Frequently Asked Questions

This depends on the type of pest and the length of time you want to be pest free. Some pest problems may only require a single treatment, while others may need a regular service program. Depending on your particular pest problem and the results you desire (long-term or short-term), Pest Services Company can customize a program to fit your needs.

Common pests like ants, spiders, roaches, crickets, Asian ladybugs, mice, and other “seasonal invaders” require certain elements to survive. They need food, water, and shelter. Most homes have an abundance of these elements inside and out.

The first thing is to try to eliminate any conducive conditions that promote pest infestation followed by a professional pest control treatment on the inside and outside of your home.

Some preventative measures include:

• Making sure all outside doors and windows are well sealed. If you can see light around or beneath a door, insects or mice may also be able to come in!
• Plumbing leaks or moisture areas – eliminate all moisture sources in or around your home. This creates an environment crucial to pest survival. Fix leaks, seal cracks and crevices, and provide proper water drainage.
• Eliminate unnecessary clutter – around the home and in attics, closets, and basements. Keep stored items in a sealed container.
• Proper screening on gabled attic vents, crawl space vents, windows, and doors.
• Keep opened food in storage containers.
• Disposal of all aged fruits and vegetables that are not kept refrigerated (this will help control fruit flies).
• Don’t leave dirty dishes and open food containers out overnight; keep the kitchen and dining areas clean.
• Seal gaps around conduit and pipes that come in from the outside of the home.
• Remove accumulated leaves and debris from the gutters, roof, and foundation perimeter.
• Keep garage doors closed. Make sure the weather stripping is in good shape for a tight seal.
• Keep debris, clutter, scraps, and woodpiles away from your home’s foundation.
• Keep excess vegetation trimmed away from your home’s roof, eaves, windows, and siding. This creates a great harborage place for all kinds of critters and creates easy access into your home.

While most species of ants are not harmful to humans, some can bite or sting. Additionally, ants can contaminate food and surfaces in your home.

The length of time it takes to get rid of ants depends on the severity of the infestation. Our team of experts will work with you to develop a treatment plan that will eliminate the infestation as quickly and efficiently as possible.

At Pest Services Company, we use only environmentally-friendly products that are safe for use around pets and humans. However, we recommend keeping pets away from treated areas until the products have dried.

Flying ants are often mistaken for termites but here’s how you can tell the difference. Termite wings tend to be equal in size, while ant wings are usually longer in front and shorter in the back. Ant antennae are elbowed, while termites are straight. Ants have a narrow, pinched waist, while termite waists are thicker and less defined.

Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease, but their bites can cause allergic reactions and secondary infections in some people.

To prevent bed bugs, it’s important to regularly inspect and vacuum your home or business, inspect secondhand furniture before bringing it into your home, and take precautions when traveling to avoid bringing bed bugs home with you.

Treatment time varies depending on the severity of the infestation and the size of the property. Our technicians will provide you with an estimate of the time required before beginning treatment.

This depends on the severity of your bed bug infestation. On average, our bed bug treatments take 30 minutes to 2 hours per room to complete. Furthermore, it’s unlikely that all the bed bugs will be killed in the initial treatment, so we recommend two follow-up visits spaced ten days apart. To get an accurate estimate, please call 301-779-5800. We’ll gladly answer this question and any other bed bug questions you have.

To prevent bed bugs, it’s important to regularly inspect and vacuum your home or business, inspect secondhand furniture before bringing it into your home, and take precautions when traveling to avoid bringing bed bugs home with you.

Bees will only sting if they feel threatened. However, if you are allergic to bee stings, it can be life-threatening. It’s best to call a professional if you notice a bee infestation on your property.

We use environmentally friendly methods, including live trapping and relocation, to remove bees. We also take extra precautions to ensure their safety during the removal process.

The time it takes to remove a bee hive depends on the size and location of the hive. Our technicians will assess the situation and provide an estimated timeline during the inspection.

If you encounter a wasp, try to remain calm and still. Avoid swatting or swiping at it, as this can provoke an attack. Slowly and calmly move away from the area.

You can prevent wasps from nesting on your property by sealing all openings and cracks in your home, keeping garbage cans tightly sealed, and eliminating any sources of standing water.

Yes, fleas can transmit diseases such as typhus and plague to humans, and they can also cause anemia and other health problems in pets.

The length of a flea treatment can vary depending on the severity of the infestation. Our team will conduct a thorough inspection of your home to determine the best course of action and provide an estimate of how long the treatment will take.

Fleas love warm-blooded animals, like your pets. They consume 15 times their body weight in blood, which can cause anemia and significant blood loss. So we recommend that you supplement your flea and tick preventative with 2-3 flea treatments during the warmer months in Washington DC. This will create an additional line of defense from these pests.

