Smithereen Pest Management Services

Niles, United States

2.8

Open now

12 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

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Telephone:
+1 855-677-1888
Website:
www.smithereen.com
Address:
7400 N Melvina Ave, Niles, IL, 60714
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Accepts Credit Cards
Yes

Today

Today 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Niles) 11:15 Friday, 30 May 2025

Business hours

Monday 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Smithereen Pest Management provides a wide variety of integrated pest control services to commercial, institutional, and residential properties in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas and Missouri. Smithereen provides solutions for nearly every pest situation; which includes Insect Control, Rodent Control, Termite Control, Bird Abatement, Wildlife Services, Spider Control, and Conventional, Cryonite and Heat Treatments for Bed Bugs. Smithereen’s Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) and Green Shield Certified Services help to create a safe work and living environment; which enables Smithereen to provide clients with a reliable and safe pest control service that is delivered with professionalism and honesty while striving to consistently exceed customer expectations and industry standards.

History

Established in 1888.

Smithereen was established in 1888 on south side of Chicago by a pharmaceutical salesman, E.R. Jennings. He discovered that a pesticide (pyrethrum) was not toxic to humans. He began to package and sell but alone on horse and buggy it could no be done. Jennings decided to hire others to help him and decided to sell a complete service, he became one of the country’s first professional exterminators. Smithereen has been trusted with more «landmark» Chicago real estate than any other organization. For 128 years, Smithereen has provided a «healthy environment» to tourist attractions, sports facilities, convention centers, colleges, universities and commercial real estate from the Magnificent Mile to the shore of Lake Michigan. Smithereen is STILL a family owned company with the fourth generation owner Jack Jennings at the helm.

Meet the Manager

Jim B.

Manager

Jim started his pest management career in 1988 with Anderson Pest Control as a technician servicing a wide variety of industries. He quickly advanced and in 1998 joined the Smithereen team as a Quality Control Inspector, ensuring the highest standard of service throughout the company. He currently is the Operations Manager of the north territory from the north side of Chicago all the way to Madison, Wisconsin. His focus has always been on result oriented service and 100% customer satisfaction. His is a positive force and is excellent at building business relationships with his customers and all his employees. He has solidified strong relationships and has developed the kind of loyalty Smithereen prides itself on. He is licensed in many IDPH pest control categories and attends many conferences to stay abreast of new industry developments. Jim is devoted to coaching to his sons’ sports teams as well as being a collector of exotic tarantulas. Jim is known as the Spiderman since he gives m

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12 reviews of Smithereen Pest Management Services

