10 best pest control companies in Albany, Oregon

Common pests such as rats, flies and mice can easily infest living spaces in Albany. Implementing preventative measures by yourself can help you prevent pest issues, but contacting a pest control company is advisable if you spot signs of an existing infestation. A professional pest control service in Albany can safely pinpoint, treat and solve your pest problems.

Pests that invade your property put your home and loved ones in danger. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible structural damage to your home, contaminate your food and spread disease.

Hiring pest control professionals can substantially minimize the damage from an infestation. They'll determine where pests have nested, and create a treatment plan that could include blocking entry points, using traps or spraying pesticides. The right pest treatment can take care of your pest problem for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Albany

Look for pest control companies in Albany with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

What are common pests in Albany?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally affect the same regions. The following pests are common in Albany, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown, wingless insects about the size of apple seeds. Often seen in hospitals, apartment buildings and hotels, they get into homes through clothing, backpacks, used furniture and purses. They hide in the daytime in beds or cracks and crevices. Then they become active at night. You may have an infestation if you find the bugs themselves or blood stains on mattresses or other furniture.
• Rats: If you find droppings about half an inch long or hear scurrying in your walls or ceiling, you may have a rat problem. Rats also create access points for themselves by chewing through walls, doors and food packaging.
• Ticks: Ticks usually stay close to the ground outdoors, but they can easily get into your home on your pets, clothing or shoes. Once inside, a female tick will lay her eggs on curtains, in carpet fibers and in upholstery. You may also see nests along baseboards, in corners and even in the linings or pockets of clothing.
• Flies: Everyone sees the occasional fly buzzing around their home during the summer months, but if you see significantly more than is normal, there’s a good chance you have an infestation. Flies leave feces that look like clusters of black dots and often appear near sink drains, high shelves and around trash. Another sign of an infestation is seeing maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Bees: You may have a bee infestation if you hear a buzzing or humming sound inside your walls, notice an increased number of bees either inside or outside your home or see dark stains on your walls. A strange scent coming from your walls is another sign of a bee infestation, as bees dying or honey seeping into the walls can lead to mold or fungi. Bees are also a risk to your family and pets in that their stings can cause allergic reactions.
• Fleas: If you notice your pet has black flecks on its skin and it's constantly scratching itself, you may have a flea problem. Although fleas can't live on human skin or hair, if you have an infestation, you'll often find red, itchy marks near your feet and ankles from them jumping up and biting. Fleas also transmit disease, such as the bubonic plague.
• Mice: If mice have infiltrated your home, you might see one out of the corner of your eye or find droppings around the size of a grain of rice. Mice often gnaw on furniture and have a distinct musky scent. They make nests with foraged materials and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.

How can you prevent pests in your Albany home?

Getting rid of pests isn’t easy, but a good defense is always the best offense. While an infestation probably requires professional help, there are steps you can take on your own to reduce the risk of infestations.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals can cause significant damage to your home and health if not addressed promptly. Talk to a pest control professional about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your home. Their recommendations may include sealing off small entry points, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Pests primarily seek food, so making food hard to reach will keep them on their way. Keep food a minimum of half a foot off the floor and a bit away from the walls. Always ensure counters, food storage areas and sinks stay clean and sanitized between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, standing water, trash and leaves create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly mowing your lawn and trimming foliage are among the easiest ways to prevent an infestation from taking hold. Should you need expert lawn care assistance, check whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen service your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off entry points will discourage insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for example, can squeeze into holes as tiny as half an inch in diameter. Don't neglect gaps in your roof or siding, and remember to seal up broken window frames. Some pest control services specialize in blocking pests.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

To ensure you hire a pest control provider that's equipped to meet your specific needs, ask these questions.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governs the use of pest control chemicals. Moreover, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to hold certifications according to the agency's standards and the laws of the affected states, territories and tribes.

Pest control professionals in Oregon must have earned a Commercial Applicator License through the Oregon Department of Agriculture in order to provide services.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment plan a pest professional recommends will vary based on the particular pest type, the specific treatment method, the severity of the infestation and the location of the property. In most cases, pest control companies advise against relying on a one-time treatment to eliminate household pests, as there will likely be insects at various stages of their life cycles that may have laid eggs in hard-to-spot areas.

Pest professionals generally advise ongoing treatments, with some taking place only in the warmer months and others occurring year-round. Preventative measures may also be recommended to stop infestations before they begin.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time it will take for your pest issue to be resolved depends on the nature and severity of the infestation as well as the pest's life cycle. After your home's initial treatment, you might notice a decrease in activity, but pests may reemerge after hatching, requiring further treatments. Conversely, you could see a spike in activity following the first treatment, as it can drive pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should subside within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home during certain portions of the pest control process, such as when entry points are sealed. However, if your service technician applies a pesticide, it might take several hours to dry, and you'll need to stay out of the house during this period.

Some services take a particularly long time. During termite fumigation, the pest control company needs to erect a tent around your home for three days to apply the pesticide. You must stay elsewhere during that time.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A professional will understand the proper amount of a product to apply, the duration necessary for it to dry, and when it is safe for children and pets to come back to the treated area. Your pest control provider should tell you what items you must take out of the space such as food, plants and animals before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control services provide green solutions for managing an infestation. This involves using techniques that don't impact the environment as much as traditional chemical approaches. Eco-friendly pest control methods may include sealing potential entry points where pests can gain access, capturing rodents or applying pesticides made from natural sources.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control companies provide guarantees and warranties in the event that pests reappear before a specific date. To resolve a returning pest issue, specialists may offer a single treatment or ongoing treatments. Consult with your service provider to learn about the treatments they offer.

Our methodology for selecting pest control companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score. We review national pest control companies against our full pest control methodology. We score pest control companies based on service options, safety and certifications, service guarantees and customer service.