Pest Control in Alton, IL — Built for River-Town Homes
Alton homes are unlike anything else in the Metro East. Brick and limestone construction from the 1800s, homes stepped into the bluffs, stone foundations, root cellars, and a riverfront that floods. Pest control here isn’t a one-size template — it’s knowing what a 150-year-old foundation does when the river rises and the temperature drops.
Imel Pest Control has served Alton and the Riverbend since 1967 from our shop in Bethalto, ten minutes away. Family-owned, no contracts, and voted Best of the Best in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Call our Alton–Riverbend line: (618) 377-9839 for a free inspection.
Why Alton homes Get The Pests They Do
Stone and Rubble Foundations
Much of Alton’s historic housing — Middletown, Christian Hill, the streets above Broadway — sits on limestone or rubble-stone foundations with mortar joints that have been weathering for a century. Every failed joint is a mouse door and a spider harborage. Our rodent work in Alton is as much about exclusion (sealing those entry points) as trapping, because in these houses, trapping alone is a treadmill.
River and Bluff Moisture
Homes near the riverfront and at the base of the bluffs deal with chronically damp basements and crawlspaces. Moisture drives three things we treat constantly in Alton: subterranean termites (they need damp soil contact), camel crickets and sowbugs in basements, and the brown recluse and wolf spiders that hunt them.
Old Wood, Old Damage
A lot of Alton homes have previous termite damage from decades past. During free inspections, we routinely find old, treated damage — and sometimes new activity restarting in it. If you’re buying or selling in Alton, our WDI real estate inspection is the document your lender wants.
Services in Alton
- Termite inspection & Sentricon treatment — free inspections, ideal for historic foundations because there’s no drilling or liquid trenching
- Rodent control & exclusion — sealing stone-foundation entry points, not just setting traps
- Spider control — brown recluse inspections in basements and root cellars
- Bed bugs, ants, other insects, and commercial service for Broadway restaurants and Riverbend area retail shops
Local Termite Treatments
Have you noticed any of the signs of a termite infestation? Are you worried about the structure of your home? Contact Imel for a complete inspection and treatment of the termites at your home or business. Waiting could mean the structure of your building gets worse and worse over time. Be on the lookout for these termite warning signs and call our staff when you find them!
Signs of Termite Infestations
- Presence of flying ants or termite swarmers
- Earth/mud-colored tubes or tunnels that run from the ground to the home
- Solid wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Damaged wood that crumbles easily
- Buckling/swollen floors
Your Local Rodent Control Experts in Alton, IL
Are you terrified of mice and rats? Does the thought make you shriek in terror? Have no fear, Imel Pest Control is here to eliminate rats, mice, and other rodents from your home to give you the peace of mind that you’re after. Rodent infestations can prove to be a big health hazard for those in your home or those who patronize your business. Make sure you know the warning signs for mice and rats and call the specialists at Imel for the treatments you need.
Mice & Rat Warning Signs
- Noises – You might hear scratches, squeaking, or rustling. Rodents tend to be active when no one is around, so you may catch them looking for a midnight snack.
- Mouse/Rat Tracks – Barely visible, these might be noticeable smudge marks or urine marks that make a track – they may also be found between locations where you find droppings.
- Nests/Shelter – You find a nest in a wall or around your home, or you have piles of logs or other debris close to the home that could serve as a nest.
- Chew Marks – You find tiny chew marks on bags of food/food containers.
- Rodent Droppings – Tiny brown droppings can be found where mice or rats have been suspected.
Looking for Insect Removal?
We’ve been in the pest control business for over 50 years, and we’ve built our reputation on reliable service and superior customer care at an affordable rate. Also, we make the call to us worth it with a wide variety of treatments and friendly service terms that help us fulfill your needs more effectively. If you’re noticing the signs of a pest infestation or would like an inspection for insect removal, don’t hesitate to call our staff to get started today!
Nearby areas we serve
Godfrey, East Alton, Wood River, Bethalto, and Grafton.
Free inspections in Alton — (618) 377-9839.
FAQ
Q: Can you treat termites in a house with a stone foundation?
A: Yes — it’s actually where the Sentricon baiting system shines. Liquid treatments require trenching and drilling that’s difficult and messy around limestone foundations. Bait stations go in the soil around the home and eliminate the colony itself, with no drilling into century-old stonework.
Q: Why do I get mice every fall in my Alton home?
A: Older stone and brick foundations develop gaps at mortar joints, sill plates, and utility entries — and mice need a hole about the size of a dime. When temperatures drop in October, they move in. Lasting control means sealing those entry points, which is a standard part of our rodent service.
Q: Are brown recluse spiders common in Alton?
A: Yes. Older homes with dry basements, root cellars, and stored boxes are classic brown recluse habitat, and Southern Illinois is squarely in their range. If you’re seeing spiders with a violin-shaped marking, don’t reach into storage areas bare-handed — call us for an inspection.
Show Your Pest Who's Boss!
