10 best pest control companies in Woodridge, Illinois

In Woodridge, you can encounter pests such as mice, rats and spiders. You can take action yourself to avoid potential pest problems, but you may need to call in a pest control company if you already have an infestation. These certified pest control professionals in Woodridge can diagnose the problem and treat it safely and effectively.

Letting a pest problem go unaddressed can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family and your pets. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible structural damage, contaminate foods and spread disease.

A reputable pest control company can lower these risks. A pest professional will identify infestations and treat them with a range of methods, from plugging holes to using traps or chemicals. 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 Woodridge

Look for pest control companies in Woodridge 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 Woodridge?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally target the same regions. Check for these indications of common Woodridge pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Mice: If mice have infiltrated your home, you might see one darting by or find droppings around the size of a grain of rice. Mice often chew on furniture and have a distinct musky scent. They make nests with foraged materials and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.
• Rats: Signs of rats include seeing a rat, finding droppings about half an inch long or hearing skittering in your walls or ceiling. Rats can nibble through doors, walls and food packaging to create access points for themselves.
• Mosquitos: Standing water draws mosquitoes, so you’re at a higher risk of an infestation if you live in a wet climate or have bodies of water nearby. Mosquitoes are nocturnal — as the sun goes down, they emit a distinctive buzzing noise and bite. You may not notice a bite until a few hours later, at which point the area around the bite turns into a bump and becomes itchy. Mosquitoes can carry diseases such as dengue fever, West Nile and malaria.
• Ticks: Ticks typically stay close to the ground outdoors, but they can get into your home on your shoes, pets or clothing. Once inside, a female tick lays her eggs on curtains, in upholstery and in carpet fibers. You may also see nests along baseboards, in corners and even in the linings or pockets of clothing.
• Beetles: Multiple beetle varieties can enter homes and damage your home and belongings. Carpet beetles can destroy bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture, while biscuit beetles get into rice, spices, pasta, beans and seeds. Beetles are usually harmless as they don't transmit disease or bite, but they can cause allergic reactions in some people.
• 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 odd smell radiating 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 in that their stings can provoke allergic reactions.
• Wasps: If you see more wasps than usual, and they start to getting into your home regularly, you may have a nest nearby. Nests can be above or below ground, which you may not realize until you accidentally disturb one. Wasps show more aggression than bees and will swarm. Do not attempt to remove a wasp’s nest on your own, as this can be extremely dangerous.

How can you prevent pests in your Woodridge 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

Bugs and small animals are troublesome and can cause considerable damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control company about taking preemptive 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

Because pests usually seek out food sources, limiting their food access will discourage them from infesting your home. Place food at least half a foot above floor level and slightly away from walls. Be sure to keep food storage areas, counters and sinks clean and disinfected when not in use. Dispose of food scraps and other garbage often, and keep the areas around trash cans and dumpsters neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Pests can hide in leaves, trash, standing water and tall grass in your yard. One of the simplest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard clean and properly maintained with a neatly trimmed lawn and pruned foliage. If you require professional landscaping services, check if national lawn care providers such as TruGreen service in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off ways will prevent 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 repair damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on keeping pests out and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governs the use of pest control chemicals. Moreover, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to hold certifications according to the agency's standards and the laws of the affected 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 advises will depend on the pest type, treatment type, infestation severity and property location. Pest control services 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 specialists often suggest recurring treatments, some of which may be limited to the warmer months, while others last across all seasons. As a proactive measure, they might also recommend preventive treatments every two or three months to stop infestations from starting.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it will take for your pest issue to be resolved depends on the infestation type and severity 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 notice increased activity after the first treatment, as it can flush pests out of hiding places. Luckily, this should taper off within a few 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 hours to dry, during which time you'll need to be out of the house.

Some services take a particularly long time. During termite fumigation, the pest control company needs to erect a tent around your home for three days to apply the pesticide. You must stay elsewhere during that time.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A service professional will know how much of a particular product to use, how long it takes to dry and when children and pets can safely come back to the area that's been treated. Before applying any treatment, they should educate you on what you must remove from the affected space, such as food, plants and animals.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control providers offer green solutions for managing infestations. This means they use methods with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing potential pest entry points, using humane traps for rodents and using less harmful 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 one-time treatment 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.