10 best pest control companies in Downey, California

In Downey, you can face pests such as flies, bees and fleas. DIY prevention techniques may help your pest issue, but you may need to hire a pest control company for an existing infestation. Certified pest control professionals in the Downey area have the expertise to inspect your home, apply the right treatments and resolve your pest problems.

Letting a pest problem go unaddressed can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family members and your pets. Insects and small animals can contaminate your food, cause significant damage to your home and spread disease.

Hiring pest control experts can significantly minimize the risk of an infestation. A technician will locate nesting areas, and create an extermination plan, using methods such as sealing entrances, capturing pests or applying chemicals. When the proper fixes are implemented, you can get rid of infestations for good.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Downey

Look for pest control companies in Downey 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 Downey?

While pests are everywhere, the hot spots for different species differ. If you think you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in Downey:

• Fleas: You may have a flea problem if your pet is constantly scratching itself, and you notice black dots on its skin. While they don’t live on human skin or hair, fleas do leap up to bite, particularly around your ankles. Fleas are also responsible for a variety of diseases, including bubonic plague.
• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart past you unexpectedly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a noticeable musky smell and damage household items by gnawing through them. They build nests from shredded fibers and other found materials. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear rustling inside your walls or ceiling.
• Flies: Flies often buzz around homes in the summer, but a noticeable increase could mean an infestation. Fly droppings look like black specks and are often found in around sink drains, trash and high shelves. Another sign of an infestation is finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Spiders: The easiest way to tell whether you have a spider infestation is if you notice a increasing number of spiderwebs in your home. Other telltale signs include visible egg sacs and a plentiful supply of other insects, which spiders like to feast on. Most spiders in homes are not dangerous, except for the black widow and brown recluse. Both have painful, venomous bites.
• 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 entryways for themselves by gnawing through walls, doors and food packaging.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are nocturnal and tend to scatter when you turn on a light. Still, you may catch a cockroach or two on the run if you have an infestation. Their nests tend to be around kitchens, bathrooms and basements. Cockroaches often leave brown smudges on walls and floors, and droppings that look like small black specks around your home. Cockroaches can spread disease through contamination and worsen respiratory problems.
• Ants: Your home could be infested with various ant types. Carpenter ants burrow into wood, while fire ants like oily food scraps. Both bite, unlike pavement ants, which also commonly infest homes. Ant trails inside your home signal larger ant nests are nearby.

How can you prevent pests in your Downey home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are precautions you can take before pests become a problem to prevent them from getting a foothold in your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals are disruptive and can cause considerable damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control service about taking preemptive measures to keep pests from invading your home. They may recommend sealing small entry points, setting traps or spraying the area with pesticides.

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 sinks, counters and food storage areas stay clean and sanitized between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can take refuge in leaves, trash, tall grass and standing water in your yard. One of the easiest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard debris-free and properly maintained with cut grass and pruned foliage. If you require professional landscaping services, check if national lawn care providers such as TruGreen operate in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

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

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

To find a pest control company with the proper qualifications for your individual needs, ask the following questions during the hiring process.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

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

A Qualified Applicator License or Applicator Certificate issued by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation is required for pest control technicians to practice in California.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

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

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some carried out only during the warmer seasons and others occurring throughout the year. To prevent infestations from taking hold, they might also propose preventive treatments every two or three months to stop new infestations from forming.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it will take for your pest issue to disappear depends on the type and severity of the infestation 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 notice increased activity after the first treatment, as it can drive pests from 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 entry points. 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.

Some pest control services can be particularly lengthy. During termite fumigation, the pest control professional must set up a tent around your home for three days to apply the pesticide. Throughout this timeframe, you'll have to find other accommodations.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

An experienced pest control professional knows the right amount 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 food, animals and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control providers offer environmentally conscious methods for addressing an infestation. This involves using techniques that don't impact the environment as much as conventional chemical approaches. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing potential pest entry points, using humane traps for rodents and using pesticides derived from natural sources.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place to protect you if pests return before a predetermined date. These companies may offer a single service or continuous treatments to tackle a recurring pest problem. Be sure to discuss the available options with your provider.

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.