After we treat your yard for fleas, you need to ensure the product is completely dry before going outside. Depending on a variety of factors, like outdoor temperatures and humidity, we recommend you wait at least an hour to re-enter the service area. After this time has elapsed, it is safe for you and your family to enjoy your deck, pool, and yard again!

Yes, mosquitoes can transmit diseases like Zika virus, West Nile virus, and malaria. It’s important to take steps to protect yourself from mosquito bites, such as wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so it’s important to eliminate any sources of standing water in your yard. This includes emptying bird baths, cleaning out gutters, and dumping out any containers that collect water.

After we spray your yard for mosquitoes, you need to ensure the product is completely dry before going outside. Depending on a variety of factors, like outdoor temperatures and humidity, we recommend waiting at least 30 minutes. After this period, it is safe for you and your family to enjoy your deck, pool, and yard again.

We know how annoying mosquitoes can be, so we do our best to treat homes in our service area within 24 hours. We can spray your yard once for a special event or on an ongoing basis for long-term protection. To schedule your mosquito control service, please call 301-779-5800 today!

Yes, roaches can spread harmful bacteria and diseases such as salmonella and E. coli. They can also trigger allergies and asthma.

The length of the treatment depends on the severity of the infestation. Our experts will give you an estimate of the treatment duration after the inspection. We recommend calling 301-779-5800 to schedule your FREE roach inspection. This will allow us to give you an estimate of how long it’ll take to get rid of roaches in your home.

Look for signs such as droppings, gnaw marks, and shredded materials. You may also hear scratching or scurrying sounds in your walls or ceiling.

Seal all entry points, including cracks and gaps in walls and doors. Keep food stored in airtight containers and keep your property clean and clutter-free to remove potential nesting sites.

No, not all spiders are dangerous. Some spiders are harmless, while others can be venomous and pose a threat to humans and pets.

The length of time it takes to eliminate spiders from your home depends on the severity of the infestation. Generally, it takes several treatments over a period of weeks to fully eradicate spiders.

Yes! All our spider control products are applied by thoroughly trained technicians who follow standard safety measures to ensure your family and pets are kept safe before, during, and after your spider control service. If you have any questions, give us a call at 301-779-5800 today!

First, we highly recommend that this is something that requires the services of a trained and licensed professional and strongly suggest not trying to do this yourself. Simply put, there is a permanent and a temporary option available.

The permanent solution is to eliminate the entire termite colony, not just individual termites. Total colony elimination is achieved with the Pest Management Professional offering two basic types of treatment options. The first option is known as a termite bait system. Here at Pest Services Company, our product of choice is the Advance Termite Bait System.

This approach involves installing termite bait stations around the perimeter of a home every 10-15 feet. The stations are then checked by us on a regular basis. Upon finding termites in the stations, a bait cartridge is placed inside the station which is fed upon by termites and destroys the colony attacking the home.

The second option is known as a liquid chemical barrier treatment. This involves trenching the exterior around your foundation walls and placing a liquid chemical into the ground. Depending on your situation and the product, it may also involve drilling into your front porch, garage, brick siding and other slab areas inside your home. Most homes require from 100-250 gallons of chemical to treat the home. A re-treatment guarantee is available followed by an annual termite inspection.

While both approaches are effective at controlling termites, the newer bait system technology offers several distinct advantages:

1. Complete elimination of the colony or colonies attacking your home
2. Less invasive to your home (no drilling, no liquid chemicals)
3. Long-term protection as a result of the ongoing monitoring done by your pest management professional that does not degrade over time
4. Service convenience due to the fact that it is performed only on the outside your home

To make an informed decision for protecting your home and family, take a closer look at the comparison of liquid vs. bait treatments.

Termites, by their nature, are hard to find. Thriving in hard-to-reach, inaccessible areas, they eat your home from the inside out. Although there may be only a few indications of termite activity, take a closer look at these warning signs:

• Watch for the “swarm” of winged termites during the day or evening and often after rainfall from February to March, in most areas of the country.
• Check in or around windows and door frames for termite evidence (wings, etc.)
• Look for “mud tunnels” in or around the foundation, under windows and on walls.
• Watch for pin-sized holes in the wall and woodwork where termites exited during the swarm.
• Tap baseboards and floors to see if they sound hollow — a possible sign of termite infestation.
• Examine window sills and walls for dead termites or termite wings.
• Blistering on sheetrock.

