10 best pest control companies in Old Bridge, New Jersey

In Old Bridge, ticks, mice and moths are common pests. Taking preventative measures yourself can help you avoid pest problems, but calling a pest control company is best if you notice an existing infestation. Experienced pest specialists in Old Bridge know how to correctly identify pests, apply suitable treatments and resolve your pest problem.

Letting a pest issue go untreated can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family and your pets. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible structural damage to your home, contaminate your food supplies and spread disease.

An experienced pest control company can reduce these risks. They'll identify where pests have nested, and customize a treatment plan that could include blocking entry points, using traps or applying chemicals. With the right solution in place, your pest problem can be solved for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Old Bridge

Look for pest control companies in Old Bridge 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 Old Bridge?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally affect the same regions. If you suspect you have an infestation, here are some signs of common pests in Old Bridge:

• Ticks: Though ticks usually stay close to the ground outside, they can enter your home via pets, shoes or clothing. Inside, female ticks lay eggs on curtains, in carpet fibers or in upholstery. Nests may also be hidden in corners, in the lining or pockets of clothing and along baseboards.
• 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 damage furniture and have a distinct musk. They construct nests with scavenged bits and pieces and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.
• Moths: Clothes moths and pantry moths are often seen as household pests. Clothes moths chew wool and cotton, leaving silky furrows, tunnels, trenches and small tubes, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths breach plastic food packaging, leaving a web-like residue in pantry corners and on or in dried goods. Moths are naturally attracted to ripe fruits, light and fermented sugar.
• Snakes: Snakes become more active when the weather is warm, nesting among debris, rock piles, overgrown grass and wood. Finding snake skins and snake eggs indicate an infestation. If you think you might have a snake, sprinkle flour in the suspected areas. If you see trails in the flour, contact a pest control professional for help removing the snake.
• Termites: Termites feed on the cellulose fibers found in wood. They may be present in your home if you notice mud tubes, droppings, cracked or bubbling paint, termite swarms or wood that emits a hollow sound when you knock on it.
• Bees: An increase in bee activity inside or around your home, humming within your walls or dark stains on your walls mayindicate a bee infestation. You may also smell an odd odor coming from your walls, which happens as bees die or honey builds up inside, leading to mold and fungi growth. Bees can harm your family or pets by stinging them and potentially causing allergic reactions.
• Mosquitos: Standing water lures mosquitoes, so you’re at a higher risk of an infestation if you live in a damp climate or have bodies of water nearby. Mosquitoes are nocturnal — as the sun goes down, they emit a high buzzing noise and feed. You may not notice a bite until a few hours later, at which point the area around the bite appears raised and becomes itchy. Mosquitoes can carry diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and West Nile.

How can you prevent pests in your Old Bridge home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are things you can do before pests become a problem to keep them at bay.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

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

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Because pests commonly seek out food sources, limiting their food access will discourage them from sticking around. Place food at least half a foot above floor level and slightly away from walls. Be sure to keep counters, food storage areas and sinks clean and sanitized when not in use. Dispose of food scraps and other garbage regularly, and keep the areas around trash cans and dumpsters neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

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

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off entry points will discourage insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as small as half an inch wide. Be sure to address gaps in your roof or siding and fix damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on keeping pests out and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

When selecting a pest control provider, ask the following questions to verify they have the expertise to handle your unique situation.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates 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.

New Jersy pest control professionals should be licensed through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Compliance & Enforcement, having completed 40 hours of training in order to earn a Commercial or Private Applicator License.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest expert's recommended treatment frequency will depend on factors such as the property location, infestation severity, pest type and treatment type. Generally, pest control professionals 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 areas.

Pest specialists often suggest recurring treatments, some of which may be only done in the warmer months, while others occur across all seasons. As a proactive measure, they might also recommend preventive treatments every two or three months to stop infestations from starting.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it will take for your pest problem to go away depends on the infestation type and severity and the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may notice a decrease in activity, but pests can return after they hatch, requiring further treatments. You may also find increased activity after the first treatment, as it can flush 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 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.

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 stay at a hotel or with friends or family.

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 come back 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, plants and animals.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Some pest exterminators offer environmentally conscious methods for treating an infestation. This means they use techniques with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Examples include sealing entry points where pests can enter, setting humane traps for rodents or using pesticides made from organic materials.

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 one-time treatment or continued treatments. Consult with your service provider to learn about the packages 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.