Frequently Asked Questions

Are your products and treatments safe around children?

YES! Safety is our top priority. All products used in our treatments and sold in our stores are EPA registered, and when used according to the label pose little to no risk. Furthermore, all products selected for indoor use by our company fall into the caution category, which is the EPA’s lowest risk category. When children or pets are present in the treated areas all rodent baits will be placed in a locked, tamper resistant box for maximum safety.


Are your products and treatments safe around cats and dogs?

YES! We minimize any concern to the safety of your pets in several ways. First, the baits we use have enough active ingredient to control a mouse or rat population but is a comparatively low dose for a cat or dog. This means a pet would usually have to ingest a large amount of bait to get sick. We also have multi feed baits available which further reduce risk by requiring comparatively large amounts of bait to be eaten by a pet to cause adverse effects - these baits also reduce secondary exposure (like if your cat eats a mouse that ate the bait). Second, rodent traps and baits are concealed and/or and placed in locked stations. This further reduces any hazardous risk to your pets.


Will the gel that is applied to the inside of cupboards contaminate my food?

NO it will not. The gel is only applied to areas where insects congregate or harbor, like cracks, crevices, hinges, corners and seems. The bait is not put where it has a likelihood of contacting your food or dishes.


Will I see bugs after the treatment?

You may. It's possible that insects may wonder in from outside or out of their harborage areas. Chances are that they will have crossed treated areas, eaten the baits, and/or come in contact with already infected insects and will die shortly after. Some baits and treatments are actually designed to have a delayed effect in order to allow enough time for the the treatment to spread through the entire population and have maximum effects on the colony.

For example, you wouldn't want a spray that would kill ants immediately and leave the hidden colony alive. In this situation, we would apply a bait that the ants could carry back to the colony and spread around the colony, including the queen, to get full control of the source of the problem.


How can I tell if I have bed bugs?

 Bed bugs are insects that feed on blood from a living host. Humans, as well as pets or birds, are typically that host. They are difficult to control and are usually brought into the structure by the people who occupy it. Some simple ways to tell if you may have a bed bug infestation are…

1) Inspect your bed, box spring and bed frame, paying special attention to the edges where the bindings are located. If brownish looking spots are discovered this is a good indication of an active infestation.

2) Inspect your arms, legs and back area for possible bites. Bed bugs will feed on areas not protected by clothing.

3) Look on the underside of drawers, bedside tables, and the base of the bed legs. These are a few things you can check for in advance of hiring a professional or doing unneeded treatments.


How much does it cost to treat my house?

Your house is special. Your needs are special. Peerless Pest Control will do its best to come up with an affordable solution to control your pest problem. Most of the time, estimates can be given over the phone for common treatments and services. Certain pest issues may require an on site inspection and estimate before any work is performed. The good news is that our estimates are always FREE.


Can I get rid of roaches myself?

With our help, professional products, and clear instructions, we make it easy to get control of roaches even when the problem is coming from a neighbor. Call us up or come over to one of our stores in Philadelphia and let us show you what you need and how to use it. We promise you'll leave with the confidence that you can tackle your roach infestation by yourself.


I have tried all types of sprays and “bombs” to get rid of roaches in my home. What else can I do?

Cockroaches can be difficult to control because a broad variety of factors contribute to their survival such as food, water and shelter. Aerosol bombs are not very effective in controlling cockroaches because they don't get into tight and hidden areas. Peerless Pest Control's service professionals are experts in controlling cockroaches and other pests. If you'd like to treat them yourself, stop by one of our stores for expert advice on which products are effective and instructions on how to use them.


What is the difference between cockroaches and waterbugs? Which ones do I have?

In this area of Pennsylvania, the most common roaches seen are the german cockroach, the oriental cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach and the American cockroach. In Philadelphia the german and oriental cockroaches are by far the most common.


German cockroaches can be found all over the world. They are the most common cockroach in the United States. Each German cockroach can live for about 100-200 days. They are commonly found in kitchens or food areas, in cabinets and around sink pipes and appliances such as the microwave, refrigerator, and oven. They are attracted to the heat that these appliances put off and the condensation or water droplets from the sink pipes.


