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Michelle NatiHome improvement writer
Michelle Nati is a contributing writer for USA TODAY Homefront. She has written about home impr...
Updated Jun 22, 2024
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We've ranked the top 10 pest control companies that operate within 50 miles of Reading. We base our ranking off average customer ratings weighted against the number of reviews. For more information, check out our full methodology.
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.
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.
Below are additional pest control companies that didn’t make our top picks based on their distance, ratings or service offerings.
Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally target the same regions. Here are some signs of common pests in Reading.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Experts Ready to Help
When selecting a pest control provider, ask the following questions to verify they have the knowledge to handle your unique situation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics. Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Go back to top
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