Flying ants are often mistaken for termites but here’s how you can tell the difference. Termite wings tend to be equal in size, while ant wings are usually longer in front and shorter in the back. Ant antennae are elbowed, while termites are straight. Ants have a narrow, pinched waist, while termite waists are thicker and less defined.

Liquids kill on contact. ATBS destroys the entire colony because termites take the active ingredient back to the colony and share it, destroying all termites, even the queen.

ATBS is simply installed unobtrusively into the ground around your home. There’s no drilling into your foundation or trenching around your home.

Liquids generally work quickly. However, they’re only effective if termites come in contact with them. With ATBS, termites actually carry the active ingredient back to the colony to be ingested by other members of the colony. ATBS has been demonstrated and reported by pest management professionals in the field to eliminate the entire colony as fast as 120 days.

Depending on weather and soil conditions, liquid treatments will have to be reapplied every 5-10 years. If properly maintained by a pest management professional, ATBS will protect your home indefinitely.

Termites cause millions of dollars worth of damage in the United States every year. Why wait for them to attack? ATBS protects your most valuable investment now and uses the least intrusive approach without pouring 100-250 gallons of liquid in and around your home.

An average liquid treatment requires nearly 100-250 gallons of liquid termiticide to be pumped around your foundation or placed underneath different slabs and in voids. The active ingredient for ATBS is housed in a plastic station underground, making it highly unlikely that your pets or family will come in contact with it.

Termites, by their nature, are hard to find. Thriving in hard-to-reach, inaccessible areas, they eat your home from the inside out. Although there may be only a few indications of termite activity, take a closer look at these warning signs:

• Watch for the “swarm” of winged termites during the day or evening and often after rainfall from February to March, in most areas of the country.
• Check in or around windows and door frames for termite evidence (wings, etc.)
• Look for “mud tunnels” in or around the foundation, under windows and on walls.
• Watch for pin-sized holes in the wall and woodwork where termites exited during the swarm.
• Tap baseboards and floors to see if they sound hollow — a possible sign of termite infestation.
• Examine window sills and walls for dead termites or termite wings.
• Blistering on sheetrock.

Unfortunately, many times there may be little warning. Watch for these signs:

• Winged termites “swarming” during the day or evening and often after rainfall
• Termite evidence in or around windows and door frames
• “Mud tunnels” appearing on or around the foundation, under windows or on a wall
• Baseboards and floors which may sound hollow when tapped
• Dead termites or termite wings on window sills or along walls Most importantly, call a licensed and trained pest management professional who can inspect your home and assess whether termite protection is needed.

A phenomenon that annually occurs when a mature termite colony produces reproductive members for developing additional colonies. Most termite swarms occur in the spring — March through May — when the temperature and humidity is right for the colony. “Swarmers” leave the colony, follow the underground trails made by the workers, and emerge from an area where there is an active infestation. Swarmers are usually black with two pairs of long wings (equal in length) which are about twice as long as their body. They are not strong fliers and when swarming outside will ride the wind as they disperse from the origin of the swarm site. Upon landing, they shed their wings, search for a suitable mate, and dig themselves into the ground to start a new colony. A termite swarm can consist of thousands at one time and a large colony may swarm several times in a single season. If you experience a termite swarm, you have an active infestation from a mature colony. Call Pest Services Company for a no-charge termite inspection and estimate.

Unfortunately, yes! It is said that homes are literally built on an ocean of termites and that it is not a question of if you’re going to get them, but when. Worker termites are actively foraging 24 hours a day all 12 months of the year. They constantly search a 300–400 foot radius around their colony for food (wood). There can be in excess of over 1,000,000 workers in one colony and up to 20 colonies in one acre of ground. Termites can forage up to 30 feet in depth and gain access through a crack 1/32 of an inch. Once a colony has been established 3 to 5 years, the queen will produce reproductive members nicknamed “swarmers.” These swarmers are actually new kings and queens of a future colony that they are trying to establish.

An active infestation from a well-established colony can consume 20–30 board feet per year! They’ll eat any kind of wood material, from a home’s wood structure to its furniture. Each year, termites attack about four million homes in the United States and cause over $5 billion in property damage! Termites cause more damage annually than all storms, fires, and earthquakes combined, and it is rarely covered by homeowner’s insurance

To prevent ticks from entering your home, keep your yard well-maintained by trimming tall grasses and shrubs. You should also remove any leaf litter, brush, or debris around your property. Avoid walking through wooded areas, and check yourself and your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.

We use a combination of inspection, prevention, and treatment methods to eliminate ticks. Our technicians will inspect your home and yard to identify any areas where ticks may be hiding. We’ll then apply a targeted treatment to these areas to eliminate the ticks and prevent future infestations.