- (301) 829-0060
- Mt. Airy, MD
- info@pestshieldinc.com
Pest Shield, Inc. has handled termite control across Mt. Airy and Carroll County since 2011, operating under Maryland Department of Agriculture business license MDA #30263 with Troy Yowell certified as applicator #19058. Termite work on our team is led by Troy — roughly 35 years in pest management, including years protecting U.S. military bases overseas from disease-carrying insects and rodents — and supported by Jeffrey Allwine, our on-staff entomologist who performs termite protection treatments. We treat subterranean termite infestations using Termidor® HE under our Termite Warranty Plan, with a 100% effective guarantee and a lifetime renewable warranty. Pest Shield was named Best of Frederick MD Pest Control in 2021 and has won Best of Nextdoor four years running (2021–2024).
How it works
Four steps. No surprises. Same answer whether it's your first call or your tenth.
You reach Troy or someone on his team directly. No call center, no dispatcher, no routing.
Same-day or next-day for most calls. Emergency stinging-insect situations and real-estate WDI deadlines get priority.
We identify the species, locate entry points, and find the source — not just the symptom.
Written recommendation, straightforward pricing, no obligation. If you don't need treatment, we'll tell you.
Subterranean termites — primarily Reticulitermes flavipes, the Eastern subterranean termite — are the species responsible for nearly all termite damage in Central Maryland. By the time most Mt. Airy homeowners spot the signs, the colony has typically been feeding on the home’s structural wood for months or years. Early identification matters, but not because of urgency tactics — it matters because catching activity early changes the scope of the work.
Common signs of subterranean termite activity in this area:
Termite damage is typically well underway before any of these signs become visible. That’s not a reason to panic — it’s the reason a thorough inspection is the right first step, not a phone-quoted treatment. If another company has already inspected your home and quoted termite work, you’re welcome to call us for a second opinion before you commit. We’ve seen cases in this area where a “BIG, WELL-KNOWN company” diagnosed live termites that weren’t there — one Pest Shield customer was quoted $1,400 for treatment she didn’t need.
60+ years of combined experience. Tell us what you’re seeing — we’ll come look, no obligation.
Troy is a true professional. He accommodated my schedule by coming after hours to do an inspection. I had gotten a “free inspection” from another BIG, WELL-KNOWN company and they had me believing I had live termites. I was suspicious when they didn’t show up for the initial treatment, and more so when I got conflicting information from people at their company. Turns out I didn’t have termites, and Troy was straight up, didn’t try to rip me off with a service I didn’t need. He SAVED me $1400 and I will surely use him in the future if I ever have a pest problem of any kind! Go Pest Shield!
Marion Entwisle · June 2014 Read on HomeAdvisor →
Troy seems to genuinely like what he does and to educate his customers. He came to appointment ahead of time, explained things thoroughly, even taking me to crawl space under house to show where termites were entering house. Price was very competitive: price per linear foot was lower than other company and estimator from other company had included perimeter of a shed which, from my understanding, should not have been included because shed has no foundation, so not subject to invasion by termites. Work performed on time and as advertised. As indicated by others, a knowledgeable, competent and honest gentleman.
Otto Louis-Jacques · December 2015 Read on HomeAdvisor →
Troy was very friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. He was able to work with my historic home (with difficult access) and treat for my termite infestation. He was very reasonable with cost as compared to other quotes, especially the big pest companies (which I would not recommend). He was incredibly respectful of my newly planted grass and garden (as he had to maneuver his supplies through it to treat). He even helped to troubleshoot a leak in that part of the house. His communication was very clear and thorough as well. Initial inspection and treatment were prompt! Would definitely recommend.
Julia · May 2022 Read on Google →
General pest & rodent control
Every termite job starts with a free inspection. Troy or Jeffrey Allwine walks the property — exterior foundation, crawl space or basement, porch slabs, garage, any area where wood meets soil or moisture collects. We identify whether termites are active, what species, where they’re entering, and what structural conditions are supporting the colony. If we find termites, we show you. Troy has been documented taking homeowners into crawl spaces to point out exactly where termites are entering before any treatment is proposed.
