10 best pest control companies in West Hartford, Connecticut

In West Hartford, mice, cockroaches and rats are a regular source of issues. You can try preventative solutions to prevent potential pest problems, but you may need to call in a pest control company if you are dealing with an infestation. Certified pest exterminators in West Hartford know how to accurately identify pests, apply suitable treatments 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 cause irreversible structural damage to your home, contaminate your food supplies and spread disease.

Hiring pest control professionals can significantly lower the risk of an infestation. They'll determine where pests have nested, and tailor a treatment plan that could include closing off access points, using traps or applying chemicals. The right pest treatment can take care of your pest problem for the long term.

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

Look for pest control companies in West Hartford 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 Hartford?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally target the same regions. The following pests are common in West Hartford, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Cockroaches: Cockroaches tend to be nocturnal and will scatter when a light turns on. However, you may see them running across surfaces if there is a serious infestation. They often nest in bathrooms, basements and kitchens. Signs of cockroaches include droppings that look like brown or black specks, brown stains on walls and floors and egg casings. Cockroaches can also spread disease and aggravate respiratory issues.
• Mice: If you have mice in your house, you may see one scampering by 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 shredded fibers and other found materials. Mice like to nest in tight spaces, so you may hear them scratching around in your walls or ceilings.
• Moths: Clothes moths and pantry moths commonly enter households as pests. Clothes moths chew 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.
• 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 loved ones and pets, as bee stings often cause allergic reactions.
• Snakes: Snakes are more active during the warmer months and make homes in rock piles, debris, overgrown grass and wood. Signs of a snake infestation include the appearance of snake skins and snake eggs. You can test for a snake infestation by pouring some flour out where you think a snake lives. If you see trail marks in the flour, get in touch with a pest control expert right away.

How can you prevent pests in your West Hartford 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 in your home and health if not addressed promptly. Talk to a pest control professional about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your home. Their recommendations may include sealing off cracks and holes, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

As pests are commonly looking for food, making food difficult to access will keep them from invading your home. Food should be a minimum of six inches off the floor and a small distance away from the walls. Make sure to keep food storage areas, counters and sinks clean and disinfected when not in use, and dispose of food scraps and other trash regularly. Maintain the areas around your trash cans and dumpsters.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can hide in leaves, trash, tall grass and standing water. 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, check if national lawn care services such as TruGreen cover your region.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off small openings 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 blocking services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the use of pest control chemicals. Moreover, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to hold certifications consistent with the agency's standards and the laws of the affected 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 schedule a pest specialist advises will depend on the property location, pest type, treatment type and infestation severity. Pest control companies generally do not advocate for 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 hard to access.

Pest professionals generally advise ongoing treatments, with some taking place only in the warmer months and others occurring 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 needed to treat your pest problem will vary based on the nature and extent of the infestation, along with the pest's life cycle. After the pest control specialist applies the initial treatment, you may notice less pest activity. However, pests might reappear once they hatch, warranting further treatments. Alternatively, you may see more pest activity following the first treatment, as it can force 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 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 several hours to dry, and you'll have to leave the house while it dries.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company sets up a tent over your entire home for three days to apply the pesticide. You'll have to vacate your home 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 tell you what items you must take out of the space such as food, animals and plants before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Some pest control providers offer environmentally friendly methods for managing infestations. This means they use techniques with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Examples include sealing areas where pests can enter, setting humane traps for rodents or using pesticides made from organic materials.

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 options available with your service professional.

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.