Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Living in a city such as Alton, which has pretty hot summers, often means encountering a lot of pests as well. Arranging routine pest control with a good company can reduce your encounters with these pests later on.
There are many great exterminator options, so the Today's Homeowner team has researched some of the best pest control companies in Alton to help you make the right decision. Read on to learn more about each exterminator.
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Offerings of preventative treatments
Positive customer service reviews
Punctual arrival
No-cost inspections
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Commitment to customer education
Transparent pricing
Free inspection policy
Reviews praise customer service
Services Offered
Reliable appointment windows
Educational web content
Reviews praise customer service
Lack of hidden fees
Free inspection policy
Services Offered
Educational web content
No-cost inspections
Consistently high customer service reviews
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Educational web content
Consistently high customer service reviews
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Free inspections
Transparent pricing
Educational web content
Services Offered
Services Offered
Free inspection policy
Lack of hidden fees
Services Offered
Positive customer service reviews
Transparent pricing
No-cost inspections
Services Offered
Commitment to customer education
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Transparent pricing
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:
The team at Today's Homeowner narrowed down the top pest control companies by comparing customer reviews, costs, state availability, and more.
Here’s how Alton’s top companies ranked:
Founded in 1927, Terminix has almost 100 years of experience in the pest control business. Terminix has received numerous 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 has both one-off extermination services and seasonal pest control. Additionally, every contract comes with a 30-day guarantee. In addition to pest control, Terminix offers other services, like home disinfection services, attic insulation, mechanical exclusion, and moisture control.
If you need immediate pest control service in Alton, consider Orkin. Founded in 1901, Orkin has become one of the largest pest control companies in the country. Its pest control specialists complete 160 hours of training. Plus, due to its large network, it can usually offer next-day — or even same-day — pest control.
Pests Orkin helps with are cockroaches, yellow jackets, wasps, carpenter ants, rats, crickets, earwigs, mice, fleas, centipedes, and more. Each contract with Orkin comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If initial treatments are ineffective, your technician will come back for another visit.
Rentokil has been helping homeowners exterminate common pests for over 90 years. This large service group is the parent company of several top regional pest control providers in North America. These include Western Exterminator, J.C. Ehrlich, and Presto-X.
It exterminates 36 of the most common pests including bed bugs, mice, moths, spiders, rats, cockroaches, flies, and more. Depending on your location, Rentokil and its partners may cover wildlife like rodents, snakes, and birds.
Not all pest control services are the equal in credibility, qualifications, and proficiency. Evaluating companies helps you identify the right choice for your pest circumstance. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing a pest control company:
Look for a pest control company that can address the type of pest you have, whether it’s bed bugs, termites, roaches, rodents, or something else. The company should be able to provide an overview of how they treat your type of pest.
Look for pest control companies that employ technicians with certifications in pest control methods from expert organizations, such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), in addition to state licensing. Possessing the proper credentials shows that the technicians have received adequate training. You'll also want to ask about continuing education opportunities.
Before scheduling an appointment, take the time to read online reviews on sites such as Google or Yelp to see which providers have a reputation for providing positive experiences and effective services. Also look for any complaints with the Better Business Bureau. Ask about the ongoing training the company’s technicians receive to ensure they stay up to date on current pest control best practices. When you select a provider from our list of Alton's best pest control, you can rest easy knowing you're hiring an expert that meets our quality and review standards.
Homeowners who want natural, eco-friendly pest control should look for providers that specialize in “green” accredited solutions. You can also ask about trapping options that don't harm larger pests like mice or raccoons nesting nearby. However, natural options may be less effective for serious infestations. If you’re dealing with a major pest problem you may need more potent chemical treatments. 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.
Reliable pest control professionals typically offer service guarantees for recurring plans. These guarantees mean the provider will come back and re-treat your home at no cost if pests remain after the first treatment. One-time services may not include reservice guarantees.
Once you have determined your top pest management companies, reach out to each one with these questions:
Analyze potential pest control providers using these questions. This will help you hire the right provider to safely and effectively eliminate your pest problem at a reasonable price.
Pests vary by location. In Alton, there are several that residents have to deal with. We reviewed around 10 million online conversations to determine which pests people in different areas had the most problems with.
Our top picks for the best pest control companies are Orkin and Terminix. They're highly regarded in the industry and cover all common pests.
Hiring a pest control company and having a professional spray your property regularly is the best way to prevent future pest infestations. This deters insects and animals from coming inside your home.
Chemicals used in pest control are safe but must be handled by a professional. If you have any questions about the safety of the chemicals — such as if they're safe around children and pets — and how long you need to stay out of your home after using them, you can ask the exterminator. Generally, you should remain outside your home for two to four hours after spraying.
The key to finding the best pest control company for you is to get in touch with several companies and get quotes from them. You should also be sure you read reviews to check their reputation and customer satisfaction.
In a town like Alton, where the cost of living is relatively low compared to other cities, the cost of pest control may be a concern. How much pest control costs varies based on several factors, including what kind of pests are infesting your home and how bad the infestation is. A single visit can cost between $300 and $500, while a quarterly treatment plan is usually cheaper — around $100 to $300 a visit.
If you already have a serious pest infestation, you should seek pest control as soon as possible. However, if you’re just interested in preventative pest control, the best time of year to have a professional spray your home is in the spring before nest and colony numbers get too high in the hotter part of the year. But it’s never too late for pest control. You can still spray in the summer or in other seasons and see effective results.
