Best Pest Control in District of Columbia
Washington, D.C. is a bustling, historic city that over a billion people visit each year! As the nation’s capital and home to the White House, monuments, museums, and more, this city sees many different types of pest problems.
With over 700,000 people living in the District of Columbia, the population is dense. Because of that and active tourism, bed bugs and rodents are more common here than in most other cities and states.
There are some dos and don’ts if you want to try to take care of pests yourself, but it’s much safer and more convenient to hire a professional. Between national and regional companies, there are thousands of options. But who should you trust to get the job done safely and effectively?
We recommend that you talk to and compare at least three companies to determine what types of plans they offer, what chemicals they use, and if they provide guarantees. However, there are a few things you’ll want to know before you start shopping around.
Table of Contents
Most Common Pests in Washington, D.C.
Ants
Bed Bugs
Cockroaches
Crickets
Flies
Rodents
Stinging Insects
Termites
Average Cost of Pest Control in the District of Columbia
Types of Pest Control Treatment
How to Find the Best Pest Control in the District of Columbia
FAQs about Pest Control in Washington, D.C.
1. What should I expect from a pest control company?
2. What is included in a pest control plan?
3. How often should I have pest control treat my house?
4. How long does pest control last?
5. Can I do my own pest control?
Most Common Pests in Washington, D.C.
The District of Columbia is overflowing with insect life. Most people would rather avoid seeing them in their homes and only view them at places like the insect zoo in the Smithsonian. Unfortunately, too often, they do manage to invade homes in the city. Take a look at the most common pests you might find living in Washington, D.C.
Ants
Ants can be found in most cities and states and are generally more of an irritation than a problem. However, D.C. is home to both carpenter ants and acrobat ants. Carpenter ants are similar to termites in that they can cause structural damage to your home, so they’re definitely not something you want to have around. Acrobat ants are known to emit an unpleasant odor when you disturb or step on them. They’re not dangerous, but also a type that you don’t want in your home.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can also be found throughout the country, but they thrive in tourist areas and places with large populations. They are small but mighty and can infest your bedroom and other parts of the house very quickly. Bed bugs bite and leave itchy or painful spots on your skin. They’re incredibly difficult to get rid of and take intense treatments that can cost upwards of $2,000! The faster you can hire a professional to treat them, the easier your life will be.
Cockroaches
Roaches are common across America and can get into your home through tiny cracks. Nobody wants to see this running across their floor when they turn on the lights in the middle of the night. Not only are they scary and disgusting to look at, but they can also contaminate your food and spread diseases, such as salmonella and E. Coli. Fortunately, most pest control companies will treat these under their most basic plans.
Crickets
Another insect that is common in Washington, D.C., is crickets. Luckily, they’re not harmful and aren’t as scary as some of the others in this city. You could easily capture and move these insects outside if you find them in your home. While they’re not a threat, they are pretty annoying with all the noise they make. Pest control companies can help you to keep these bugs out of your house so you can enjoy the silence.
Flies
Fruit flies, house flies, and drain flies can all be found throughout the District of Columbia. They’re very annoying to have buzzing around your house. While they’re mostly not harmful, they may carry diseases, so it’s better to keep them out of your home and away from your countertops and food. There are ways that pest control can help, but flying insects do tend to be harder to kill with routine pest prevention. They may have to put out traps or use different means to help with this type of problem.
Rodents
Rodents thrive in large cities and highly populated areas since they live off of human refuse. This makes Washington, D.C. the perfect home for rats and mice. They can enter your home through very small spaces and build nests. Rodents are dangerous for many reasons. They are very unsanitary and leave droppings everywhere, causing the spread of disease. They can also eat through packages of food and chew electrical wires and insulation, damaging your household. Not all pest control companies also deal with rodents, so if you have an infestation, make sure to find someone who knows how to handle them.
Bees, Wasps, & Hornets
Hornets and wasps are other common insects to look out for in D.C. These will sting to defend themselves and leave painful welts on your skin. Carpenter bees are also prevalent in the city. Not only do you have to watch out for their sting, but they can also cause structural damage to your home. Pest control companies can look for and remove nests or hives to help you keep these away from your house.
Termites
Termites are all over the country and can also be found in Washington, D.C. In this city, the Eastern Subterranean Termite is the main species. These tiny bugs can cause thousands of dollars of structural damage to your home. Keep an eye out for termite droppings, rotted wood, and discarded wings, or better yet, consider hiring pest control to do an inspection and apply preventative treatments. These are usually additional services you can add to your pest control plan and could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.
