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Pittsburgh homeowners may be worried about several different species of pests. In more crowded areas, pests such as mice and rats can be particularly troublesome.
No matter the type of infestation, our guide to the top local pest control professionals can help you handle it.
User Reviews: 4.7/5
Experts Ready to Help
User Reviews: 4.2/5
Experts Ready to Help
User Reviews: 4.7/5
Experts Ready to Help
User Reviews: 4.7/5
145 Lake Dr Ste 102R
Wexford, PA 15090
User Reviews: 4.9/5
377 Northgate Dr
Warrendale, PA 15086
User Reviews: 4.6/5
225 6th St
Ellwood City, PA 16117
User Reviews: 4.7/5
310 Gompers Ave
Indiana, PA 15701
User Reviews: 4.8/5
5395 Perry Hwy
Volant, PA 16156
User Reviews: 4.9/5
3351 Bigelow Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
User Reviews: 4.6/5
624 Camp Horne Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
User Reviews: 4.4/5
135 Marwood Cir
Boardman, OH 44512
User Reviews: 4.8/5
3848 Chartiers Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15204
The This Old House Reviews Team evaluated dozens of pest control companies in the Pittsburgh area. We looked at the following criteria to select the best pest control companies:
Hiring the best company for you is the most important step in the pest control process. Some things you may consider include qualifications and licensing, treatment methods, years of experience, customer reviews, and cost.
Below, we explore the details of each of these factors.
You can check a company's qualifications to help you choose the best option for your home. Here are some things to look for:
While the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established minimum competency standards for pesticide applicators, licensure is handled at the state level. All pesticide applicators (and their supervisors) in Pennsylvania should be licensed by all the necessary state regulatory agencies.
There are additional optional certifications that can help demonstrate that a pest control company is reputable. One example is the GreenPro Service Certification. To earn this certification, a company must prove that its methods are more environmentally friendly and that its employee training is up to date. Other various certifications can be earned through QualityPro and similar trade organizations.
A pest control company can also hold membership in various professional organizations. When a company becomes a member of an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it gets access to resources, education, and a network of other pest control professionals with whom to compare treatment methods. This can offer added peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.
In general, a company displays information like its specialities and years of experience on its website. Online reviews can also tell you whether a company has experience dealing with a specific pest. If you can't get the information you need online, you can reach out to the company directly to get your questions answered.
You can view a company's reviews and rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), check out local review sites and social media to find out what homeowners near you think, or verify its license standing through the Pennsylvania licensing board.
Things like your location, the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, and other factors can all affect the price of pest control.
You can look into whether a company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget), as well as what sort of guarantees it offers. Often, a company will guarantee that if it does not eliminate your pest problem, it will continue treatment until it does.
It's important to consider safety when selecting a pest control provider, and you might prefer a provider who employs more natural, environmentally-friendly methods.
You should ask your pest control provider if they plan to use low toxicity or non-toxic pesticides, and if not, what sort of precautionary measures they will have in place. Any pesticides that are not minimum-risk chemicals must be registered with the EPA. Your pest technician will be able to provide information about all of the pesticides they are going to use.
Many companies are now exploring cleaner and greener pest solutions that can be used before (or instead of) chemical pesticides. Many are following the practice of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which goes as follows:
Not all pests are equally common in Pittsburgh. Some species that you should be wary of are these:
Pest infestations happen when pests come into your house looking for something, typically food, water, or shelter. Pests might come looking for food or trash that is left out. Some might also be drawn to standing water outside (from rain collecting in one area) or inside (from leaky pipes). They might also enter your house simply looking for shelter. They can get in through weak spots such as broken screens or foundation cracks.
There are certain things you can do to help prevent pest infestations. First, don't leave food out. Keep your food stored in sealed containers, and don't leave trash sitting around.
Next, avoid having standing water in or around your home. Fix leaks indoors and eliminate standing water sites outside. Lastly, seal off possible pest entrances into your home, including siding or foundation cracks.
Any time you see signs of pest activity in your Pittsburgh home--which could include droppings, nests, signs of damage, or the pests themselves--you should contact an exterminator. If you've had recurrent or seasonal infestations, we recommend contacting a local pest control company to set up annual pest management services.
If there are pests in your home, you may find yourself spending a large amount of time and money ridding yourself of them, as well as potentially recovering from illness or damages they caused. Preventive pest control can stop this from happening in the first place.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviewsteam@thisoldhousereviews.com.