Oriental Cockroaches are the ones commonly known as waterbugs because they are often found near water rich resources like puddles, water pipes, drains, sewers, under porches and in damp rooms like a basement. They are large and very dark compared to other cockroaches. They usually travel through sewer pipes and drains so placing a screen cover over a drainage pipe can work as a physical barrier preventing them from crawling out of the pipe. They prefer darker, wetter places and cooler temperatures than other cockroaches. Waterbugs are usually not found high on a wall, counter or in a cabinet.


The American cockroach is the largest cockroach found in houses. Females can hatch up to 150 offspring per year. Cockroaches don’t get their wings until the become adults. American cockroaches are nocturnal. They rest by day and forage for food at night.


Brown-banded cockroaches get their name from the two light bands they have across their dark brownish bodies. The male’s wings are larger than the female’s wings. Brown-banded cockroaches often hide their eggs in or under furniture. They usually live 5-6 ½ months.


How do I know if I have termites?

Reproductive (swarmer) termites usually emerge from late March to early June, when billions of winged termites fly from their nests to start new colonies. Swarmers resemble winged ants with straight antennae, a broad waist, and both pairs of wings equal in length. They are attracted to sunlight and are usually found around windows.

Termite swarmers will drop their wings after they are no longer needed. This is an easy way to distinguish them from carpenter ants who chew their wings off when they are no longer needed. With termites, you may find a pile of wings on the ground but you wont find that with carpenter ants.


Additionally, mud tubes on your foundation, sill plate, or header and floor joists are signs of a termite infestation.


Tapping or probing with a screwdriver can locate damaged wood. Damaged wood will sound hollow. If the area is still active, you may see worker termites inside.


Also, be sure to remember that termite galleries in wood are mud-filled and run with the grain of the wood.


When should my house be treated for termites?

We offer a free estimates for termite treatments. It is not recommended to treat for termites in the colder months. Usually in late March through late October is the best times to treat for termites. A treatment for termites may not be successful if the ground is frozen since the chemical is not able to flow into the soil like it is needed to properly protect the home.


How do you treat for mice and rats?

The best method for treating rodents is exclusion, or sealing up entry points. Mice can fit into a hole the size of a dime and rats can fit into a hole the size of a quarter. As long as their head can fit through their body can fit too. Due to the tiny holes that mice fit through, many people have told us that they've heard mice don't have bones - they do, like all mammals, it's just that they're very flexible. Caulking, foam and copper mesh are great for sealing holes and cracks that mice and rats enter. After any entry points have been sealed, we can implement a variety of measures that will take care of a rodents infestation. We commonly use snap traps, glue boards, and rodent baiting programs. If you don't feel comfortable sealing the property yourself, we can do that too! Our rodent service will generally include the closure of a few easy-to-access holes but a full exclusion job would require a separate service than a typical mouse treatment. This is because no two homes or building are the same, some are old and require several hours of work and some smaller, newer homes may not have many openings. As always, we offer a FREE estimate on rodent exclusion work.

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Get In Touch.

Peerless Pest Control is based in the historic city of Philadelphia.

Olney

5246 N. 5th St.

Philadelphia PA, 19120

West Philadelphia

6150 Market St.

Philadelphia PA, 19139

(215) 324 4719

(215) 324 4720

WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU SOON.

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Hours

Olney

(215) 324-4719

5246 North 5th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19120

(Phones active at 9 a.m.)

Hours: M-F 10am-5pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED

West Philadelphia

(215) 324-4719

6150 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19139

CLOSED WEDNESDAYS TEMPORARILY

Hours: M-F 10am-4pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED

Our stores will be closed Christmas week through New Year's day. Happy holidays!

Please Note the Recent Change in Winter Store Hours

Service Dept. Hours

(215) 324-4719

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED

Winter Store Hours

(Closed Mondays)

Olney

(215) 324-4719

5246 North 5th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19120

Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-5pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED

West Philadelphia

(215) 324-4719

6150 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19139

Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-4pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED