Call Us
Licensed Technician
For 57 years, the Schulz family has been helping Takoma Park homeowners solve their pest problems with straightforward, effective solutions. At Better Termite & Pest Control, we don’t believe in complicated jargon or false promises—just reliable pest control that works. Whether you’re dealing with ant trails in your kitchen, rodents in your attic, or mosquitoes ruining your backyard gatherings, our team delivers clear, no-nonsense solutions to get your home back to normal.
Better Termite & Pest Control has been a trusted name in Takoma Park since 1968. As a third-generation family business, the Schulz family has built a reputation for exceptional service and effective pest management throughout Maryland.
What makes us different? We’ve removed 9 of the harshest chemicals commonly used in pest control, replacing them with products our internal research team has thoroughly vetted. Additionally, we believe you should never be trapped in a service you’re unhappy with—that’s why we never use binding contracts and offer free unlimited callbacks until your pest issues are resolved.
Our comprehensive approach tackles everything from common insects like ants and roaches to more persistent problems like rodents, termites, mosquitoes, and spiders. We understand Takoma Park’s unique pest pressures and have developed specialized treatment protocols to address them effectively.
Takoma Park’s charming character comes with unique pest challenges. The city’s older homes, with their beautiful architectural details, often provide perfect entry points for pests. The dense tree cover throughout neighborhoods creates ideal habitats for mosquitoes and provides highways for rodents and squirrels to access your home.
The clay-rich soil and moisture-prone foundations common in Takoma Park create perfect conditions for subterranean termites. That’s why we recommend specialized solutions like Sentricon termite baits for long-term protection. Our ecotone mosquito treatments target the transition areas between your yard and wooded areas where mosquitoes rest, while our crack-and-crevice ant control addresses the common entry points around windows and foundations that are prevalent in Takoma Park’s historic homes.
Our general pest control service begins with a thorough 78-point inspection of your property, identifying existing pest issues and potential trouble spots before they become problems. We then apply targeted crack and crevice treatments to eliminate current pests and create seasonal barrier applications that prevent future invasions.
We offer flexible service options designed to meet your specific needs. Choose from a one-time blitz treatment for immediate issues, quarterly maintenance for year-round protection, or a customized baselining program tailored to your home’s specific pest pressures.
Our comprehensive service addresses a wide range of pests including multiple species of roaches (American, German, Oriental, Smokeybrown, Brown Banded), ants (including carpenter ants), spiders, centipedes, millipedes, earwigs, sow bugs, pill bugs, springtails, box elder bugs, camel crickets, field crickets, clover mites, fire brats, ladybugs, stink bugs, cigarette & drugstore beetles, Indian meal moths, rice weevils, and silverfish.
Our most popular option is our quarterly maintenance program, which provides seasonal protection without locking you into a binding contract. You’ll maintain the freedom to cancel with just 30 days’ notice if you’re not completely satisfied. Best of all, our free callback guarantee means we’ll return as many times as needed between regularly scheduled visits to resolve any persistent issues at no additional cost.
Our mosquito control program uses specialized backpack sprayers to deliver a two-pronged approach: an adulticide for immediate knockdown of existing mosquitoes and a growth regulator that disrupts breeding cycles to prevent future generations.
For Takoma Park homeowners, we recommend monthly treatments from April through October, when mosquitoes are most active. Our technicians focus on shaded foliage and ecotones—the transition areas between your yard and woodlands—where mosquitoes rest during daylight hours.
For environmentally conscious homeowners, we offer the optional In2Care system. These eco-friendly stations use innovative technology to contaminate mosquitoes with larvicide and fungus, which they then spread to other breeding sites, multiplying your protection.
The In2Care system uses gauze-lined stations that attract mosquitoes looking for breeding sites. When mosquitoes land in these stations, they become contaminated with a larvicide and fungus that they carry back to other water sources, extending your protection beyond your property lines. This system works with minimal disruption to beneficial pollinators and fits perfectly with Takoma Park’s environmentally conscious values.
Our four-step rodent protocol provides comprehensive protection against mice and rats, which are particularly common in Takoma Park’s older homes. We begin with a full inspection to identify entry points, harborage areas, and activity patterns.
Next, we install tamper-proof bait stations strategically around your property, followed by scheduled follow-ups at 1 and 3 weeks to monitor activity and adjust our approach as needed. For rapid control of rat problems, we deploy targeted snap traps inside the home where they’re most effective.
The final phase includes exclusion and sealing services to prevent future issues, followed by quarterly re-bait and monitoring to maintain a rodent-free environment. Based on your specific situation, we may recommend monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly service to ensure continuous protection.
