10 best pest control companies in South Windsor, Connecticut

Common pests such as mice, cockroaches and rats can easily make their way into homes in South Windsor. While you can consider DIY removal and prevention methods, an active infestation usually requires a pest control professional's help. Licensed pest specialists in the South Windsor area have the knowledge to inspect your home, implement appropriate treatments and solve your pest problems.

Letting a pest issue go unchecked can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family and your pets. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible structural damage to your home, contaminate your food and spread disease.

Hiring pest control pros can significantly minimize the risk of an infestation. They'll determine where pests have nested, and tailor a treatment plan that could include blocking entry points, 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 South Windsor

Look for pest control companies in South Windsor 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 South Windsor?

While pests are all over, the hot spots for different species differ. Check for these indications of common South Windsor pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Mice: If you have mice in your house, you may see one darting through a room or find droppings about the size of a grain of rice. Mice tend to chew on furniture and emit a distinctive musky smell. They make their nests from found materials and shredded fiber. Mice like to nest in tight spaces, so you may hear them rustling in your walls or ceilings.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are nocturnal and tend to run when you turn on a light. Still, you may catch a cockroach or two on the run if you have an infestation. Their nests tend to be around bathrooms, basements and kitchens. Cockroaches often leave brown smear marks on walls and floors, and droppings that look like black pepper flakes around your home. Cockroaches can spread disease through contamination and worsen respiratory problems.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs have flat bodies, no wings and are reddish-brown, looking similar to apple seeds in size and shape. Apartment complexes and hotels are usually where you come in contact with them. They spread to your home by attaching to backpacks, secondhand furniture, purses and clothing. They are inactive during the day, hiding in beds and near sleeping areas. At night, they come out to feed. Spotting the bugs themselves or blood stains on your mattress or bedding indicates you may have an infestation.
• Moths: Clothes moths and pantry moths commonly enter households as pests. Clothes moths feed on wool and cotton, leaving silky furrows, tunnels, trenches and small tubes, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths make holes in plastic food packaging, leaving a web-like residue in pantry corners and on or in dried goods. Moths are naturally attracted to ripe fruits, fermented sugar and light.
• Snakes: Snakes are more active during warmer seasons, nesting among rock piles, overgrown grass, debris and wood. Shed snake skins and snake eggs point to infestations. To test if you have a snake infestation, sprinkle flour on the ground where you suspect they're nesting. If you see snake trails in the flour, you know it's time to contact a pest control company.
• Ticks: While ticks typically stay close to the ground outside, they can attach to your pets, shoes and clothes and make their way indoors. Female ticks then lay eggs on curtains, in upholstery or in carpet fibers once inside your home. They may also nest in the lining or pockets of clothing, along baseboards and in corners.
• Fleas: If your pet is continually itching, and has black specks on its skin, you might have a flea infestation. Although fleas do not live on human skin or hair, they jump up to bite, especially around the ankles. Fleas can transmit various diseases, including bubonic plague.

How can you prevent pests in your South Windsor home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are precautions you can take before pests become a problem to keep them at bay.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs 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 company. They may recommend plugging holes, laying traps or spraying pesticides in key areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

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

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can hide in leaves, standing water, trash and tall grass. Keeping your yard clear of debris and your lawn and foliage well-maintained is one of the easiest ways to stop an infestation before it starts. If professional lawn maintenance is needed, find out if national lawn care services such as TruGreen cover your region.

Seal off pest entrances

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

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to ensure you get a pest control professional that can handle your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors pest control chemical use through the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. In addition, restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors must be certified in accordance with EPA requirements and the laws of relevant 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 plan a pest professional suggests will vary based on the location of the property, the specific treatment method, the severity of the infestation and the particular pest type. In most cases, pest control providers advise against relying on a single treatment to get rid of household pests, as there will likely be insects at different stages of their life cycles that may have laid eggs in hidden areas.

Pest professionals generally advise continuous treatments, with some taking place only in the warmer months and others needed year-round. Preventative measures may also be recommended to stop infestations before they begin.

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 severity of the infestation as well as the pest's life cycle. After your home's initial treatment, you might see a decline 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 should be able to remain in your home for certain portions of the pest control treatment, such as sealing entry points. Should your service provider use a pesticide, you'll most likely need to leave your home while you wait for the pesticide to dry. This typically takes a few hours.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company erects a tent over your entire home for three days to apply the pesticide. You'll have to find another place to stay 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 animals, food and plants before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Some pest control providers offer environmentally conscious methods for addressing infestations. This involves using products and techniques that don't impact the environment as much as traditional chemical approaches. Examples include sealing areas where pests can enter, trapping rodents or using pesticides made from natural sources.

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.