10 best pest control companies in Manhattan, New York

In Manhattan, you can face pests such as mice, flies and bed bugs. Taking preventative measures by yourself can help you stop pest problems, but reaching out to a pest control company is advisable if you notice an existing infestation. These qualified pest control professionals in Manhattan can pinpoint the problem and resolve it safely and effectively.

Letting a pest problem go unaddressed can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family and your pets. Insects and small animals can cause long-term property damage, contaminate foods and spread disease.

Hiring a professional pest control company can decrease these risks. They'll determine where pests have nested, and customize a treatment plan that could include blocking entry points, using traps or spraying pesticides. Once the right solution is applied, pests can be kept in check for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Manhattan

Look for pest control companies in Manhattan 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 Manhattan?

Different pests invade different areas. Check for the following indications of common Manhattan pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Ticks: Ticks can easily enter homes by hitching a ride on pets, clothing or shoes, after they're picked up by you or your family while outdoors. Once inside, a female tick lays her eggs on curtains, in carpet fibers or in upholstery. Other common nesting spots include in corners, along baseboards and in the lining or pockets of clothing.
• 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 chew 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.
• Bees: Signs of a bee infestation include hearing the sound of buzzing or humming inside your walls, seeing more bees than usual and finding dark smears on your walls. An odd odor may also come from your walls. This happens when mold and fungi grow inside due to bees dying or honey seeping into the walls. Bees can also harm your family and pets, given their stings can provoke allergic reactions.
• Flies: It's common to see a few flies inside your home during the summer, but an excessive number likely signals an infestation. Flies leave feces resembling clusters of black dots by sinks, shelves, or trash. Finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in your trash also indicates an infestation.
• Rats: You may have a rat infestation if you see a rat, hear scurrying in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long. Rats will also eat into food wrappings and bite into walls and doors to create access points.
• Mosquitos: If you live in a damp climate or have large bodies of water nearby, you're at a higher risk for a mosquito infestation. Mosquitoes are attracted to standing water and become more active at night. As the sun sets, you'll hear a high-pitched buzzing noise that indicates their presence. Bites may go unnoticed initially, but later on you'll find red, itchy spots. Mosquitoes can carry a variety of diseases including West Nile, dengue fever and malaria.

How can you prevent pests in your Manhattan home?

While an infestation will typically require professional help, the best way to avoid infestations is to take preventative steps.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

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

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Pests mainly 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, food storage areas and counters 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

Insects and small animals can hide in trash, standing water, tall grass and leaves. Keeping your yard clear of debris and your lawn and foliage well-maintained is one of the easiest ways to stop an infestation before it starts. If professional lawn maintenance is needed, find out if national lawn care services such as TruGreen cover your region.

Seal off pest entrances

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

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to ensure you get a pest control professional that can meet your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the use of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Furthermore, the EPA mandates that restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors have certification compliant with the agency's regulations as well as state, territorial and tribal legislation.

Pest control professionals servicing New York are required to have a Commercial Pesticide Applicator or Technician License in order to legally practice. These licenses are issued by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest expert's recommended treatment frequency will depend on factors such as the pest type, property location, treatment type and infestation severity. Generally, pest control providers do not recommend only a single treatment, since insects are often at different stages of their life cycle, and may have laid eggs in hard-to-access places.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are year-round. They may also suggest bimonthly or quarterly preventative treatments to stop an infestation before it starts.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it takes for your pest issue to go away depends on the infestation type and severity, as well as the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may see a decline in activity, but pests could resurface after hatching, requiring supplementary treatments. On the other hand, you might see increased activity after the initial treatment, as it can force pests out of hiding. Fortunately, this should subside within a few days' time.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to remain in your home for some parts of the pest control treatment, such as sealing holes and cracks. If your service professional uses a pesticide, it may take hours to dry, during which time you'll need to be out of the house.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company erects a tent over your entire home for three days to apply the pesticide. You'll have to find another place to stay during this process.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A service professional will know how much of a particular product to use, how long it takes to dry and when children and pets can safely return to the area that's been treated. Before applying any treatment, they should educate you on what you must remove from the affected space, such as food, animals and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest treatment companies offer green solutions for treating an infestation. This involves using products and techniques that don't impact the environment as much as traditional chemical approaches. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing potential pest entry points, using humane traps for rodents and using naturally sourced pesticides.

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 ongoing treatments to address recurring pest issues. Discuss the available options with your service 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.