Pest control and exterminators
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What pest control pros do
Pick the job you need rather than the trade, if you already know it.
Pest Control by city
What pest control involves
A proper pest control visit starts with an inspection: identifying the pest, finding where it is getting in and what is attracting it, and judging how big the problem is. Treatment follows — baits, targeted pesticide applications, traps, exclusion (sealing entry points) — then follow-up visits to check it worked.
Good companies work to integrated pest management (IPM), which EPA describes as “an effective and environmentally sensitive approach” built on four steps: set action thresholds, monitor and identify pests, prevent them, and control them — starting with the lower-risk methods (EPA). In practice, a company that sprays without looking is not doing IPM.
Companies sell one-time treatments and recurring plans (monthly, every other month or quarterly). A one-time visit suits a single problem with a clear cause; a plan suits pests that come back seasonally or a house that keeps getting them.
Ants
Most indoor ants are foragers following a trail to food or water from a nest outside or in a wall. Spraying the trail scatters them; baits that workers carry back to the nest are usually the better tool, which is why a pro will ask you to stop spraying and leave the bait alone for a while. Identification matters, because baits that work on one species may be ignored by another.
Call a pro when ants keep coming back after you have removed food sources, when they are nesting inside walls, or when you see large black ants indoors — they may be carpenter ants.
Carpenter ants (and how they differ from termites)
Carpenter ants do not eat wood. University of Minnesota Extension explains that they remove it as they create galleries for nesting, and that the galleries are clean and smooth, with a well-sanded appearance; workers are usually 3/8 to 1/2 inch long. Indoors, nests are found in moist or decayed wood — so a carpenter ant problem is often a moisture problem too, from a leak, a roof, or a window (UMN Extension).
Telling them from termites, per the same source:
- Carpenter ants have narrow (pinched) waists, elbowed antennae, and hind wings shorter than the front wings.
- Termites have broad waists and straight antennae; winged termites have wings of equal length.
UMN’s advice is that it is best to hire a pest management professional, because nests are hard to find. If you suspect termites instead, see termite control.
Mice and rats
Signs: droppings along walls and in cupboards, gnawed packaging or wiring, scratching in walls or ceilings at night, and grease marks along routes. Trapping removes the animals inside; exclusion — finding and sealing the gaps they use — is what stops more coming in. CDC’s advice is to look for and seal up holes around the home to prevent infestations (CDC). Ask any company quoting for rodents whether exclusion is included.
Clean up safely. CDC says not to sweep or vacuum rodent urine, droppings or nesting material, because it can put viruses into the air. Instead: open doors and windows for 30 minutes first, wear rubber or plastic gloves, soak the area with a bleach solution (1.5 cups of household bleach in a gallon of water) for 5 minutes, then wipe it up with paper towels (CDC).
Rats, raccoons, squirrels and bats in the attic are often a wildlife job rather than a pest control one — see animal removal.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are more than unpleasant: EPA notes that their droppings and body parts can trigger asthma, and recommends prevention first — sealing cracks, storing food in airtight containers and cleaning up spills (EPA).
Small brown roaches in kitchens and bathrooms (usually German cockroaches) breed indoors and need a methodical treatment — gel baits in cracks and crevices, follow-up visits, and the household’s help with sanitation. Large roaches that wander in from outside or drains are usually a matter of sealing entry points. In apartments, a treatment that covers one unit and not its neighbours tends not to last.
When to call a pro
- The pest keeps coming back after you have removed food, water and obvious entry points.
- You suspect bed bugs, termites or carpenter ants — all hard to treat without experience and equipment.
- There are droppings in food areas, or signs of rodents in walls or wiring.
- Anyone in the house has asthma or allergies triggered by pests.
- You are buying a house — a wood-destroying insect inspection is common, and sometimes required by the lender.
How to choose a pest control company
- Check the licence. EPA’s guide notes that most state or local agencies license pest control operators, and advises making sure the operator’s licence is current where your state requires one (EPA). Your state’s department of agriculture usually keeps the register.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance. NPMA, the industry association, suggests asking whether the company has insurance to cover damage to your home or furnishings during treatment (NPMA).
- Ask about the guarantee: what it covers, how long it lasts, and what you must do to keep it in force — NPMA’s list again.
- Ask what they will use, where, and what you need to do before and after (children, pets, aquariums, food). A good company will tell you without being pressed.
- Ask whether they inspect before treating, and what the follow-up visits are.
- For recurring plans, check the cancellation terms before you sign.
What affects the cost
- The pest: ants and spiders are usually simpler than bed bugs, termites or a rodent problem that needs exclusion work.
- How severe and widespread the infestation is.
- The size of the home, and whether outbuildings or a yard are included.
- One-time treatment or a recurring plan.
- Inspection fees, and whether they are credited if you go ahead.
- Follow-up visits included in the price, or charged separately.
DIY or pro — and pesticide safety
Prevention is mostly DIY: fix leaks, store food sealed, take out trash, trim plants back from the walls and seal gaps. If you use a pesticide yourself, follow the label. EPA’s guide is plain about it: read the label before buying and before every use, and using a pesticide “in any way that is not consistent with label directions and precautions is illegal” (EPA).
Common questions
- Is pest control worth it?
- For persistent pests, and for the hard ones — bed bugs, termites, carpenter ants, rodents in walls — usually yes. For an occasional ant trail, prevention and baits may be all you need.
- How often do I need pest control service?
- It depends on the pest and the house. A single problem with a clear cause may need one treatment and a follow-up; recurring seasonal pests are why companies sell monthly or quarterly plans.
- Does pest control cause more bugs?
- You may see more activity for a short time after treatment as pests are flushed out or baits take effect. Ask the technician what to expect and when to call back.
- How do exterminators get rid of carpenter ants?
- By finding the nest — often in moist or damaged wood — and treating it directly, plus fixing the moisture that attracted them. That is why University of Minnesota Extension suggests a professional.
- Is it carpenter ants or termites?
- Carpenter ants have pinched waists, elbowed antennae and unequal wings; termites have broad waists, straight antennae and, when winged, wings of equal length.
- How do I know I have rodents?
- Droppings, gnaw marks, scratching in walls or ceilings at night, and grease marks along their routes are the usual signs.
- How do I clean up mouse droppings safely?
- Do not sweep or vacuum them. CDC advises ventilating for 30 minutes, wearing gloves, soaking with a bleach solution for 5 minutes, then wiping up with paper towels.
- Do pest control companies need a licence?
- In most states, yes — pest control operators are licensed by the state, usually through the department of agriculture. Ask for the licence number and check it is current.
Related services
Guides
Sources
Safety and standards advice on this page comes from these publishers. Dates are the ones each page shows.
- US EPA, Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (last updated July 22, 2026)
- US EPA, Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety (August 2017)
- National Pest Management Association (PestWorld), Tips for hiring a pest control company (modified July 3, 2024)
- University of Minnesota Extension, Carpenter ants (reviewed 2024)
- CDC, Rodent Control (last updated April 8, 2024)
- CDC, How to Clean Up After Rodents (last updated April 8, 2024)
- US EPA, Asthma Triggers: Gain Control (last updated July 6, 2026)
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