10 best pest control companies in Wheeling, Illinois

In Wheeling, termites, mice and flies are common pests. You can try DIY solutions to avoid potential pest problems, but you may need to call in a pest control company if you currently have an infestation. These licensed pest exterminators in Wheeling can diagnose the problem and treat it safely and effectively.

Pests that invade your property put your home and loved ones in danger. Insects and small animals can pass on disease, damage your home's structure and contaminate food.

Hiring pest control experts can significantly reduce the risk of an infestation. A pest professional will identify infestations and treat them in a variety of ways, from sealing cracks and holes to using traps or pesticides. The right pest solution can take care of your pest infestation for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Wheeling

Look for pest control companies in Wheeling 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 Wheeling?

Different pests infest different areas. Here are some indications of common pests in Wheeling.

• Termites: Termites eat and nest in wood. You may have a termite infestation if you have spots in your home that sound hollow when you knock on them, or if you see mud tubes, cracked or bubbling paint, droppings or termite swarms.
• 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 gnaw on furniture and emit a musky odor. They make their nests from gathered bits and torn fibers. Mice like to nest in tight spaces, so you may hear them rustling in your walls or ceilings.
• Ticks: Though ticks typically stay close to the ground outside, they can enter your home via clothing, shoes or pets. Inside, female ticks lay eggs on curtains, in carpet fibers or in upholstery. Nests may also be hidden in corners, along baseboards and in the lining or pockets of clothing.
• Flies: It's common to spot a few flies inside your home during the summer, but an excessive number likely signals an infestation. Flies leave droppings resembling clusters of black dots by sinks, shelves, or trash. Finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in your trash also indicates an infestation.
• Wasps: A surge of wasp activity, including frequent indoor appearances, may signal that there's a nest nearby. Wasp nests can be in trees or in your home, but they can also be underground, which you may not realize until you step on one. More hostile than bees, wasps readily swarm, so it's advisable not to attempt nest removal yourself. Seek assistance from pest management experts to take care of a wasp nest as they have the tools to do so safely.

How can you prevent pests in your Wheeling home?

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

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals can wreak havoc on your home and health if not addressed promptly. Talk to a pest control expert about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your home. Their recommendations may include sealing off small entry points, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

As pests are usually looking for food, making food difficult to access will keep them from infesting your home. Food should be a minimum of six inches off the floor and a short distance away from the walls. Make sure to keep counters, sinks and food storage areas 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

Tall grass, trash, leaves and standing water create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly mowing your lawn and trimming foliage are among the easiest ways to prevent an infestation from taking hold. Should you need expert lawn care assistance, check whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen service your location.

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 cracks in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest exclusion services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates 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.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is the governing body that provides licenses to pest control professionals servicing Illinois. Pesticide applicators should have a Commercial Applicator's License to work in the state.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment schedule a pest specialist suggests will depend on the infestation severity, property location, pest type and treatment type. 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 challenging to get to.

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some scheduled exclusively during the warmer seasons 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 go away depends on the nature and extent 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 further 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 lessen within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can 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 a few hours before it's dry, during which time you'll need to vacate the premises.

Certain treatments can be especially time-consuming like termite fumigation. The pest control provider erects a tent around your home, which is left in place for three days to apply the pesticide. During this period, you'll need to stay elsewhere.

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 remove from the space such as plants, food and animals before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest exterminators provide green solutions for managing an infestation. These companies employ products that have a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional methods. Examples include sealing entry points where pests can enter, trapping 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 one-time solution, while others offer continuous service to address recurring pest issues. Discuss the available options 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.