Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
No matter where you live, pests are a fact of life and dealing with them is a pain. If the issue isn’t solved fast, you could end up with a bad infestation. This is why acting as soon as you see the pests, and also setting up routine pest control, is important.
There are many exterminators to choose from, which makes finding the right one for you a challenge. For that reason, we’ve put together a guide on the top pest control companies in Ottumwa. Read on to learn more about each exterminator.
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Proactive approach to pest control
Lack of hidden fees
Positive customer service reviews
Reliable exterminators
Free inspection policy
Educational web content
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Lack of hidden fees
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
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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:
The Today's Homeowner team narrowed down the top pest control providers by considering factors like industry experience, customer satisfaction, coverage, types of pest control treatments offered, and more.
This is how they ranked:
Terminix’s headquarters are in Memphis, Tennessee, but it has branches in 45 states and several countries globally. It has also been in the industry for nearly 100 years. With this experience, it’s easy to see why Terminix is a top choice for many homeowners.
Terminix exterminates all kinds of pest issues for homeowners and business owners. These include ants, spiders, opossums, rodents, termites, roaches, and raccoons. Terminix’s general pest regimen consists of a home inspection and initial treatment, with three additional treatments over the course of a year.
Orkin Pest Control is based in Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of the oldest pest control companies with a large network of branches. It has great customer reviews and well-trained exterminators who all complete 160 hours of training.
Orkin takes care of many common pests, including ants, silverfish, cockroaches, and spiders. After the initial treatment, your Orkin specialist will follow up to check that the pests haven’t returned. If they have, your local technicians can assist.
Founded in 1925, Rentokil has almost 100 years’ worth of experience exterminating pests. Rentokil is the parent company of several North American pest control providers such as J.C. Ehrlich, Presto-X, and Western Exterminator, which provide tailored services.
It deals with 36 of the most common pests such as rats, flies, mice, spiders, moths, bed bugs, cockroaches, and more. Depending on the city, Rentokil and its partners may cover wildlife like rodents, snakes, and birds.
Pest control businesses vary in reputation, proficiency, and effectiveness. It's important to research businesses to find the right fit for your pest problem. Focus on these key factors when hiring a pest control professional:
Look for a pest control company that is able to handle the type of pest you have, whether it’s roaches, bed bugs, termites, rodents, or something else. The company should be able to provide an overview of 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, such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), on top of proper state licensing. These credentials indicate that the technicians have completed proper training. Also inquire about continuing education policies and total training hours.
Read through reviews on Google, Yelp, and similar sites prior to scheduling a pest control appointment. Ensure by reading reviews that the company reliably provides effective service and receives positive customer feedback. Also check the Better Business Bureau website for any complaints that have been filed. Ask whether technicians receive continuing regular education on the newest and most advanced pest control treatments. When you choose a professional from our list of the top pest control in Ottumwa, you can feel confident knowing that you're hiring an expert that meets our quality and review standards.
If you prefer natural pest control methods, look for providers offering “green” certifications. For bigger animals such as mice or snakes, ask if a provider offers gentle catch and release programs. Bear in mind natural options may not work as well for major infestations. If you have a substantial pest problem, you may need stronger traditional solutions. No matter your approach to pest control, all pesticides that are classified as greater than minimal risk are required to be registered with the EPA.
Reputable pest control companies usually offer service warranties for continuing plans. The warranties mean that a provider will come back to re-treat your home free of charge if pests remain after the first treatment. One-off treatments may not include these reservice warranties.
After picking your top exterminators, contact each one and ask questions such as these:
Take the time to thoroughly assess pest control companies using these questions. This will allow you to select the right provider to effectively handle your pest situation at a fair price.
Different pests come up in different locations. In Ottumwa, there are several that residents may deal with. Our team examined around 10 million posts on social media to determine the pests that create the most issues in the area.
The top pest control companies are Orkin and Terminix. They can treat all common pests, have locations all around the country, and have been in the industry for decades.
The best way to prevent a pest infestation is having a pest control company come to your house once every quarter or every two to three months. Regularly spraying your property 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 exterminator to ensure they’re used properly. After your house has been sprayed, your exterminator will recommend staying out of your home for a certain amount of time. This is usually 2 to 4 hours, but can be a maximum of 24 hours.
Whether you should do DIY pest control or hire an exterminator depends on the situation. You’ll want to consider factors like what chemicals need to be used, how much the pest control will cost, and the size of the infestation. In addition, you may want to also look into professional pest control if you're concerned about safety.
Many Ottumwa homeowners wonder about the cost of pest control. Monthly pest control usually costs $40 to $70 a visit. Quarterly pest control costs about $110 to $250 a visit. To determine exactly how much it will cost for you, we recommend getting in touch with several pest control companies for an estimate.
Spring is the best time for preventative pest control. This is because nests and colony numbers will grow much larger as it gets warmer, so pest control in the spring can help prevent you from getting too many pests later.
