Pest control questions and answers for Pennsylvania homeowners
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Does an exterminator need a license in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Under 7 Pa. Code Chapter 128, a pest control business needs a pesticide application business license from the Department of Agriculture, and the person applying pesticides at your home must be a certified applicator or a registered technician working under one. The details, and how to check, are in Pennsylvania's rules for exterminators.
How can I tell if a company is licensed?
Look for its license number on both sides of its vehicles. Penn State Extension says the number is BU followed by 4 or 5 digits, and that you should ask to see the technician's certification card and check the category: 11 for household pests, 12 for termites.
How much does pest control cost?
National cost surveys put a typical single visit between about $100 and $600, with termite and bed bug work costing more. The cost guide has the ranges by pest and plan.
Do I need a monthly or quarterly plan?
Not necessarily. The EPA's integrated pest management principles say sighting a single pest does not always mean control is needed. A plan makes sense where a pest keeps returning; ask what the plan covers and how to cancel it before signing.
What can I do before calling anyone?
Start with food, water and entry points. The EPA's advice is to starve, dry and keep out pests: store food in sealed containers, fix leaks, seal cracks around pipes and baseboards, and clear clutter. Prevention is the EPA's first step, before any pesticide.
Are the pesticides safe for my children and pets?
The EPA says it evaluates registered products to make sure that, used according to label directions, they will not harm people, including children. That makes the label the rule for re-entry and contact. Ask the company which products it will use, for a copy of each label, and how long to keep children and pets away. People with a physician-verified sensitivity to pesticides can join the state's hypersensitivity registry, which requires businesses to notify them of nearby applications.
How do I know if I have termites?
Swarms of winged insects indoors, shed wings, mud tubes on foundation walls, or wood that sounds hollow when probed. The EPA notes that ant swarms are sometimes mistaken for termites: termites have straight antennae and wings of equal length. Penn State says termite damage builds over years and is not a sudden onslaught, so there is time to get more than one inspection.
Can I treat termites myself?
Penn State Extension does not recommend it, citing how hard termiticides are to obtain, the specialized equipment, and the experience needed to build a continuous barrier in the soil.
When can we go back into a treated room?
When the product label says. The EPA says re-entry times vary by product and are printed on the label, and that the applicator should tell you before leaving when you are allowed back in. Ask before the work starts so you can plan for children and pets.
Does the company have to tell me what it used?
It must keep a record. Pennsylvania's regulation requires a record of every application, with the product's brand name, its EPA registration number, the amount used and who applied it, kept for 3 years and given immediately to medical personnel in an emergency. The regulation does not require a written report to the homeowner, so ask for those details at each visit.
Do bed bugs spread disease?
The EPA says bed bugs have not been shown to transmit disease, but they cause allergic reactions, skin infections and effects such as anxiety and insomnia.
How many treatments do bed bugs take?
Usually more than one. The EPA says to prepare for multiple visits, because very few infestations are controlled with a single treatment.
What is the best way to deal with mice?
Seal entry points first, then trap. The CDC recommends traditional snap traps and keeps poison bait stations for infestations that persist.
Who can remove a raccoon or squirrel from my attic?
For pay, only a holder of a Game Commission nuisance wildlife control operator permit. The operator must carry the permit and show it on request.
What if I find a bat in the house?
The CDC says not to touch it, and to contact animal control or the health department so it can be tested for rabies if anyone may have had contact. Bat bites can be too small to notice.
Are bug bombs a good idea?
The EPA warns that total release foggers use flammable propellants that can cause a fire or explosion if misused, and that they should not be the only method used against bed bugs.
Does spraying the yard stop ticks?
It can reduce them, but the CDC says you should not rely on spraying to reduce your risk of infection. Clearing leaf litter and brush and checking for ticks matter as much.
Where do I find a company?
Check two or three. How to choose a pest control company lists the checks, and businesses are on the pest control directory page.
Sources
- 7 Pa. Code Chapter 128. Pesticides, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
- Choosing a Qualified Pest Management or Lawn Care Company, Penn State Extension
- Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Pesticides Must be Registered with EPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Do you really need to use a pesticide?, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principles, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Termites: How to Identify and Control Them, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Eastern Subterranean Termites, Penn State Extension
- Bed Bugs: A Public Health Issue, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Hiring a Pest Management Professional for Bed Bugs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- How to Trap Up to Remove Rodents, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- 58 Pa. Code Subchapter T. Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
- Preventing Rabies from Bats, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Preventing Tick Bites, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention