A legitimate termite company in Scranton gives you four things: a licensed technician who inspects the whole structure, a written treatment plan that names the method and product, a warranty that covers re-treatment, and a clear answer on price before any work starts. If a company skips any of those, keep looking.
Why be this careful? Because termite treatment is a specialized job with a five-figure downside. Scranton’s pre-1940 housing stock gives eastern subterranean termites easy access, damage is not covered by insurance, and a bad treatment hides the problem instead of fixing it. The Pest Rangers has provided termite control across Lackawanna and Luzerne counties since 2008, and this guide lays out what a real program includes, what to ask, and how pricing works, so you can judge any company, including ours.
What Does a Real Termite Treatment Cover?
A real termite treatment covers the pathway between the colony in the soil and the wood in your house, not just the spot where you saw damage. Expect these components:
- A full-structure inspection: Basement sills, rim joists, porches, additions, garage slabs, and plumbing walls, with entry points and moisture conditions mapped. Free at The Pest Rangers for homeowners.
- A named method: Either a liquid treated zone (trenching around the foundation plus drilling and injection under slabs and porches) or a baiting system such as Sentricon, which foraging termites carry back to eliminate the colony. Many homes get both.
- A named product: You should be told the termiticide or bait used. The EPA registers termiticides only after they prove they can protect a structure, and it advises hiring licensed professionals because these products are not consumer-grade.
- A conducive-conditions report: What invited termites in (grading, wood-to-soil contact, leaks) and how to fix it.
- A warranty: Written terms for re-treatment if activity returns, and a renewal option for continued coverage.
If a company offers a “spot spray” for a fixed low price with no inspection and no warranty, that is the treatment to avoid. It is the termite equivalent of painting over water damage.
What Questions Should You Ask Before Hiring?
Ask these seven questions and you will separate real termite professionals from everyone else in a single phone call:
- Are your technicians licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture? Pennsylvania requires commercial pesticide applicators to pass certification exams and complete recertification credits, per the state program described by Penn State Extension. Ask for the license, not a “certified” badge from a product manufacturer.
- Will you inspect the entire structure before quoting? A quote without an inspection is a guess.
- Which method do you recommend for my house, and why? The answer should reference your foundation type, slab areas, and where activity was found.
- What product will you use? You are entitled to the name and the label.
- What does the warranty cover, for how long, and what does renewal cost? Get it in writing.
- Can you provide an NPMA-33 wood-destroying insect report if I sell or refinance? Only companies that perform real estate inspections can.
- What happens if termites come back? The right answer is a no-charge return visit.
The Pest Rangers answers all seven the same way for every customer: PA-licensed technicians, free full inspections, written method and product, warrantied treatments, NPMA-33 inspections, and free return visits under our guarantee.
How Does the Process Work, From Inspection to Warranty?
The process runs in five steps, and a good company will explain each one before you commit:
- Inspection: A licensed technician probes accessible wood, checks for mud tubes and swarmer evidence, and identifies the species. In Scranton’s older homes, this includes stone foundations, enclosed porches, and shared walls in double-blocks.
- Written plan and quote: Method, areas treated, product, price, and warranty terms in one document. The Pest Rangers provides same-day quotes.
- Treatment: Liquid work involves trenching, drilling, and injection, usually completed in a day. Baiting involves station installation around the perimeter.
- Follow-up: Bait stations are monitored on a schedule. Liquid treatments get a follow-up check for activity.
- Warranty and renewal: Coverage continues as long as the warranty is renewed. Active Termite Protection through the Home Protection Premier plan keeps a monitoring system in place around the home year after year, alongside coverage for more than 40 other pests.
How Does Termite Pricing Work in Scranton?
Termite pricing in Scranton depends on which of three services you need. Most companies quote after inspection because linear footage, construction type, and severity change the work required.
Termite Services: What You Are Paying For
| Service | What It Is | How It Is Priced | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Termite treatment | Liquid treated zone, baiting system, or both, to stop an active infestation | Quoted after a free inspection, based on foundation size, construction, and severity; warrantied | Homeowners with confirmed activity |
| Active Termite Protection (monitoring) | Ongoing monitoring stations plus coverage for 40+ household pests | Home Protection Premier starting at $75/month | Homeowners who want continuous protection, especially in older homes |
| NPMA-33 wood-destroying insect report (WDIR) | Formal inspection and report for lenders and buyers | Quoted separately; not included in free inspections | Home sales, purchases, and refinances, commonly required for FHA and VA loans |
Two pricing notes. First, the cheapest quote is often the one that skips the trenching, drilling, or monitoring that makes treatment work. Second, a warranty has real dollar value; without one, re-treatment is a full second invoice.
On real estate: Pennsylvania’s seller disclosure law requires sellers to disclose known termite or wood-destroying insect problems, and lenders frequently require the NPMA-33 form before closing. If you are selling or refinancing a Scranton home, ask for the WDIR at the same time as the treatment quote.
Why Scranton Homeowners Choose The Pest Rangers for Termites
Here is how we answer the checklist above:
- Licensed and accredited: Every technician is licensed through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The company is QualityPro certified through the National Pest Management Association, and president Jeff King serves on the NPMA board of directors and as president of the Pennsylvania Pest Management Association.
- Proven methods: Authorized Sentricon colony-elimination installations plus non-repellent liquid treatments, with pre-construction protection available.
- Same-day quotes and a written guarantee: Free termite inspections, same-day quotes, warrantied treatments, and free return visits if covered activity comes back. If a covered problem cannot be resolved, we refund your last regular service payment.
- Real estate ready: NPMA-33 wood-destroying insect reports for Scranton home sales and refinances.
- Local: Serving Scranton and Lackawanna County since 2008, from Dunmore and Green Ridge to Clarks Summit and Carbondale.
Not sure yet whether you have termites? Start with our guide to signs of termites in Scranton homes. Weighing whether to try it yourself first? Read DIY versus professional termite treatment in Scranton before you spend on sprays.
FAQs
How much does termite treatment cost in Scranton, PA?
It is quoted after a free inspection because foundation size, construction type, and severity determine the work. Ongoing Active Termite Protection through the Home Protection Premier plan starts at $75 per month. NPMA-33 real estate inspections are quoted separately.
What should a termite warranty cover?
Re-treatment at no charge if termites return during the warranty period, with an option to renew coverage annually. Ask whether the warranty is transferable to a buyer if you sell, and get all terms in writing before treatment.
Do I need a termite inspection to sell my house in Scranton?
Pennsylvania law requires sellers to disclose known termite problems but does not mandate an inspection for every sale. Many lenders, especially for FHA and VA loans, require an NPMA-33 wood-destroying insect report before closing, so most Scranton sales involve one.
How do I verify a termite company’s license in Pennsylvania?
Ask for the technician’s Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator certification and the company’s business license. You can confirm both through the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry. A manufacturer “certification” is not a state license.
How quickly can The Pest Rangers treat termites in Scranton?
We offer free inspections and same-day quotes, and treatment is typically scheduled within days of approval. Call (570) 343-0567 or use the online instant quote tool to confirm the earliest opening.
