10 best pest control companies in San Leandro, California

In San Leandro, you might face pests such as flies, ants and bed bugs. You can try preventative measures to prevent potential pest problems, but you may need to reach out to a pest control company if you are dealing with an infestation. Licensed pest specialists in the San Leandro area have the knowledge to inspect your home and treat your pest problem.

Letting a pest issue go unchecked can introduce a variety of risks to you, your loved ones and your pets. Insects and small animals can spread disease, damage your home's structure and contaminate food.

Bringing in exterminators decreases these dangers. They'll determine where pests have nested, and customize a treatment plan that could include blocking access points, using traps or applying chemicals. The right pest treatment can take care of your pest infestation for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in San Leandro

Look for pest control companies in San Leandro 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 San Leandro?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally target the same regions. If you suspect you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in the San Leandro area:

• Flies: It's normal to find the occasional fly buzzing around your home during the summer months, but if you see a significant number, you could have an infestation. Flies leave waste that looks like clusters of black dots around trash, on high shelves and near sink drains. The presence of maggots, which are fly larvae, in trash or other food waste also suggests an infestation.
• Beetles: A variety of beetles can enter into your home and cause considerable damage. Carpet beetles will damage bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture. Biscuit beetles make their way into products such as rice, spices, beans, pasta and seeds. While beetles are unlikely to be a risk to your health, some can trigger allergic reactions.
• Wasps: The biggest sign of a wasp infestation is simply seeing more wasps around than usual. Many types of wasp nest above ground, but ground wasps generally make their nests in dirt underground. A ground nest may not be noticeable until you step on it. Wasps are known to swarm, and show significantly more aggression than bees. Be sure to contact pest control rather than attempting to remove a nest on your own.
• Ticks: Ticks can easily enter homes by hitching a ride on shoes, pets or clothing, after they're picked up by you or your family while outdoors. Once inside, a female tick will lay her eggs on curtains, in upholstery or in carpet fibers. 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 catch a quick view of one or find droppings around the size of a grain of rice. Mice often damage furniture and have a musk. They make nests with foraged materials and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.

How can you prevent pests in your San Leandro home?

Fighting a pest infestation can be difficult, so preventative measures are the most reliable strategy to prevent future problems. Though infestations often require expert intervention, you can implement the following measures to keep pests away 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

Pests mainly seek food, so making food hard to reach will keep them on their way. Keep food a minimum of six inches off the floor and a bit away from the walls. Always ensure sinks, food storage areas and counters stay clean and disinfected between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, standing water, leaves and trash create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly mowing your lawn and trimming foliage are among the simplest ways to prevent an infestation from taking hold. Should you need expert lawn care assistance, check whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen service your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off small access points will prevent insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for instance, can squeeze into holes as little as half an inch in diameter. Don't neglect gaps 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?

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

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 in accordance with the agency and state, territorial and tribal laws.

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?

What treatment schedule a pest specialist recommends will depend on the treatment type, property location, pest type and infestation severity. Pest control services 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 hard to access.

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some scheduled exclusively during the warmer months and others occurring 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?

How long it takes for your pest problem to disappear will vary depending on the infestation type and extent, 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 additional treatments. On the other hand, you might see increased activity following the initial treatment, as it can drive pests from their hiding places. Fortunately, this should get better within a few days' time.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home for some stages of the pest control treatment, such as when the professional is sealing holes and cracks. But if a pesticide is used, it may need several hours to dry, 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 let you know what items you must take out of the space such as animals, plants and food before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control providers offer environmentally conscious methods for addressing an infestation. This involves using techniques that don't impact the environment as much as traditional chemical approaches. Examples include sealing entry points where pests can enter, humanely trapping rodents or using 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 one-time treatment or ongoing treatments. Consult with your service provider to learn about the treatments 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.