, limiting their food access will stop them from infesting your home. Place food at least half a foot above floor level and slightly away from walls. Be sure to keep counters, sinks and food storage areas clean and sanitized when not in use. Dispose of food scraps and other garbage often, and keep the areas around trash cans and dumpsters clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Pests can take refuge in leaves, tall grass, trash and standing water in your yard. One of the simplest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard debris-free and properly maintained with cut grass and pruned foliage. If you require professional landscaping services, check if national lawn care providers such as TruGreen are available in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off small openings into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just a half-inch in diameter. Repair holes in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest blocking services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to make sure you hire a pest control company 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) oversees 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.

Pest control technicians in Connecticut must pass an exam to get a Supervisory, Operational or Private Applicator License issued by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environment.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment schedule a pest specialist advises will depend on the pest type, property location, treatment type and infestation severity. Pest control services generally do not advocate for 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 hard to access.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are done 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 will take for your pest problem to disappear depends on the type and severity of the infestation and the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may see a decrease in activity, but pests can return after they hatch, requiring additional treatments. You may also notice increased activity after the first treatment, as it can force pests out of hiding places. Luckily, this should decrease within a few 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.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company sets up a tent over your entire home for three days to release the pesticide. You'll have to seek accommodation elsewhere during this process.

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 let you know what items you must take out of the space such as food, animals and plants before beginning the treatment.

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 potential entry points where pests can gain access, using catch-and-release traps or applying pesticides made from natural ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place to protect you if pests return before a predetermined date. These companies may offer a single service or ongoing treatment to tackle a stubborn pest problem. Be sure to discuss the service packages with your provider.

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.