10 best pest control companies in Richardson, Texas

In Richardson, bed bugs, mice and cockroaches are common pests. You can take action yourself to prevent potential pest problems, but you may need to call in a pest control company if you already have an infestation. A professional pest control service in Richardson can safely pinpoint, address and solve your pest problems.

Pests that infest your property put your home, family and pets at risk. Insects and small animals can contaminate your food, cause long-term damage to the structure of your home and spread disease.

Bringing in pest management professionals decreases these dangers. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create custom treatment plans that may include closing off entryways, using traps or spraying chemicals. 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 Richardson

Look for pest control companies in Richardson 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 Richardson?

While pests are all over, not all of them infest the same places. The following pests are common in the Richardson area, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Bed bugs: Bed bugs have flat bodies, no wings and are reddish-brown, looking similar to apple seeds in size and shape. Multi-unit apartments and hotels are usually where you come in contact with them. They get into your home by attaching to backpacks, purses, secondhand furniture and clothing. They are inactive during the day, concealing themselves in beds and near sleeping areas. At night, they come out to feed. Seeing the bugs themselves or bloody marks on your mattress or bedding suggests you may have an infestation.
• Rats: If you hear scratching in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long, you may have a rat infestation. Rats eat through walls, doors and food bags, forming entryways for themselves.
• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart past you unexpectedly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a musky smell and damage household items by nibbling through them. They build nests from shredded fibers and other found materials. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear scratching sounds inside your walls or ceiling.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches tend to be most active during nighttime and will scatter when a light turns on. However, you may see them during the day if you have a serious infestation. They often nest in kitchens, basements and bathrooms. Signs of cockroaches include egg casings, brown stains on walls and floors and droppings that look like brown or black specks. Cockroaches can also transmit disease and aggravate respiratory issues.
• Snakes: Snakes become more active when the weather is warm, nesting in debris, overgrown grass, rock piles and wood. 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 service immediately.

How can you prevent pests in your Richardson home?

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

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Insects and small animals can cause serious issues for your home and health when left unchecked. The best way to stop these infestations before they start is to work with a pest control company. They may recommend plugging holes, laying traps or spraying pesticides in key areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

As pests are typically looking for food, making food difficult to access will discourage them from invading 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 food storage areas, sinks and counters clean and sanitized when not in use, and dispose of food scraps and other trash consistently. Maintain the areas around your trash cans and dumpsters.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects, snakes, and small animals can hide in standing water, leaves, tall grass and trash in your yard. One of the easiest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard debris-free and properly maintained with a neatly trimmed lawn 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 small entry points will help keep insects and small animals from entering your home. Rats can maneuver through holes as tiny as half-inch in diameter. Inspect your roof and siding for gaps, 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?

Ask the following questions to ensure you hire a pest control professional that can handle 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. Additionally, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to have certification compliant with the agency and state, territorial and tribal laws.

Texas pest control professionals must register their business and be licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture in order to legally provide pesticide services. They should have earned either a Commercial or Private Applicator License.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest expert's recommended treatment frequency will hinge 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 phases of their life cycle, and may have laid eggs in hard-to-access places.

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some carried out only during the warmer months and others continuing throughout the year. To prevent infestations from taking hold, they might also propose preventive treatments once per quarter to stop new infestations from forming.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time needed to resolve your pest problem will vary based on the nature and severity of the infestation, along with the pest's life cycle. After the pest control specialist applies the initial treatment, you may see less pest activity. However, pests might reappear once they hatch, warranting further treatments. Alternatively, you may notice more pests following the first treatment, as it can force pests out of their hiding places. The good news is this should taper off within a few days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can 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 several hours to dry, and you'll need to stay out of your home during this period.

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 release the pesticide. During this period, you'll need to stay elsewhere.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A professional will understand the proper amount of a product to apply, the duration necessary for it to dry, and when it is safe for children and pets to come back to the treated area. Your pest control provider should tell you what items you must take out of the space such as plants, animals and food before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control services offer eco-friendly methods for treating an infestation. This means they use methods with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Some examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing up gaps for pests, setting catch-and-release 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 if pests return before a certain date. Companies may offer a single treatment or continuous services to resolve a stubborn pest problem. Ask your service provider what options 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.