No registration required
Place rating: 1
River Forest, IL
They heat treated my apartment to kill the bed bugs, then the bugs returned 3 months later,
they did another heat treatment (8 – 9 hours of intense heat) and still the bugs returned again
in 3 months. It is possible that I brought them in again somehow but I don’t think so. I
think they did not kill all of them. This service is very expensive. They give no guarantees.
The technicians are not very helpful or friendly. This is very inconvenient as well because
you have to leave your home for the whole day with your pets.
Another bed bug company just finished their work. The bugs are disgusting parasites that
leave black marks and blood stains.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Bobby was great. He got all the squirrels that had invaded our attic. Thanks!
Place rating: 1
Evanston, IL
I was entirely disappointed with Smithereen.
They sold me on their seasonal plan – $ 150 per season, $ 600 for the year. I decided that was worth it. I imagined eradicating the mice, ants and moths, and then knowing what to do going forward. For some reason, the ants and moths didn’t show up last year (they’re back this year), and the representative said that they couldn’t really do anything or advise me without actually seeing them. I accepted that, and was happy that we were at least handling the mice. What a total waste of time and money.
On the first visit, I was advised to climb down into our basement well and make sure that there were not holes to the inside, and told to track down all possible entry points and fill them with steel wool. It struck me as odd that for $ 600 I was actually the one doing this work, but we continued. Each visit, all that was done was that traps were set, the kind that make the mice thirsty enough to exit and die. Except that they died and didn’t exit. We had the smell of burnt mice in our house for up to a month afterward. And except the 3rd visit, when I received an email saying that the representative had come and gone without notifying me while I was not at home, and that counted as a visit.
For the final visit, I was finally angry enough to ask them what the heck the point was in just continually setting traps, especially when we now had both live and dead mice inside. They sent out a manager who did his best to locate the entry points (finally!), and put steel wool into any holes, though he said this solution wasn’t permanent. He told me I should put molding into the gaps in the bases and escutcheon around the pipes. For $ 600, they weren’t going to do this, either?! At least I have a better idea now of what needs to be done, but the advice I could have found online! And now I need to hire someone else to actually do the work, and to help us with the moths and ants. What a waste of $ 600! Truly, don’t waste your money.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Great, timely service. Found a mouse running around my kitchen. Called Orkin and they immediately put on the sales pitch for a $ 1000 year long contract. A friend directed me to Smithereen and they were out here within 48 hours and quelled my fears of a large infestation. The tech was great at highlighting the access point to my place with an easy DIY recommendation to close it up. Within 12 hours of setting traps the problem was no more. My first experience with pest control and these guys were great and reasonably priced. The were half of what the larger company wanted.
Place rating: 1
La Grange Park, IL
Stay away from this company. They stand you up on appointments. Coerce you into services every year with pricing, and really just do not have any control with their tech’s. They had some great technicians, but they all leave. First, I had a mouse problem so John (SM) came out and told me nothing he could do, so put sardines in my mouse traps which was a sarcastic solution to homeowners who try it themselves, of course you stink up the house. Then they send Jose out, paid again, and he was just fantastic. Gone, immediately. Called Operations manager Scott to compliment and after a long time, called me back in a real arrogant tone. Whoa, no compliments to this guy. He was pissed! Because of Jose, had them do insect protection last year, worked great. Called me this year to repeat with threat of price increase if I did not «buy now!» Called back a week later and scheduled at same price. they sent contract in ridiculous software over e-​mail which would not open. Resent pdf and set appointment. Confirmed appointment yesterday, was told different time and additional day. Called back and confirmed. I WAS STOOD UP TODAY. A NO SHOW! DON’T USE THESE PEOPLE! IT IS FAMILY OWNED AND THEY DO NOT CARE ANYMORE! IAM SURE THE IT IS A PAIN FOR THE NEXT GENERATION! SELL THE BUSINESS!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
My employer at the Broadway and Waveland location uses Smithereen as their pest control each month. If we have any issues Smithereen sends out someone right away which is our normal rep Dean Martinez. Dean is very knowledgable in pest.
Place rating: 5
Berwyn, IL
Smithereen Pest Management Services did a great job in my home. I had a very easy time scheduling an appointment and they were able to help me pretty quickly. The next day I had someone at my house inspecting the problem. Overall, they did a great job and I have yet to encounter any infestations in my home. I would say that they did their job well.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I have an annoying cat lady neighbor who refuses to take her cat shit out as often as she should and whose homeless boyfriend brought bed bugs into my building because he usually lives at the YMCA. Once, a large and disgusting family moved into the studio below ours and our hallways starting producing roaches in disgusting droves. The perils of city dwelling, apparently. Every time I call my landlord to complain that roaches are showing up again, Smithereen helps me sleep at night because it takes a couple of months for the roaches to show up again after they treat our building. Having bed bugs is honestly the worst thing I’ve ever gone through, including relatives dying, unemployment, and major surgeries. It’s a paralyzing sack of shit that takes over your life, sleep, and any enjoyment you otherwise have. Dean was dispatched out after I called my landlord in tears. He was kind, educated, and addressed every question that I could grill him about in my exhausted, frantic state. He found out that the ***** across the hall had a severe infestation and likely created ours. He then called my landlord and recommended getting the whole building treated. It was bittersweet to find out that we did not bring them into our home. He came to do 3 separate treatments and instructed us on how to properly store our belongings in time for the treatments. They were officially gone in 2 weeks. It took about 5 or 6 months for the paranoia of bed bugs to leave our household, but had it not been for the great job these guys did, I still wouldn’t be getting any sleep.
