10 best pest control companies in Upper Merion, Pennsylvania

In Upper Merion, you may face pests such as flies, mice and ticks. DIY prevention techniques may help your pest issue, but you may need to hire a pest control company for an existing infestation. These skilled pest experts in Upper Merion can pinpoint the problem and resolve it effectively.

Pest infestations pose risks to your home, family and pets. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible structural damage to your home, contaminate your food supplies and spread disease.

Bringing in pest management professionals lowers these dangers. They'll determine where pests have nested, and customize a treatment plan that could include closing off entry points, using traps or spraying pesticides. The right pest solution can take care of your pest problem for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Upper Merion

Look for pest control companies in Upper Merion 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 Upper Merion?

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

• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might scurry by briefly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a noticeable 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 scratching sounds inside your walls or ceiling.
• 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 the presence of maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Beetles: Multiple beetle varieties can infest homes and damage your home and belongings. Carpet beetles can destroy bedding, upholstered furniture and carpets, while biscuit beetles get into rice, seeds, beans, pasta and spices. Beetles are usually harmless as they don't spread disease or bite, but they can trigger allergic reactions in some people.
• Bees: If you see more bees than usual inside or around your home, have dark stains on your walls or hear buzzing inside the walls, you may have a bee infestation. You might also notice an odd odor coming from your walls. This happens as bees die or honey seeps into the walls, causing the growth of mold and fungi. Bees can easily harm your family or your pets, as bee stings often cause allergic reactions.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches tend to be active at night and will flee when a light turns on. However, you may see them running across surfaces if you have a serious infestation. They often nest in kitchens, basements and bathrooms. Signs of cockroaches include droppings that look like brown or black specks, egg casings and brown stains on walls and floors. Cockroaches can also transmit disease and worsen respiratory issues.
• Ticks: Ticks can easily enter homes by hitching a ride on shoes, pets or clothing, after they're picked up by you or your family while outdoors. Once inside, a female tick lays her eggs on curtains, in upholstery or in carpet fibers. Other common nesting spots include in corners, along baseboards and in the lining or pockets of clothing.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs have flat bodies, no wings and are reddish-brown, looking similar to apple seeds in size and shape. Multi-unit apartments and hotels are usually where you come in contact with them. They spread to your home by clinging onto used furniture, clothing, backpacks and purses. They are inactive during the day, hiding in beds and small cracks. At night, they come out to feed. Seeing the insects themselves or blood stains on your mattress or bedding suggests you may have an infestation.

How can you prevent pests in your Upper Merion 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

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 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 counters, sinks and food storage areas 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

Trash, tall grass, leaves and standing water provide ample shelter to insects and small animals. Keeping your yard clean and well-maintained with cut grass and trimmed foliage is one of the easiest ways to prevent an infestation. If you need professional lawn care, check if national lawn care companies such as TruGreen service your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off access points into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just half an inch in diameter. Repair gaps 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?

To find a pest control service with the proper qualifications for your individual needs, ask the following questions during the hiring process.

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 following EPA requirements and the laws of relevant states, territories and tribes.

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 be determined by factors such as the pest type, property location, infestation severity and treatment type. 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 areas.

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some carried out only during the warmer months and others occurring throughout the year. To prevent infestations from taking hold, they might also propose preventive treatments every two or three months to stop new infestations from forming.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time it will take for your pest issue to be resolved 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 notice a decrease in activity, but pests may reemerge after hatching, requiring more treatments. Conversely, you could see a spike in activity following the first treatment, as it can push pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should lessen within a matter of 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 stay in another location while it dries.

Some services take a particularly long time. During termite fumigation, the pest control company needs to erect a tent around your home for three days to release the pesticide. You must find alternative accommodations during that time.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A service professional will know how much of a particular product to use, how long it takes to dry and when children and pets can safely re-enter the area that's been treated. Before applying any treatment, they should educate you on what you must remove from the affected space, such as animals, food and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control providers offer environmentally friendly methods for addressing an infestation. These companies employ techniques that have a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional methods. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing areas where pests might get in, trapping rodents and using pesticides derived from natural sources.

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 one-time treatment or ongoing treatment to tackle a stubborn pest problem. Be sure to discuss the options 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.