10 best pest control companies in West Chester, Ohio

Pests such as bees, bed bugs and fleas can often invade homes in West Chester. You can try DIY solutions to prevent potential pest problems, but you may need to reach out to a pest control company if you are dealing with an infestation. These skilled pest specialists in West Chester can diagnose the problem and treat it safely and effectively.

Pests that invade your property put your home, family and pets in danger. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible damage to your home, contaminate foods and spread disease.

A licensed pest control company can reduce these risks. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create custom treatment plans that may include plugging entryways, using traps or spraying pesticides. Once the right solution is administered, pests can be controlled for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in West Chester

Look for pest control companies in West Chester 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 West Chester?

Different pests invade different regions. Here are some indications of common pests in the West Chester area.

• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are wingless, reddish-brown, flat insects about the size of apple seeds. Found in apartment buildings and hotels, they can attach to belongings, such as purses, used furniture, clothing and backpacks. They hide in your bed and in cracks and crevices during the day then become active during the night. When you have an infestation, you may spot the insects or find blood smears on your mattress or other furniture.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches tend to be most active during nighttime and will scatter when a light turns on. However, you may see them during the day if you have a serious infestation. They often nest in kitchens, bathrooms and basements. Signs of cockroaches include droppings that look like brown or black specks, egg casings and brown stains on walls and floors. Cockroaches can also carry disease and worsen respiratory issues.
• Bees: If you see more bees than usual inside or around your home, have dark stains on your walls or hear humming inside the walls, you may have a bee infestation. You might also notice a strange odor coming from your walls. This happens as bees die or honey seeps into the walls, causing the growth of mold. Bees can easily harm your family or your pets, as bee stings often cause allergic reactions.
• Snakes: Snakes become more active when the weather is warm, nesting in wood, rock piles, debris and overgrown grass. Snake skins and snake eggs indicate an infestation. If you think you might have a snake, sprinkle flour in the suspected areas. If you see trails in the flour, contact a pest control professional for help removing the snake.
• Rats: You may have a rat infestation if you see a rat, hear skittering in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long. Rats will also eat into food wrappings and bite into walls and doors to create access points.

How can you prevent pests in your West Chester 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 mitigate the risk of pests.

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

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

As pests are usually looking for food, making food difficult to access will discourage them from sticking around. Food should be a minimum of half a foot off the floor and a modest distance away from the walls. Make sure to keep sinks, food storage areas and counters clean and disinfected when not in use, and dispose of food scraps and other trash frequently. Maintain the areas around your trash cans and dumpsters.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, trash, standing water and leaves create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly cutting your grass 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 service your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off entrances will deter insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for instance, can squeeze into holes as small as half an inch in diameter. Don't neglect gaps in your roof or siding, and remember to seal up broken window frames. Some pest control services specialize in pest exclusion.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

To ensure you hire a pest control provider that's qualified to meet your specific needs, ask these questions.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the application of pest control chemicals 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.

Ohio requires pest control professionals to have a Commercial or Private Applicator License through the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

What treatment schedule a pest specialist suggests will depend on the treatment type, pest type, property location and infestation severity. Pest control companies generally do not recommend getting a single treatment to rid a home of pests, as insects are often at different points in their life cycle, and can lay eggs in areas that are difficult to reach.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are carried out in all seasons. 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 will take for your pest problem to go away depends on the type and severity of the infestation and the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may see a decline in activity, but pests can return after they hatch, requiring further treatments. You may also see increased activity after the first treatment, as it can flush pests out of hiding places. Luckily, this should subside within a few 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 places 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?

An experienced pest control professional can gauge 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 animals, food and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control providers offer green solutions for addressing 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, using humane traps for rodents and using naturally sourced pesticides.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control providers offer guarantees and warranties should pests reappear before a specified date. Some companies may provide a single treatment, while others offer ongoing treatments to address recurring pest issues. Discuss the available options with your pest control expert.

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.