Average Cost of Pest Control in the District of Columbia
There is a wide range of pest control plans and treatments with varying costs. Many factors will play into how much you pay for pest control. The type of service you need, frequency of service, type of pests, type of treatment, size of the infestation, and size of your home all play a role.
Average pest control costs in Washington, D.C. are around $226. This varies based on the factors mentioned above. You’ll likely be paying somewhere in the range of $138 to $318 quarterly to keep your pest control current. Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay more for the initial visit and for additional services, such as those you’d need for bed bugs and termites.
Types of Pest Control Treatment in D.C.
There are many different types of pest control treatment that are used based on the types of pest you have. There are chemical sprays, bait traps, fumigation, and more. Some preventative measures include eliminating food and water sources that attract insects and rodents.
Some companies use biological pest control by introducing things like bacteria and fungi that are natural enemies to certain types of pests. Chemical sprays are the most common type of treatment for both preventing pests from getting into your home and killing off the ones that do. Keep in mind that you can also find environmentally friendly options as an alternative to chemicals, but these will cost you more.
How to Find the Best Pest Control in the District of Columbia
Before you even start looking at pest control companies in Washington, D.C., you’ll need to examine your home for pests and make a list of the types you see. This will help you determine what kind of plan and company that you need. If you don’t have a problem, but just want to make sure you never do, there are hundreds of companies that can help. However, if you have bed bugs, termites, or rodents, your list will narrow as you need a more experienced company specializing in these types of pests.
If you don’t have an immediate problem, take the time to compare a few different companies to find the one that’s the best fit, both for the quality of their work and the price. Read some reviews for each company you’re thinking about hiring, as this can tell you a lot.
When you start contacting companies, there are a few questions you’ll want to ask, such as if they’re licensed, insured, and bonded, what their contract terms are, what they guarantee, and if they offer any type of discounts.
In Washington, D.C., the top three pest control companies that offer affordable plans are Orkin, Terminix, and Aptive. However, you may want to check some regional companies as well, such as Capitol Pest, BioTech Pest Management, and Nest Pest Control.
Here at Pest Brigade, we’ll do the work for you. We’ll show you different types of pest control strategies that you can try yourself or get you connected with local exterminators.
FAQs about Pest Control in Washington, D.C.
1. What should I expect from a pest control company?
Many companies will come out and inspect your home for free, although not all of them. (Make sure to ask before they come out.) They’ll check the inside and outside of your house, looking for problem areas and signs of infestation. After that, they’ll come up with a treatment plan. If you’ve already hired them, they may treat your home at the same visit as well. Talk to your exterminator to find out how often they recommend treatment, as most will need to return monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly for preventative treatments.
2. What is included in a pest control plan?
A basic pest control plan will cover an initial treatment and a certain number of visits a year. This should cover all the most common insects. Most companies guarantee control, or they’ll return to spray or treat between scheduled visits for free.
If you have a more severe infestation, you’ll likely have a different plan, so make sure to talk to the company and find out precisely what they’re going to need to do.
3. How often should I have pest control treat my house?
Talk to your pest control professional and find out what they recommend. This can vary based on the types of pests you have in and around your home. Most companies will want to treat your house at least quarterly to keep things under control. Keep in mind that annual visits will cost you a lot more than having treatments throughout the year, so it’ll save you money, and you won’t have the risk of new infestations in the interim.
4. How long does pest control last?
This is impossible to answer because there are so many factors involved. The severity of your infestation, types of chemicals used, weather, and climate all contribute to the lasting effectiveness of your treatment. Your pest control service will recommend how often they feel you’ll be able to go between visits before you run into problems.
5. Can I do my own pest control?
Earlier in the article, we added a link to the dos and don’ts of do-it-yourself pest control. We generally don’t recommend that you take on this task yourself, as it can be both ineffective and dangerous if you don’t have enough knowledge in this area. To reduce the risk of respiratory issues and pesticide poisoning, hire a professional to do the job for you.
6. Is it safe to be in my house after pest control?
This varies based on the type of treatment your house needs. Most companies use chemicals that are safe for children and pets to be around, but it’s typically best to stay out of your home for 2 to 4 hours after treatment. If they’re only spraying the exterior, this won’t be an issue.
For more severe infestations, treatments such as fumigation will require you to stay out of your home for 24 hours. Make sure to talk to your pest control service and find out what they recommend.
At Pest Brigade, we understand how important it is to find a good quality pest control company fast. To be sure you get the most effective and affordable plan, call Pest Brigade at (833) 431-0401 and get a quote today!
