There are a variety of pest control services available to keep your home and family safe. Some are do-it-yourself while others are more expensive but effective.

The goal of a pest control service is to eliminate pests without the use of chemicals that may be more harmful than necessary. Instead, they focus on why pests are present and try to alter the conditions that attract them in the first place.

Insects & Spiders

Insects and spiders are one of the most common types of pests that can affect your home or business. They can cause a lot of problems, such as attracting and feeding on other pests.

A professional insect and spider control service can help prevent them from entering your home. They will use a combination of treatment techniques such as contact sprays and removing the webs from your home.

A good pest control company will provide a guarantee for their services so that you can be assured that your home or business is protected from spiders. These companies also offer a variety of pesticides that will kill the spiders that are present in your home or business.

Rodents

Rodent infestations can be a significant threat to your home. They can gnaw through wires and insulation, cause damage to food supplies, and transmit disease pathogens.

Rodents are a diverse group of mammals that can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They’re the second most successful mammal on the planet, and they can live anywhere from the cold tundra to hot deserts.

They’re also ecosystem engineers, digging tunnels to burrow in the soil and fertilize it with a mix of carbon and nitrogen. Some species also collect seeds to consume or store in their bodies for future planting.

In their natural habitats, rodents usually live 4-6 months and give birth to multiple young. However, if they enter a house or other building they can often survive for a year.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are hard to spot and often spread quickly from one home to the next. They are also very resistant to most insecticides, making them difficult to eliminate.

Bed bug infestations require extensive preparation and thorough treatment. This may involve moving infested beds and furniture, removing clutter, and ensuring that all items in the infested area can be properly laundered.

In addition, occupants must cooperate in the pest control process. They will need to assist the pest controller by removing infested items and providing information as needed during treatment.

Professionals often use heat and high-heat blowers to kill off infested bedding, clothing and other materials. The heat treatment must be followed by pesticide treatments to ensure complete eradication.

Termites

Termites are small, wood-eating insects that can infest your home or business and cause serious damage to your property. Depending on the size and severity of the infestation, extermination and remediation costs can be high.

In areas that are warm and moist, termites can often find their way into homes through cracks in the foundation or through wood siding, deck supports, and porch steps. Once they’re inside, they begin foraging for food and build tunnels that lead to other areas of your home, including the interior.

They are also known for making mud tubes that they use to travel from their nests to the food sources where they live. Seeing these mud tubes is one of the most important indicators of an active termite colony.

Regardless of where you live in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Maryland or Virginia, a professional pest control service will look for any indications of termites and create a plan to address the problem. Typically, termite treatments will include direct treatment of the affected area and the installation of termite bait stations that provide fast relief and long-term protection from future infestations.