When to Call a Pest Control Professional

Call a licensed pest-management professional when the pest is hidden in the structure, spreads easily between rooms or units, can cause structural damage, poses a sting risk you cannot safely manage, or needs products and equipment that homeowners cannot legally or safely use. Termites, bed bugs, wall-void stinging insect nests, German cockroaches in apartment buildings and wood-destroying insects found during a home purchase all fall into that group.

Many other problems, such as an ant trail in the kitchen or carpet beetles in a closet, are usually solved at home with cleaning, sealing and labeled baits. Here is how to tell the difference, and how to choose a company when you need one.

Situations where a professional is the right call

Termites

Subterranean termite treatment involves placing termiticide into soil around and under the foundation or installing and servicing bait systems. Drywood termites may need whole-structure fumigation or heat. These jobs need building knowledge, specialized equipment and, for fumigation, restricted-use products. See termite treatment methods.

Bed bugs

The EPA recommends hiring a professional early, since home efforts can let an infestation spread, and notes that very few infestations are controlled with one treatment. Professionals have access to whole-room heat and a wider range of products, which matters because many bed bug populations resist common insecticides. See bed bug treatment methods.

Stinging insect nests in walls or near allergic people

UC IPM notes that yellowjacket nests inside wall and ceiling voids cannot practically be removed by a homeowner, and that professional removal is the safest option for nests that must go. Do not try to tear open a wall or dig out a nest yourself. Call for help when a nest is inside the structure, underground in a high-traffic area, or anywhere near someone with a known sting allergy. If someone has a severe reaction to a sting, seek emergency medical care.

German cockroaches in multi-unit buildings

Cockroaches move between apartments through shared walls, plumbing and wiring. Treating one unit at a time often fails, and sprays can push roaches into neighbors’ homes. Building-wide inspection and coordinated treatment usually work better. See cockroach control.

Wood-destroying insects found in a home purchase inspection

A wood-destroying insect report for a sale is a visual inspection only. North Carolina’s agriculture department points out that it is not a warranty that no infestation exists and does not judge how much damage has occurred. If a report notes termites or other wood-destroying insects, buyer and seller should agree on a treatment plan with a licensed company, and a contractor or structural engineer should assess any damage.

Anything requiring restricted-use pesticides or fumigants

The EPA classifies some pesticides as restricted use because of their potential to harm people or the environment. They are not available to the general public. Only certified applicators, or people working under their direct supervision, may apply them. If a treatment plan calls for one of these products or for fumigation, it is a professional job by definition.

Situations homeowners can usually handle

These problems often respond to prevention and careful use of labeled products:

• Ant trails indoors. Cleaning, sealing entry points and bait stations solve most cases. See ant control.
• Carpet beetles. Finding the source, vacuuming, laundering and better storage usually do it. See how to get rid of carpet beetles.
• Pantry pests. Discarding infested food, cleaning shelves and storing food in sealed containers.
• Occasional invaders. Crickets, ground beetles, lady beetles and similar insects wandering in from outdoors. Sealing gaps and fixing screens is the main step.
• A few large outdoor cockroaches. Sealing, drainage repair and moisture control.
• A small, early German cockroach problem in a single-family home. Consistent sanitation, baits and sticky-trap monitoring often clear it.

Change course if the problem keeps returning after several weeks of steady effort, spreads to new rooms, or causes damage you cannot explain.

How to vet a pest control company

Check the license

Pest control is regulated by states. Depending on the state, the licensing agency is the department of agriculture, a structural pest control board or another pesticide regulatory office. The EPA says each company needs at least one certified, licensed applicator in the right category, and that other staff must be certified or work under that person’s direct supervision. NPIC recommends confirming that technicians hold current licenses in the class that fits the job.

Ask for the company and technician license numbers and verify them with your state’s agency. Texas, as one example, requires a license for anyone in the pest control business, from one-person operations to large franchises, and the Texas Department of Agriculture investigates complaints about unlicensed work.

Ask about insurance

NPIC suggests asking whether the company carries insurance covering your property and its own employees. Ask for proof rather than a verbal yes.

Expect a written inspection report

UC IPM notes that a company should provide a written diagnosis that identifies the pest, show you where the activity and its source are and explain the control plan.

Look for a clear service plan

A good plan lists:

• What will be treated and which products will be used
• The non-chemical steps, such as sealing, monitoring and moisture fixes
• How often inspections and treatments will happen
• A written cost estimate and the terms of any guarantee
• Precautions for children, pets and aquariums

The EPA notes that routine pesticide applications on a fixed schedule are generally not recommended for homes unless a pest is constantly present. Contracts should include periodic inspections, with treatment when pests are found.

Ask direct questions

Based on EPA, NPIC and UC IPM guidance:

• How long has the company operated at its current address? Can it provide references?
• Who will do the work, and what license does that person hold?
• Does the company use integrated pest management, such as monitoring, exclusion and baiting?
• Can you see the labels and Safety Data Sheets for the products it plans to use?
• Is a long-term contract required? What does the guarantee cover?

Watch for high-pressure tactics

The EPA lists warning signs including pressure to sign immediately, a special price only if you sign today, door-to-door sales, claims that your home is unsafe unless you act now, a “secret formula” and claims of government endorsement. Most pest problems can wait a few days while you get more than one written estimate.

What to prepare before a visit

A little preparation makes the first visit more useful:

• Your notes. Dates, rooms and numbers of pests seen, plus anything you have already tried.
• A specimen. A sealed jar, zip-top bag or piece of clear tape with an insect on it helps confirm identification.
• Product containers. Have any pesticide products you used on hand so the technician can see the labels.
• Access. Clear space under sinks, along walls and in closets, attics or crawl spaces that need inspection.
• People and pets. Plan where children, pets and anyone sensitive to chemicals will be during and after treatment. The EPA advises covering or removing aquariums and turning off their air pumps.
• Your questions. Write them down so you can ask them before work begins.

For bed bug and fumigation jobs, the company should give you its own written preparation list. Follow it closely, since poor preparation is a common reason treatments fail.

After the visit

Ask for a written record of what was applied, where and when. Follow any non-chemical recommendations the technician makes, such as fixing leaks or sealing gaps. UC IPM advises against applying your own pesticides while under a service contract, since that can interfere with the professional’s treatment. Keep monitoring and report any changes between visits.

For an overview of prevention, monitoring and treatment methods, see pest control basics.