10 best pest control companies in Poway, California

Pests regularly seen in Poway are flies, snakes and bees. Implementing preventative measures by yourself can help you stop pest issues, but reaching out to a pest control company is recommended if you spot signs of an existing infestation. Certified pest control professionals in the Poway area have the expertise to inspect your home and treat your pest problem.

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

Hiring a professional pest control company can decrease these risks. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create tailored treatment plans that may include closing off entryways, using traps or spraying 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 Poway

Look for pest control companies in Poway 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 Poway?

While pests are everywhere, not all of them invade the same places. If you think you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in the Poway area:

• Flies: Flies often buzz around homes in the summer, but a significant number could mean an infestation. Fly droppings look like black specks and are often found in around high shelves, trash and sink drains. 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 a surge in bee activity either inside or outside your home or see dark stains on your walls. An unpleasant odor radiating 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 serious allergic reactions.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are reddish-brown, wingless, flat insects about the size of apple seeds. Commonly seen in hotels, apartment complexes and hospitals, they get into homes through purses, clothing, used furniture and backpacks. They conceal themselves during the day in beds or cracks and crevices. Then they become active at night. You may have an infestation if you see the bugs themselves or bloody marks on mattresses or bedding.
• Rats: If you hear skittering in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long, you may have rats. Rats nibble through doors, food bags and walls, forming access points for themselves.
• 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 leaping up and biting. Fleas also transmit disease, such as the bubonic plague.
• Beetles: Numerous beetle species might invade your home and cause significant damage. Carpet beetles can ruin furniture, bedding and carpets, and biscuit beetles infest dried goods, such as grains, rice, pasta, seeds, beans and spices. Though they aren't usually dangerous, some kinds of beetles can trigger allergic reactions.

How can you prevent pests in your Poway home?

Fighting a pest infestation can be a nightmare, so preventative measures are the most reliable way to prevent future problems. Though infestations often require expert intervention, you can implement the following measures to keep pests out before they make their way into your home.

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 specialist about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your living space. Their recommendations may include sealing off cracks and holes, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

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

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can hide in trash, tall grass, standing water and leaves in your yard. One of the simplest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard clean and properly maintained with a neatly trimmed lawn and pruned foliage. If you require professional landscaping services, find out if national lawn care providers such as TruGreen operate in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off small entrances will help keep insects and small animals from infiltrating your home. Rats can maneuver through holes as tiny as half-inch in diameter. Inspect your roof and siding for holes, and be sure to seal off damaged window frames. Some pest control companies specialize in keeping pests out of your home.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

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

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 control expert will create a treatment schedule based on the severity of the infestation, type of treatment, location of your property and type of pest. Pest control companies typically discourage a single-treatment approach, as insects are often at various stages of their life cycles and may have laid eggs in hard-to-spot areas.

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 disappear will vary depending on the infestation nature and severity, as well as the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may perceive a decline in activity, but pests could resurface after hatching, requiring further treatments. On the other hand, you might see increased activity following the first treatment, as it can drive 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 stay in your home during certain portions of the pest control process, such as when holes and cracks are being sealed. However, if your service technician applies a pesticide, it might take a few hours to dry completely, and you'll need to leave the house during this period.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company sets up a tent over your entire home for three days to apply the pesticide. You'll have to seek accommodation elsewhere during this process.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

An experienced pest control professional can gauge 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 removed from the area, including food, plants and animals.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Some pest exterminators provide green solutions for treating an infestation. This involves using techniques that don't impact the environment as much as conventional chemical approaches. Eco-friendly pest control methods may include sealing potential entry points where pests can gain access, humanely trapping 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 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.