10 best pest control companies in New London, Connecticut

Pests frequently encountered in New London are mice, rats and ticks. DIY prevention techniques may improve your pest issue, but you may need to use a pest control company for an existing infestation. Experienced pest exterminators in New London know how to accurately 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 cause long-term damage to your home, contaminate foods and spread disease.

Bringing in pest management professionals mitigates these dangers. A pest professional will spot infestations and treat them in a variety of ways, from sealing cracks and holes to using traps or pesticides. Once the right solution is administered, pests can be kept in check for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in New London

Look for pest control companies in New London 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 New London?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally impact the same regions. Check for these signs of common New London pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Rats: If you find droppings about half an inch long or hear skittering in your walls or ceiling, you may have a rat infestation. Rats chew through doors, walls and food bags, forming entryways for themselves.
• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart past you unexpectedly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a distinct musky smell and damage household items by gnawing through them. They build nests from found materials and shredded fiber. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear noises inside your walls or ceiling.
• Ticks: Ticks usually stay close to the ground outdoors, but they can easily enter your home on your pets, clothing or shoes. Once inside, a female tick can lay her eggs in carpet fibers, on curtains and in upholstery. You may also find nests along baseboards, in corners and even in the linings or pockets of clothing.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are flat, wingless, reddish-brown insects about the size of apple seeds. Found in apartment buildings and hotels, they can attach to belongings, such as clothing, secondhand furniture, backpacks and purses. They hide in your bed and in cracks and crevices during the day then come out at night. When you have an infestation, you may spot the insects or find bloody marks on your bed or other furniture.
• Snakes: Snakes commonly nest among wood, debris, overgrown grass and rock piles and are more active during the warmer months of the year. Signs of a snake infestation include shed snake skins and snake eggs. To test for a snake infestation, sprinkle flour near where you suspect a snake is nesting. If you find a trail through the flour, contact a pest control professional right away.
• Flies: Everyone sees the occasional fly buzzing around their home during the summer months, but if you see significantly more than is normal, there’s a good chance you have an infestation. Flies leave feces that look like clusters of black dots and often appear near sinks, high shelves and around trash. Another sign of an infestation is seeing maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Bees: You may have a bee infestation if you hear buzzing inside your walls, notice more bees than usual either inside or outside your home or see dark stains on your walls. An unpleasant odor radiating from your walls is another sign of a bee infestation, as bees dying or honey seeping into the walls can lead to mold or fungi. Bees are also a risk to your family and pets in that their stings can cause severe allergic reactions.

How can you prevent pests in your New London 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 troublesome and can cause considerable damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control professional about taking preventative measures to keep pests from invading your home. They may recommend sealing gaps, setting traps or spraying the area with pesticides.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Because pests usually seek out food sources, limiting their food access will prevent them from invading your home. Place food at least six inches above floor level and slightly away from walls. Be sure to keep counters, sinks and food storage areas clean and disinfected when not in use. Dispose of food scraps and other garbage regularly, and keep the areas around trash cans and dumpsters neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, leaves, standing water and trash 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, look into whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen cover your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off entry points will discourage insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as little as a half-inch wide. Be sure to address gaps in your roof or siding and repair damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on pest exclusion services and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the application of pest control substances under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Furthermore, the EPA mandates that restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors have certification compliant with the agency's regulations as well as state, territorial and tribal legislation.

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?

A pest specialist will recommend a treatment schedule based on the type of pest, severity of the infestation, location of your property and type of treatment. Pest control professionals typically discourage a single-treatment approach, as insects are often at various stages of their life cycles and may have laid eggs in hidden 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?

How long it takes for your pest issue to disappear will vary depending 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 supplementary treatments. On the other hand, you might notice increased activity after the initial treatment, as it can drive pests out of hiding. Fortunately, this should decrease 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 some parts of the pest control treatment, such as sealing entry points. However, if your service professional uses a pesticide, it may take hours to dry, during which time you'll need to be out of the house.

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 skilled service technician has the knowledge to determine the appropriate amount of product to apply, the drying time required and when it is safe for children and pets to re-enter the treated space. Before administering any treatment, they should instruct you on which items such as animals, food and plants must be removed from the area.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control providers offer eco-friendly methods for treating infestations. This means they use methods with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing areas where pests might get in, trapping rodents and using naturally sourced pesticides.

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 single treatment or ongoing treatments. Consult with your service provider to learn about the options available.

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.