Place rating: 1
Chicago, IL
I dont usually take time to write negative reviews, but my experience with this company has been so aggravating, that I am doing so today. I contacted Smithereen regarding a problem with two birds nesting in my dryer vent. The woman I spoke to on the phone told me that for $ 200 they would remove the nest, birds and repair the dryer vent cap on the outside of my house. I said «great, I’d like to take care of as soon as possible» and she told me that the wildlife manager would contact me to schedule an appointment. He called me within the hour, discussed the situation with me (including fact that dryer vent is on second story of house and thus, a ladder would be required). I was then told that a member of his crew would call me to schedule a visit. I then received a call from Freddie, the «wildlife technician», who again discussed situation with me (including need for a ladder) and said he’d come at 10:00 the following morning. Later that evening, Freddie called back to ask if he could push back appointment because he had a meeting at 9:00 am, so we rescheduled for Noon.
Come the next morning, Freddie called me a bit before 9 am, wanting to further discuss the situation. He said he wasn’t sure he’d be able to get up on ladder to fix vent, given the rainy weather and fact that he’s a large guy and was not sure he could fit. But he said that for $ 240 he’d clean the birds out of the vent, but not fix the vent cap. When I told him that I’d been assured by the initial dispatcher at Smithereen that the entire repair could be done for $ 200, he wanted to know who I’d called and who had promised that. After some discussion about whether or not he could actually do my repair (as why remove the birds if you don’t fix the open vent cap?), he assured me he’d come out and look at job and see whether he could fix it without charge. He again said he’d be at my house around Noon.
I then left to walk my dog only to return to two messages from Freddie — the first at 9:41 telling me he was done with earlier job and was headed to me early, followed by the second at 9:53 telling me that he’d decided not to take the job and was instead headed off to another locale. What?
The entire experience was a waste of 24 hours of my time, and all the while birds continued to nest in my dryer vent rendering it unusable. I have called a different pest control company who (1) scheduled an appointment in one phone call, as opposed to multiple, (2) quoted me a price over phone, and (3) assured me that going up on a ladder to fix vent would not be an issue. I look forward to giving them my business.
Place rating: 1
Chicago, IL
I contacted Smithereen regarding a BED BUG problem. One I have had now for over a year. Having moved back home to Chicago from NYC, I was devastated to know I had brought them with me. Having had ample experience with these insects I knew it was in my best interest to have the heat treatment done. Sprays and poisons absolutely do not work because these bugs hide deep in crevices and are extremely hearty.
The heat treatment went fine by the looks of it except for at the end when I was in the hallway of my building waiting for the 2 workmen to unload the heaters and fans. One was creepy and nosy and kept telling me I could go inside. I said no each time. He eventually figured out that I was going to undress before entering my apartment just in case. So he stood beneath the stairs, hands on his hips and stared upwards waiting for me to disrobe. I walked in and slammed the door.
Larry, the head of the heat treatment services came for a follow up. I told him I was sure they were still here. He told me to go ahead and buy a mattress and they’ll come back and check it out. WHAT??? Buy a mattress??? After I have thrown out 3 along with 2 couches? OH HELL NO. (IDIOTIC to say the least) The next follow up appointment we had he just didn’t show. He BLEW ME OFF without calling.
A month later I found myself covered in itchy bleeding bedbug bites and finally had the money (2400) for another treatment. I sent him an email.
He DID NOT REPLY. I sent another. he curtly responded that he had received the first email. Then he asked «Have you even seen any?»
I got the picture that the reason he blew me off before and ignored my email this time was because he didn’t believe me.
This employee who had gone through what? A few hours of training videos, if that? Entomologist degree? Of course not. When you have lived with them for this long, you KNOW what they are. I KNOW more than most exterminators. Much of the documentation out there about them is grossly incomplete.
In addition, an infestation like this causes all sorts of trauma. It takes over your life and is extremely devastating. A little compassion would have been appreciated.
Instead, he DISCOUNTED ME and was a JERK.
If you have bed bugs, GO ELSEWHERE.
Place rating: 4
Oak Park, IL
Had some raccoons in the attic, and maybe some squirrels as well, Given the state of my upper-​floor at the time, with holes in the ceiling and all, and my cats liking to climb and hide in strange places, I needed to relocate the pesky procyon prowlers pronto.
Found this oddly-​named animal-​control service on Angie’s list. I asked the derivation of the name but I forget the response. Anyhow, They soon sent someone out The only guy they have that does larger furry critters), and he climbed up on the roof to check out what was going on. He found a few possible access points, as well as the way they were climbing up the downspout. He showed me what he was doing, from the ground and the roof. There was a bit of an upsell with an offer to seal off a few of the roof vents and so forth, which i partook, but that’s something to be ready for.
Because he thought there was a mama coon and some kits in the attic, he put a trap near the downspout to either catch them or encourage them to move on. Fortunately she was wise to our tricks and relocated her family. I would have been pretty upset if they had to kill them (i don’t even like killing flies or centipedes). The critter gitter guy came back the next day and sealed everything down. Though later I needed another spot taken care of, as some squirrels were causing mischief, and he came back and did his magic.
So unless some wildlife rehabilitation center gets into the business, I’m going to call these folks again should I need it. Friendly, helpful, and informative, and at a good price.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
I lived in a building and worked in a office that used them and they always seemed to be very good at their jobs and they made sure your pets were protected as well