Questions east-side homeowners ask before calling
Most questions are about cost, licensing, prep and timing. Short answers: you agree to a firm price before any treatment, the license number is yours for the asking, most calls are scheduled the same day when a technician is available, and fall is when mice and overwintering bugs hit older Indianapolis houses hardest.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Old-house sealing and mice
- Price approved before treatment
- Written report every visit
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (855) 974-4733. Or send this and we call you back.
Licenses and credentials
Who licenses pest control companies in Indiana?
The Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) at Purdue University. A company applying pesticides for hire needs an OISC Pesticide Business License and at least one certified for-hire applicator in each category it works in. The legal basis is Indiana Code IC 15-16-5 and rule 355 IAC 4.
What do the OISC category numbers mean?
Category 7a covers general pests in and around buildings, 7b covers termites and other wood-destroying organisms, 7d is fumigation, and 12 is inspection only, with no pesticide application allowed. Each takes a Core exam plus a category exam, and certified applicators keep earning continuing certification hours to stay current.
Prices and plans
Is a quarterly plan worth it for an older house?
Often, if ants, spiders or crickets come back every season. After a first service estimated at $125–$235, quarterly visits run about $95–$155 each. A one-time treatment ($150–$285) fits a single problem. Mice and fall invaders are usually handled as their own jobs.
How much does termite treatment cost in Indianapolis?
Liquid treatment for a typical home is estimated at $1,200–$3,200, with basements, crawlspaces and drilled slabs costing more. A bait system runs $1,300–$2,800 to install plus $300–$550 a year for monitoring. An inspection (free to $125) comes first, and you approve the price before treatment.
Is there a charge for nights and weekends?
An after-hours or emergency visit can add an estimated $50–$150, and you'll hear that before booking. Plenty of evening calls are simply set for the next morning at the regular rate. The full price list has every other estimate.
Visits and old-house prep
Do I need to clear out the basement before a mouse visit?
No, but open paths help. Pull boxes a foot or two away from the foundation walls where you can, clear access to the water heater, furnace and sump, and point out where droppings or chewed food turned up. The technician needs to see where pipes and wires pass through the walls.
What precautions apply for kids and pets?
Everything goes on as its label directs, and the technician explains the specifics before leaving, such as how long to keep the dog off a treated lawn or the cat out of a treated room. Mention fish tanks, birds and reptiles, which often need extra care.
Will sealing mouse holes damage original trim or masonry?
It shouldn't. Gaps are typically closed with steel or copper mesh, sealant and metal flashing set into the opening rather than across finished surfaces. In a historic district, check with the IHPC before any change visible from the street; the technician will point those spots out.
Pests and seasons on the east side
When do termites swarm in central Indiana?
Eastern subterranean termites usually swarm on warm days from March into May, often right after rain. Winged swarmers or piles of shed wings indoors, near a basement window or a sunny wall, suggest a colony close by. Save a few in a sealed bag and book an inspection. The central Indiana termite guide has more.
Why do bugs cover the south side of my house every October?
Boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles and brown marmorated stink bugs are hunting for a warm winter hideout, and sunny south and west walls are where they gather before squeezing into gaps. Treating and sealing in September works far better than chasing them once inside. See the fall invader guide.
Are brown recluse spiders common in Indianapolis?
No. Purdue says the brown recluse turns up mainly in the southern half of Indiana and gets less common going north. Basements here usually hold cellar, house and wolf spiders instead. If you catch one you can't identify, the Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Lab can help.
Question not answered here?
Call and ask. A technician will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.