10 best pest control companies in Westport, Connecticut

Common pests such as rats, mice and spiders can easily make their way into houses in Westport. DIY prevention techniques may help your pest issue, but you may need to use a pest control company for an existing infestation. A professional pest control service in Westport can safely diagnose, treat and solve your pest problems.

A pest infestation can lead to property damage and pose health risks to you and your loved ones, including your pets. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible structural damage to your home, contaminate your food and spread disease.

Hiring a professional pest control company can reduce these risks. They'll identify where pests have nested, and create a treatment plan that could include blocking entry points, using traps or spraying chemicals. When the proper fixes are implemented, you can get rid of infestations for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Westport

Look for pest control companies in Westport 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 Westport?

Different pests invade different places. The following pests are common in the Westport area, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Rats: If you find droppings about half an inch long or hear scratching in your walls or ceiling, you may have a rat infestation. Rats chew through food bags, doors and walls, forming entryways for themselves.
• Spiders: Seeing more spiderwebs and spiders than usual is the clearest sign of spider infestations. Additional clues include a significant number of other insects for the spiders to feed on and visible egg sacs. While spiders found in homes are generally not dangerous, black widows and brown recluses deliver venemous bites that require medical attention.
• Mice: If mice have infiltrated your home, you might see one out of the corner of your eye or find droppings around the size of a grain of rice. Mice often damage furniture and have a noticeable musk. They make nests with foraged materials and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are wingless insects about the size and shape of apple seeds. They have a flat reddish-brown appearance. Apartment complexes and hotels can harbor them and follow you home by getting into purses, used furniture, backpacks and clothing. They take refuge in beds and sleeping areas by day, then come out at night. If you spot the insects themselves or find blood smears on your bedding or mattress, you may have a bed bug infestation.
• Fleas: If your pet is always scratching itself, and has black specks on its skin, you might have a flea infestation. Although fleas do not inhabit human skin or hair, they jump up to bite, especially around the ankles. Fleas can spread various diseases, including bubonic plague.
• Bees: You may have a bee infestation if you hear humming inside your walls, notice a surge in bee activity either inside or outside your home or see dark stains on your walls. An unpleasant odor coming from your walls is another sign of a bee infestation, as bees dying or honey seeping into the walls can lead to mold or fungi. Bees are also a risk to your family and pets because their stings can provoke serious allergic reactions.

How can you prevent pests in your Westport home?

Fighting a pest infestation can be a nightmare, so preventative measures are the most reliable method to prevent future problems. Though infestations often require expert intervention, you can take action to keep pests away before they make their way into your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals are disruptive and can cause significant damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control company about taking proactive measures to keep pests from invading your home. They may recommend sealing small entry points, setting traps or spraying the area with pesticides.

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 sinks, food storage areas and counters stay clean and sanitized between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

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

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off small openings will stop insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as tiny as a half-inch wide. Be sure to address gaps in your roof or siding and fix damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on pest prevention and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

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 following the agency and state, territorial and tribal laws.

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?

A pest specialist will make a treatment schedule based on the severity of the infestation, type of pest, type of treatment and location of your property. Pest control technicians typically discourage a single-treatment approach, as insects are frequently at various stages of their life cycles and may have laid eggs in hard-to-find locations.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are year-round. 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?

The time needed to get rid of your pest issue will vary based on the type and extent 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 additional treatments. Alternatively, you may notice more activity following the first treatment, as it can force pests out of their hiding places. The good news is 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 some parts of the pest control treatment, such as sealing entry points. However, if your service professional uses a pesticide, it may take hours to dry, during which time you'll need to be out of the house.

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 release the pesticide. You'll have to seek accommodation elsewhere during this process.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

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 taken out of the area, including animals, plants and food.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control companies provide green solutions for treating infestations. This means they use techniques with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Eco-friendly pest control methods may include sealing off areas where pests can gain access, capturing rodents or applying pesticides made from natural ingredients.

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 single service or continuous treatments to tackle a recurring pest problem. Be sure to discuss the service packages 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.