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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
In Columbus, where the summers can be rather hot with average high temperatures of 74 degrees, pests can be a big nightmare. Homeowners and apartment dwellers who have a routine pest control plan can avoid encounters with these uninvited guests. Luckily, pest control companies can help you with this issue.
Pest control is a serious matter. That’s why the Today's Homeowner team has done the work and ranked the top pest control companies in Columbus for you. Keep reading to learn more about each exterminator.
Proactive solutions for pest control
Consistently high customer service reviews
Educational web content
Transparent pricing
Free inspections
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Transparent pricing
Educational web content
No-cost inspections
Consistently high customer service reviews
Services Offered
No-cost inspections
Proactive approach to pest control
Commitment to customer education
Lack of hidden fees
Services Offered
Commitment to customer education
Transparent pricing
Punctual arrival
Free inspection policy
Consistently high customer service reviews
Services Offered
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Transparent pricing
Free inspection policy
Commitment to customer education
Services Offered
Services Offered
Free inspections
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Reviews praise customer service
Services Offered
No-cost inspections
Transparent pricing
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Services Offered
Positive customer service reviews
Free inspection policy
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Transparent pricing
No-cost inspections
Services Offered
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on pest control companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
When ranking these pest control providers, we took into consideration several factors including coverage, types of pest control treatments offered, customer service, industry experience, and more.
Here’s how Columbus’s top providers ranked:
Terminix is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, but it has branches in 45 states and several countries worldwide. It has also been in the industry for nearly 100 years. Terminix has received several awards for its service, including Angie's List Super Service Award 2017, Watauga County Best of the Best, and NCPMA’s Technician of the Year.
Terminix provides both one-off extermination services and routine pest control. Plus, every contract comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Terminix offers a free inspection. A qualified technician will take a look at your situation and detail a suitable control plan.
Orkin Pest Control is based in Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of the longest-running pest control companies with a large network of branches. Because of its large network, Orkin can provide same-day or next-day service.
Pests Orkin deals with includes wasps, cockroaches, yellow jackets, bed bugs, spiders, rats, crickets, fleas, earwigs, termites, and more. After the first treatment, your Orkin exterminator will follow up to check that the pests haven’t come back. If they have, your local technicians can help.
Founded in 1925, Rentokil has close to 100 years’ worth of experience getting rid of pests. In North America, Rentokil is the parent company of several regional pest control providers like Presto-X, Western Exterminator, and J.C. Ehrlich.
It handles 36 of the most common pests including mice, spiders, bed bugs, moths, rats, cockroaches, flies, and more. Rentokil’s treatments are safe for your pets and children.
Pest control businesses vary in credibility, understanding, and competence. It's important to research businesses to find the right fit for your pest problem. Here are the key factors to consider when selecting a pest control company:
Look for a pest control company that has experience handling the type of pest you have, whether it’s rodents, roaches, bed bugs, termites, or something else. The company should be able to describe how they treat your type of pest.
When choosing a pest control company, look for technicians with certifications in pest control methods from respected industry associations, like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), in addition to proper state licensing. These credentials show that the technicians have completed proper training. Also ask about required training hours and continuing education.
Look through reviews on Google, Yelp, and similar sites prior to booking a pest control appointment. Confirm through customer feedback that the company reliably provides effective service and receives positive customer feedback. Also check for any Better Business Bureau complaints that have been filed. Ask whether technicians receive consistent education on the most cutting-edge pest control treatments. When you choose a provider from our list of the top pest control in Columbus, you can feel confident knowing that you're hiring an expert that meets our quality and review standards.
Search for providers that have “green” accreditations to get more natural, eco-friendly pest control. You can also ask about humane trapping programs that don't harm pests like mice or snakes. Keep in mind that traditional methods might be a better option for major infestations. Regardless of what methods you choose, any pesticides that are classified as greater than minimal risk are required to be registered with the EPA.
Quality pest control providers typically offer service guarantees for recurring plans. The guarantees mean the provider will come back and re-treat at no cost if your home still has pests after the initial treatment. One-time treatments may not come with reservice guarantees.
Once you have compiled a list of a few top contending pest control companies, have conversations with each one and be prepared to ask these types of questions:
Review potential pest control companies based on their answers to these questions. This will allow you to pick the best provider to effectively resolve your pest problem at a reasonable cost.
You should be aware of the pests you might see as a resident of Columbus. To give you an idea of the most common pests in the city, we studied the pests discussed in around 10 million posts on social media.
The best pest control providers are Terminix and Orkin. They can treat all common pests, service many locations, and have been in the industry for several decades.
The best way to prevent a pest infestation is having a pest control company come to your house once every quarter. Spraying your property regularly will stop insects and other wildlife from coming back.
For the most part, pest control chemicals are safe. However, they have to be handled by a trained professional to ensure they’re used safely. After your house has been sprayed, the exterminator will recommend staying away from your home for a certain amount of time. This is generally 2 to 4 hours, but can be up to 24 hours.
Many Columbus homeowners are concerned about the cost of pest control. Monthly pest control typically costs $40 to $70 a visit. Quarterly pest control costs about $110 to $250 a visit. To figure out exactly how much it will cost for you, we recommend getting in touch with several pest control companies for a quote.
For apartments and homes, quarterly or even bi-monthly pest control treatments are advisable. If you have a more serious infestation, however, you may need to get monthly treatments for a few months until the problem is resolved.