10 best pest control companies in Salinas, California

Pests most often encountered in Salinas are flies, ticks and ants. DIY prevention techniques may improve your pest issue, but you may need to hire a pest control company for an existing infestation. A professional pest control service in Salinas can pinpoint, treat and resolve your pest problems.

Pest infestations pose risks to your home and family. Insects and small animals can contaminate your food, cause significant damage to the structure of your home and spread disease.

Bringing in expert pest controllers mitigates these risks. A technician will locate nesting areas, and create an extermination plan, using methods such as sealing entrances, capturing pests or spraying pesticides. The right pest treatment can take care of your pest infestation for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Salinas

Look for pest control companies in Salinas 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 Salinas?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally impact the same regions. The following pests are common in the Salinas area, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Flies: It's common to see a few flies inside your home in the summer, but an excessive number likely signals an infestation. Flies leave droppings resembling clusters of black dots by sinks, shelves, or trash. Finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in your trash also indicates an infestation.
• Ticks: Ticks can easily enter homes by hitching a ride on pets, shoes or clothing, after they're picked up by you or your family while outdoors. Once inside, a female tick can lay her eggs in carpet fibers, on curtains or in upholstery. Other common nesting spots include in corners, in the lining or pockets of clothing and along baseboards.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are flat, wingless, reddish-brown insects about the size of apple seeds. Commonly seen in hospitals, hotels and apartment complexes, they attach to purses, backpacks, secondhand furniture and clothing. They hide in the daytime in beds or cracks and crevices. Then they become active at night. You may have an infestation if you see the bugs themselves or blood stains on mattresses or other furniture.
• Bees: If you see more bees than usual inside or around your home, have dark stains on your walls or hear humming inside the walls, you may have a bee infestation. You might also notice an odd odor coming from your walls. This happens as bees die or honey seeps into the walls, causing the growth of mold and fungi. Bees can easily harm your loved ones and pets, as bee stings often provoke allergic reactions.
• Rats: If you find droppings about half an inch long or hear scratching in your walls or ceiling, you may have rats. Rats chew through walls, doors and food bags, forming access points for themselves.
• Snakes: Snakes commonly nest in rock piles, overgrown grass, wood and debris and are more active during the warmer months of the year. Signs of a snake infestation include snake eggs and shed snake skins. To test for a snake infestation, pour flour near where you think a snake is nesting. If you find a trail through the flour, contact a pest control professional right away.

How can you prevent pests in your Salinas home?

Getting rid of pests isn’t easy, but a good defense is always the best offense. While an infestation usually requires professional help, there are steps you can take on your own to reduce the risk of infestations.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Left uncontrolled, insects and vermin can significantly harm your home and well-being. Discuss preventive options with a pest control professional to stop infestations before they start. Experts may suggest that you set traps, seal access points or apply pesticides in specific areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are generally in search of sustenance, restricting their access to food sources will deter them from settling in. Store food at least six inches above the ground and slightly away from walls. Ensure counters, food storage areas and sinks are clean and sanitized when not being used. Promptly dispose of food waste and other garbage, and keep the spaces near trash cans and dumpsters clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects, snakes, and small animals can hide in leaves, standing water, trash and tall grass in your yard. One of the simplest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard clear of debris 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 are available in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off ways will stop insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as little as a half-inch wide. Be sure to address gaps in your roof or siding and seal damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on pest prevention and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the use 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 compliant 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?

The treatment schedule a pest specialist advises will depend on the pest type, infestation severity, property location and treatment type. Pest control companies generally do not recommend getting a single treatment to rid a home of pests, as insects are often at different points in their life cycle, and can lay eggs in areas that are challenging to get to.

Pest professionals generally advise ongoing treatments, with some taking place only in the warmer months and others occurring year-round. Preventative measures may also be recommended to stop infestations before they begin.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time needed to solve your pest problem will vary based on the type 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 additional treatments. Alternatively, you may see more pest activity following the first treatment, as it can drive pests out of their hiding places. The good news is this should decrease within a few days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can stay in your home for some stages of the pest control treatment, such as when the professional is sealing up entry points. But if a pesticide is used, it may need hours to dry completely, and you'll have to leave the house while it dries.

Some services take a particularly long time. During termite fumigation, the pest control company needs to erect a tent around your home for three days to apply the pesticide. You must stay elsewhere during that time.

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 clear from the space such as animals, food and plants before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control providers offer green solutions for addressing infestations. This means they use methods with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Eco-friendly pest control methods may include sealing potential entry points where pests can gain access, capturing rodents or applying pesticides made 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 ongoing treatments 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.