Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
With hot, wet summers, it’s no wonder homeowners in Durham deal with lots of pest problems. If the issue isn’t solved quickly, you could end up with an infestation. This is why acting when you see the pests, and also setting up routine pest control, is important.
Pest control is a serious matter. That’s why the Today's Homeowner team has done the research and ranked the best pest control companies in Durham for you. Read on to discover the top providers near you.
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
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Transparent pricing
Educational web content
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Free inspection policy
Services Offered
Timeliness of service
Educational web content
Transparent pricing
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Free inspection policy
Services Offered
Offerings of preventative treatments
Transparent pricing
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Reviews praise customer service
No-cost inspections
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Transparent pricing
Preventative pest control services
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Punctual arrival
Helpful homeowner content on its website
No-cost inspections
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Free inspection policy
Reviews praise customer service
Commitment to customer education
Offerings of preventative treatments
Lack of hidden fees
Services Offered
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Free inspections
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Proactive solutions for pest control
Services Offered
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Reviews praise customer service
No-cost inspections
Services Offered
Free inspections
Educational web content
Reviews praise customer service
Services Offered
Reviews praise customer service
Free inspection policy
Transparent pricing
Reliable exterminators
Educational web content
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 companies, we compared factors including customer service, types of pest control treatments offered, industry experience, coverage, and more.
This is how we ranked them:
Founded in 1927, Terminix has almost 100 years of experience in the pest control industry. Terminix has received multiple awards for its service, including Pest Control Technology Magazine’s Top 100 Pest Control Companies, The Business Journal’s FAST 50, and NCPMA’s Technician of the Year.
Terminix is widely known for its specialty termite services, but they handle much more than just that. Their other services include: cockroaches, spiders, ants, mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, and wildlife control including raccoons, squirrels, skunks, opossums, and more. Terminix will inspect your home for free. A qualified pest control expert will assess your situation and outline a suitable control plan.
Orkin has been around for over 100 years. Its exterminators undergo 160 hours of training. And, due to its big network, it can usually offer next-day — or even same-day — pest control.
Orkin takes care of many common pests, such as ants, spiders, silverfish, and cockroaches. Orkin can book regular follow-up visits. Also, if you have recurrent problems or any other immediate pest control needs, you can contact a customer service representative.
Rentokil is a well-known name in pest control, with providers across the globe and nearly a century of experience in the industry. The global brand owns the North American pest control providers J.C. Ehrlich, Western Exterminator, and Presto-X.
It handles 36 of the most common pests including spiders, rats, cockroaches, flies, mice, moths, bed bugs, and more. Rentokil’s services include preventative maintenance, treatment, and monitoring for pest infestations.
Pest control services vary in reputation, understanding, and competence. 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 has extensive experience treating the type of pest you're dealing with, whether it's termites, bed bugs, roaches, rodents, or something else. The company should thoroughly describe on their website its area of expertise.
When selecting a pest control company, look for technicians with certifications in pest control methods from respected industry associations, like the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), on top of proper state licensing. These credentials show that the technicians have completed adequate training. Also ask about required training hours and continuing education.
We suggest looking at customer reviews before scheduling a pest control appointment. Google, Yelp, and other review sites will show whether a company consistently provides quality service and a good customer experience. Also check the Better Business Bureau website for any complaints that have been filed. Ask about the kind of continuing education technicians receive to stay current on best pest control practices. When you select a professional from our list of the top pest control in Durham, you can rest easy knowing you're hiring an expert that meets our quality and review standards.
If you prefer natural pest control methods, look for providers that advertise “green” certifications. For larger pests like 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 more potent traditional solutions. No matter your approach to pest control, all pesticides (besides those classified as minimal risk) are required to be registered with the EPA.
Leading pest control companies usually offer service guarantees for ongoing plans. This means that if pests remain after the initial treatment, the company will come back and re-treat your home at no cost until the infestation is handled. One-time treatments may not include reservice guarantees.
Once you have found your top pest management companies, reach out to each one to ask these questions:
Evaluate potential pest control companies based on their answers to these questions. This will enable you to choose the best provider to effectively take care of your pest problem at a reasonable cost.
Many kinds of pests find their way into Durham houses. Some are relatively harmless, but others can damage your home and your health. All of them can give homeowners anxiety. To help you prepare for the most problematic pests, we reviewed online discussions and created a list of the ones mentioned the most.
The best pest control providers are Orkin and Terminix. They can treat all common pests, have many locations, and have been in the industry for a long time.
The best way to prevent a pest infestation is having a pest control company come to your home once every quarter or every two to three months. Spraying your property regularly will stop insects and other wildlife from coming back.
For the most part, the chemicals used in pest control are safe. However, they have to be handled by a trained professional to make sure they’re used safely. After your house has been sprayed, your exterminator will recommend staying out of your home for a certain period 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 a company 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 consider professional pest control if you're concerned about safety or pets.
In a city like Durham, where the cost of living is high compared to other cities, the cost of pest control is most likely a concern. The cost of pest control varies based on several factors, such as what kind of pests are troubling you and how bad the infestation is. A single visit can cost between $300 and $500, but a quarterly treatment plan is typically cheaper — around $100 to $300 a visit.
Spring is the best time for preventative pest control. This is because nests and colony numbers will grow much larger when it's hotter, so pest control in the spring can help prevent your property from getting too many pests later.
