10 best pest control companies in Belmont, Massachusetts

In Belmont, rats, mice and spiders are the most common source of issues. While you can consider DIY removal and prevention methods, an active infestation most likely requires a pest control company's help. These skilled pest specialists in Belmont can identify the problem and treat it safely and effectively.

Letting a pest problem go untreated can introduce a variety of risks to you, your loved ones and your pets. Insects and small animals can spread disease, damage your home's structure and contaminate food.

Hiring a professional pest control company can decrease these risks. A technician will find nesting areas, and create a treatment plan, using methods such as sealing entrances, capturing pests or spraying pesticides. Once the right solution is applied, pests can be contained for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Belmont

Look for pest control companies in Belmont 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 Belmont?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally affect the same regions. Here are some signs of common pests in the Belmont area.

• Spiders: The best way to know you have a spider infestation is a noticeable uptick in spiderwebs in and around your home. Visible egg sacs and plenty of other insects that the spiders can feed on are some other indications of an infestation. Aside from hazardous brown recluses and black widows, which have painful, venemous bites, most spiders found in homes are harmless.
• Rats: You may have a rat infestation if you see a rat, find droppings about half an inch long or hear skittering in your walls or ceiling. Rats will also eat into food wrappings and bite into walls and doors to create entryways.
• Ticks: Though ticks typically stay close to the ground outside, they can make their way into your home via pets, clothing or shoes. Inside, female ticks lay eggs on curtains, in carpet fibers or in upholstery. Nests may also be hidden along baseboards, in corners and in the lining or pockets of clothing.
• Moths: Clothes moths and pantry moths often invade homes. Clothes moths damage wool and cotton garments, leaving trenches, tunnels, silky furrows and small tubes behind, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths make tiny openings in plastic food bags and leave a webbed residue in the corners of your pantry. Fermented sugar, ripe fruit and light all attract moths.
• Flies: Flies often buzz around homes in the summer, but more flies than normal could mean an infestation. Fly droppings look like black specks and are often found in around sink drains, high shelves and trash. Another sign of an infestation is finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Mice: If mice have infiltrated your home, you might catch a quick view of one or find droppings around the size of a grain of rice. Mice often damage furniture and have a musky odor. They construct nests with foraged materials and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.
• Beetles: Different species of beetle breeds can infest homes. Carpet beetles eat the natural fibers in bedding, upholstered furniture and carpets. Biscuit beetles infest beans, spices, seeds, rice, grains and pasta. Beetles don't transmit disease or bite, but some may trigger allergic reactions.

How can you prevent pests in your Belmont 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 prevent pest infestations.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals can cause serious issues in your home and health if not addressed swiftly. 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

As pests are typically looking for food, making food difficult to access will keep them from sticking around. Food should be a minimum of half a foot off the floor and a short distance away from the walls. Make sure to keep food storage areas, sinks and counters clean and disinfected when not in use, and dispose of food scraps and other trash regularly. Maintain the areas around your trash cans and dumpsters.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Trash, tall grass, standing water and leaves offer ample shelter to insects and small animals. Keeping your yard free of debris and well-maintained with a mowed lawn and trimmed foliage is one of the simplest ways to prevent an infestation. If you need professional lawn care, find out if national lawn care companies such as TruGreen cover your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off access points into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just half an inch in diameter. Repair holes in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest exclusion services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to make sure you get a pest control provider that can handle your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Additionally, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to have certification in accordance with the agency and state, territorial and tribal laws.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources issues commercial applicator licenses and certifications to those providing pest control services in Massachusetts. Professionals must have a Commercial Applicator License or Certification in order to practice.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest control specialist will create a treatment schedule based on the type of pest, type of treatment, severity of the infestation and location of your property. Pest control technicians typically discourage a single-treatment approach, as insects are frequently at various stages of their life cycles and may have laid eggs in hard-to-find locations.

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

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it will take for your pest issue to disappear depends on the infestation type and severity and the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may see a decline in activity, but pests can return after they hatch, requiring further treatments. You may also see increased activity after the first treatment, as it can force pests out of hiding places. Luckily, this should taper off within a few days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home for certain portions of the pest control treatment, such as sealing holes and cracks. Should your service provider use a pesticide, you'll most likely need to leave your home along with your family and pets while you wait for the pesticide to dry. This typically takes a few hours.

Certain treatments can be especially time-consuming like termite fumigation. The pest control provider erects a tent around your home, which is left in place for three days to apply the pesticide. During this period, you'll need to find alternative accommodations.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

An experienced pest control professional knows how much of a product to use, the time needed for it to dry and when children and pets can safely return to the treated location. Before beginning any treatment, your service provider should inform you about what should be taken out of the area, including plants, food and animals.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest management companies offer environmentally conscious methods for treating infestations. This involves using techniques that don't impact the environment as much as traditional chemical approaches. Examples include sealing areas where pests can enter, trapping rodents or using pesticides made from natural sources.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control providers offer guarantees and warranties should pests reappear before a specified date. Some companies may provide a one-time solution, while others offer continuous service to address recurring pest issues. Discuss the available options with your pest control expert.

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.