When treatment is warranted, we apply Termidor® HE under our Termite Warranty Plan:
Termidor HE is a professional-grade termiticide applied by MDA-licensed technicians (Troy Yowell, MD Cert #19058) following all EPA label and Maryland Department of Agriculture regulatory requirements. The product is applied to the soil and structural contact points around the exterior of the home — not broadcast indoors. Homes are not vacated during treatment, and there is no need to remove pets or relocate children during the application. Once you see termite activity end and the colony pressure resolve, you have a documented warranty on file and a single number to call if anything ever needs to be re-inspected. To get started, call (301) 829-0060 for a free termite inspection.
Owner
Founded Pest Shield in 2011 after years as a pest management contractor on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Around 35 years in pest management. Personally handles or leads the majority of service calls.
Pest Management Specialist
Field technician handling residential and commercial service calls across Frederick, Carroll, and Montgomery counties.
Pest Management Specialist
Field technician handling residential and commercial service calls across the service area.
Our Entomologist
Consulting entomologist on species identification, conducive conditions, and treatment strategy for difficult cases.
Pest Shield is headquartered at 4075 Lomar Drive in Mt. Airy, sitting at the Frederick–Carroll county line and serving homes throughout the surrounding area — New Market, Woodbine, Damascus, Westminster, Sykesville, and the wooded ridges and valleys that run along the Route 27 corridor between Frederick and Carroll counties.
Mt. Airy’s termite pressure is driven by geography. Carroll County’s clay-heavy soils hold moisture longer than sandier soils to the south and east, creating the damp subsurface conditions subterranean termites need to build tunnels and sustain colonies. Wooded residential lots add root systems and wood debris near foundations, and older homes with partial basements or limited crawl space ventilation compound the moisture profile. Homeowners dealing with these conditions often benefit from pest control in Mt. Airy that addresses the full range of wood-destroying and moisture-driven pest pressure alongside termite protection.
Termites leave mud tubes on foundation walls, shed identical translucent wings near windows in spring, and hollow out wood from the inside while leaving a thin painted shell. Carpenter ants leave sawdust-like piles (frass) of clean wood shavings — termites do not, because they eat the wood rather than tunnel through it. What looks like water damage — bubbling paint, buckling drywall — can absolutely be termites, since their tunneling carries moisture. If you’re not sure, that’s exactly what our free inspection is for. Troy or Jeffrey Allwine will identify what you’re actually dealing with before any treatment is proposed.
Termidor® HE is a non-repellent termiticide, which means termites can’t detect it. They tunnel through the treated soil zone normally, pick up the active ingredient, and transfer it back to the colony through grooming and feeding contact with nestmates. That transfer effect is what makes it effective against subterranean termites specifically — colonies are eradicated typically within 90 days of a single application, and the treatment zone continues protecting the home for 15 years or more.
The Termite Warranty Plan carries a 100% effective guarantee on the initial Termidor HE treatment — if termites return within the warranty period, we come back and re-treat at no charge. The warranty is renewable for the lifetime of the home under your ownership, so you can extend protection annually as long as you continue to own the property. We keep your treatment documentation on file and one phone call gets the warranty renewed or a re-inspection scheduled.
Yes, and there’s no cost to do so. Our inspection is free and there’s no obligation to use us afterward. Pest Shield has been called in for second opinions repeatedly — one Mt. Airy-area customer was told by a “BIG, WELL-KNOWN company” she had live termites, and Troy’s inspection found none, saving her $1,400 in unnecessary treatment. We’ll tell you honestly what we find, including whether you actually need treatment at all.
Yes. Termidor® HE is an EPA-approved professional termiticide applied to the soil and structural contact points around the exterior of the home — it is not broadcast indoors. Application is performed by MDA-licensed technicians (Troy Yowell holds MD Certification #19058) in accordance with all EPA label requirements and Maryland Department of Agriculture regulations. Families and pets do not need to vacate during treatment, and the product binds to the soil rather than migrating through the home.
