Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Des Moines' common household pests are not only a sore sight, many can also harm you, spread disease and damage your property. Homeowners and apartment dwellers who have a preventative pest control plan in place can avoid encounters with these unwanted tenants. Fortunately, pest control companies can help you with this.
There are many exterminators to choose from, which can make a challenge for homeowners to know which is best for them. That’s why we've reviewed plenty of options to find the best pest control companies in Des Moines. Keep reading to learn more about each exterminator.
Free inspection policy
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Commitment to customer education
Offerings of preventative treatments
Lack of hidden fees
Services Offered
Consistently high customer service reviews
Free inspection policy
Transparent pricing
Educational web content
Services Offered
Proactive solutions for pest control
Reviews praise customer service
No-cost inspections
Transparent pricing
Commitment to customer education
Services Offered
Commitment to customer education
Transparent pricing
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
No-cost inspections
Services Offered
Reviews praise customer service
Free inspection policy
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Helpful homeowner content on its website
No-cost inspections
Reviews praise customer service
Services Offered
Free inspections
Commitment to customer education
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Services Offered
Free inspections
Reviews praise customer service
Commitment to customer education
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Free inspection policy
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Commitment to customer education
Services Offered
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Transparent pricing
Helpful homeowner content on its website
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:
We narrowed down the top pest control companies by comparing factors like industry experience, coverage, customer satisfaction, types of pest control treatments offered, and more.
Here’s how Des Moines’s top providers ranked:
Terminix ranks in the top four pest control companies worldwide, and it has been helping homeowners and businesses stay pest-free for over 90 years. With the amount of experience the company has, you can see why Terminix is a top choice for many homeowners.
Terminix treats dozens of pests in Des Moines, and it offers a 30-day guarantee. Their service also includes follow-up visits and annual inspections to help keep your home pest-free.
If you need fast pest control service in Des Moines, consider Orkin. Founded in 1901, Orkin has become one of the largest pest control companies in the country. It has excellent consumer reviews and professional pest control specialists who all complete 160 hours of training.
Orkin’s typical pest control plan is its annual pest control contract. Once the initial treatment, your Orkin expert will follow up to make sure the pests haven’t come back. If they have, your local technicians can assist.
Rentokil is a respected name in pest control, with providers across the globe and close to a century of experience in the industry. Rentokil is the parent company of top North American pest control providers such as Western Exterminator, Presto-X, and J.C. Ehrlich, which provide tailored services.
Rentokil offers integrated pest management (IPM) services, focusing on both getting rid of existing pests and preventing future infestations. After the initial inspection of your home, a technician will service your property every four months.
Not all pest control services are the identical in credibility, background, and capability. Vetting companies helps you identify the right choice for your pest issue. Here are the key factors to consider when hiring a pest control provider:
Look for a pest control company that has extensive experience treating the type of pest you're dealing with, whether it's rodents, roaches, bed bugs, termites, or something else. The company should thoroughly describe on their website its area of expertise.
When choosing a pest control provider, look for technicians that are licensed by the state and certified in pest control methods by industry associations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Having these credentials demonstrates that the technicians have adequate training. Inquire with the company about its policies for continuing education and the total training hours required for technicians.
We highly recommend reading customer reviews before scheduling a pest control appointment. Google, Yelp, and similar sites can tell you 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 the latest pest control techniques and treatment methods. When you choose an exterminator from our list of the top pest control in Des Moines, you can feel confident knowing that you're hiring an expert that meets our quality and review standards.
Search for companies with “green” certifications to get more natural, eco-friendly pest control. You can also ask about humane trapping programs that don't harm pests like mice or squirrels. Keep in mind that traditional treatments might be a better option for significant infestations. Whether you choose eco-friendly or traditional options, any pesticides that are classified as greater than minimal risk are required to be registered with the EPA.
Quality pest control professionals typically offer service guarantees for recurring plans. The guarantees mean the provider will come back and re-treat for free if you still have pests in your home following the initial treatment. One-time treatments may not come with reservice guarantees.
Once you have found your top exterminators, contact each one with these questions:
Take the time to thoroughly assess pest control providers using these questions. This will help you hire the best provider to safely and successfully resolve your pest problem at a fair price.
Pests vary by location. In Des Moines, there are several that residents have to deal with. So you can have an idea of the most common pests in the city, we examined the pests talked about in around 10 million social media posts.
The best pest control companies are Terminix and Orkin. They help with all common pests, service locations nationwide, and have been in the industry for decades.
Hiring a pest control company and having a professional spray your property routinely is the best way to prevent future pest infestations. This deters insects and other wildlife from coming inside your home.
For the most part, pest control chemicals are safe. However, they have to be handled by a trained exterminator to ensure they’re used safely, which is especially important if you have young children. After your house has been sprayed, your exterminator will recommend staying away from your home for a certain amount of time. This is typically 2 to 4 hours, but can be up to 24 hours.
The key to finding the right pest control company for you is to get in touch with multiple companies and get estimates from them. You should also make sure you read reviews to check their reputation and customer satisfaction.
In a town like Des Moines, where the cost of living is really 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, 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 come spray your home is in the spring before colony numbers get too high in the summer. But it’s never too late for pest control. You can still spray in the summer or any other season and see effective results.