Our systematic approach follows a proven sequence: Inspect to identify the full scope of the problem, Bait strategically to eliminate the population, Follow-Up to ensure progress, and establish Ongoing Maintenance to prevent future problems. This methodical process ensures both immediate relief and long-term protection for your Takoma Park home.
For Takoma Park homes, we recommend the Sentricon Always Active system, featuring Recruit HD cellulose bait infused with noviflumuron. This continuously active system eliminates entire colonies by targeting the termites’ molting process, with annual inspections to ensure continued protection.
For active infestations, we offer curative liquid treatments, meticulously applied by trenching around your foundation. When necessary, we carefully drill through slabs or stoops to create a complete protective barrier.
For new construction in Takoma Park, we provide pre-construction borate wood treatments with a 1-year renewable warranty, giving you peace of mind from day one in your new home.
Unlike traditional barriers that merely repel termites, Sentricon Always Active stations contain bait that termites actively seek out. As worker termites discover and consume the bait, they share it throughout the colony, disrupting the molting process and causing colony-wide collapse. This proven technology provides continuous protection without the need for extensive drilling or trenching around your home.
Founded right here in Takoma Park in 1968 and now operated by the third-generation Schulz family, we understand the unique pest pressures faced by local homeowners. Our deep roots in the community give us unmatched insight into effective pest management strategies for the specific conditions in our area.
We believe in earning your business with every visit. That’s why we never lock you into binding contracts—you can cancel anytime with just 30 days’ notice if you’re not getting the results you expect. Our focus is on solving your pest problems, not trapping you in an agreement.
Pest control isn’t always a one-and-done solution. That’s why we offer unlimited free callbacks between scheduled visits. If you notice pest activity after treatment, we’ll return as many times as needed at no additional cost until your issue reaches a stable baseline.
When you call Better Termite & Pest Control, you’ll speak directly with a licensed technician who can provide an accurate, no-hassle estimate over the phone. No sales pitches, no upselling—just honest advice from experienced professionals who understand what your situation requires.
More than 400 homeowners across the DC Metro area have rated our service 5 stars. This track record of satisfaction reflects our commitment to exceptional results and customer care in every home we treat.
Simplify your pest protection by adding termite, mosquito, or tick control to your general pest plan for one convenient monthly fee. Our bundled services provide comprehensive protection while saving you money compared to purchasing each service separately.
Transparency matters. After every service visit, you’ll receive an email summarizing the work performed and products used. This detailed documentation gives you complete visibility into your treatment plan and helps you track progress over time.
With more than 100,000 homes treated since 1968, our proven track record speaks for itself. This extensive experience has helped us refine our approaches and develop targeted solutions for the specific pest challenges faced by Takoma Park homeowners.
Our internal research team has carefully removed nine of the harshest chemicals commonly used in pest control, selecting alternatives we would feel comfortable using in our own homes around children and pets. All products are applied according to EPA guidelines by licensed technicians trained to minimize exposure while maximizing effectiveness.
We specialize in insects and rodents only. We do not handle wildlife removal services for raccoons, squirrels, birds, or other larger animals. If you’re experiencing wildlife issues, we can recommend trusted partners who specialize in these services.
Bed bugs require specialized treatment protocols beyond our standard pest control services. We focus on common household pests such as ants, roaches, spiders, rodents, termites, and mosquitoes. For bed bug issues, we can refer you to specialists in this area.
Yes, in most cases we can dispatch a technician within one business day. For Takoma Park residents, we prioritize emergency situations and work to provide rapid response. Contact our office at (703) 683-2000 to confirm emergency service availability for your specific location.
Our services address American roaches, German roaches, Oriental roaches, Smokeybrown roaches, Brown Banded Roaches, Ants (including Carpenter Ants), Box Elder Bugs, Camel Crickets, Centipedes, Cigarette Beetles, Clover Mites, Drugstore Beetles, Spiders, Springtails, Earwigs, Field Crickets, Fire Brats, Fleas, Ground Beetles, Indian Meal Moths, Lady Bugs, Stink Bugs, Termites, Mice, Millipedes, Pill Bugs, Rats, Rice Weevils, Silverfish, Sow Bugs, Ticks, Wasps (Hornets, Yellow Jackets), Mosquitoes, and Carpenter Bees.
For most Takoma Park homes, we recommend quarterly visits for general pests and rodents, which align with seasonal pest activity patterns. Mosquito applications typically run monthly from April through October. Termite inspections should be conducted annually for homes under warranty plans, giving you year-round peace of mind.
Call (703) 683-2000 or email [email protected] to speak directly with a licensed technician who can provide a personalized estimate during your call. Unlike many companies that send salespeople, our technicians provide expert assessments based on their field experience, resulting in more accurate pricing and treatment recommendations.
