10 best pest control companies in Reading, Pennsylvania

Common pests such as ticks, bed bugs and flies can regularly infest living spaces in Reading. DIY prevention techniques may help your pest problem, but you may need to hire a pest control company for an existing infestation. Experienced pest experts in Reading know how to correctly identify pests, use proper chemicals and methods and resolve your pest problem.

Letting a pest problem go unaddressed can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family members and your pets. Insects and small animals can contaminate your food, cause long-term damage to your home and spread disease.

Hiring a professional pest control company can reduce 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 chemicals. When the proper fixes are implemented, you can get rid of infestations for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Reading

Look for pest control companies in Reading 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 Reading?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally target the same regions. Here are some signs of common pests in Reading.

• Ticks: Though ticks usually stay close to the ground outside, they can get into your home via clothing, shoes or pets. Inside, female ticks can lay eggs in carpet fibers, on curtains or in upholstery. Nests may also be hidden in the lining or pockets of clothing, along baseboards and in corners.
• Ants: Numerous ant species might nest on your property. Carpenter ants target wooden structures while fire ants go after oily or greasy food debris. Both of these two varieties bite, while pavement ants don't. Pavement ants also frequently find their way indoors. Spotting a line of ants in your home means a a larger infestion is nearby.
• Bees: Signs of a bee infestation include finding dark smears on your walls, seeing more bees than usual and hearing the sound of buzzing or humming inside your walls. An odd odor may also come from your walls. This happens when mold and fungi grow inside due to honey seeping into the walls or bees dying. Bees can also harm your family and pets, as their stings can provoke allergic reactions.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are wingless insects about the size and shape of apple seeds. They have a flat reddish-brown appearance. Apartment complexes and hotels can harbor them and follow you home by getting into clothing, backpacks, purses and used furniture. They nest in beds and sleeping areas by day, then come out while you're sleeping. If you see the insects themselves or find blood smears on your bedding or mattress, you may have a bed bug infestation.
• Mosquitos: Standing water draws mosquitoes, so you’re at a higher risk of an infestation if you live in a wet climate or have bodies of water nearby. Mosquitoes are active at night — as the sun goes down, they emit a high buzzing noise and feed. You may not notice a bite until a few hours later, at which point the area around the bite appears raised and becomes itchy. Mosquitoes can carry diseases such as West Nile, malaria and dengue fever.

How can you prevent pests in your Reading home?

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

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Insects and small animals can cause serious issues for your home and health when left unchecked. The best way to stop these infestations before they start is to work with a pest control service. They may recommend plugging holes, laying traps or spraying pesticides in key areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Pests primarily seek food, so making food hard to reach will keep them on their way. Keep food a minimum of six inches off the floor and a bit away from the walls. Always ensure sinks, counters and food storage areas stay clean and sanitized between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can take refuge in tall grass, leaves, 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 a neatly trimmed lawn and pruned foliage. If you require professional landscaping services, check if national lawn care providers such as TruGreen operate in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off entry points 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 exclusion services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

When selecting a pest control provider, 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) oversees the use of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Additionally, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to have certification compliant with the agency and state, territorial and tribal laws.

Pennslyvania pest control professionals are required to be licensed through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Plant Industry, Division of Health and Safety. They should have earned either a Commercial/Public Applicator License or Registered Technician Certififcation in order to practice.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest expert's recommended treatment frequency will hinge on factors such as the property location, pest type, treatment type and infestation severity. Generally, pest control professionals do not recommend only a single treatment, since insects are often at different phases of their life cycle, and may have laid eggs in hard-to-access places.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are carried out 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 needed to solve your pest issue will vary based on the nature and severity of the infestation, along with the pest's life cycle. After the pest control specialist applies the initial treatment, you may see less pest activity. However, pests might reappear once they hatch, warranting extra treatments. Alternatively, you may notice more activity following the first treatment, as it can drive pests out of their hiding places. The good news is this should decrease within a few days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can remain in your home for certain portions of the pest control treatment, such as sealing holes and cracks. 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.

Certain treatments can be especially time-consuming like termite fumigation. The pest control provider erects a tent around your home, which is left in place for three days to apply the pesticide. During this period, you'll need to find alternative accommodations.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

An experienced pest control professional knows 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 removed from the area, including plants, food and animals.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Some pest exterminators provide eco-friendly methods for treating an infestation. This means they use techniques 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 less harmful ingredients.

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 packages 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.