10 best pest control companies in Winter Garden, Florida

Common pests such as snakes, fleas and flies can easily get into homes in Winter Garden. DIY prevention techniques may help your pest issue, but you may need to use a pest control company for an existing infestation. Licensed pest experts in the Winter Garden area have the knowledge to inspect your home, implement the right treatments and solve your pest problems.

Pest infestations pose risks to your home and loved ones. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible property damage, contaminate foods and spread disease.

Hiring pest control professionals can substantially lower the damage from an infestation. They'll determine where pests have nested, and customize a treatment plan that could include sealing entry points, using traps or spraying pesticides. Once the right solution is administered, pests can be kept in check for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Winter Garden

Look for pest control companies in Winter Garden 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 Winter Garden?

Different pests infest different regions. If you suspect you have an infestation, here are some signs of common pests in the Winter Garden area:

• Snakes: Snakes commonly nest in rock piles, wood, overgrown grass and debris and are more active during the spring and summer months. Signs of a snake infestation include snake eggs and shed snake skins. To test for a snake infestation, sprinkle flour near where you think a snake is nesting. If you find a trail through the flour, contact a pest control professional right away.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are mostly active at night, but you may see a few during the day if you have a severe infestation. Their nesting areas concentrate around bathrooms, basements and kitchens. Cockroaches commonly leave brown smudges on walls and floors and leave droppings that resemble crushed black pepper. Cockroaches transmit disease and can even exacerbate respiratory problems.
• Rats: You may have a rat infestation if you see a rat, hear skittering in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long. Rats also create entry points for themselves by gnawing through walls, doors and food packaging.
• Fleas: If you notice your pet has black flecks on its skin and it's frequently 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 jumping up and biting. Fleas also transmit disease, such as the bubonic plague.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat, wingless insects about the size of apple seeds. Common in hotels, hospitals and apartment buildings, they hitch a ride on backpacks, secondhand furniture, purses and clothing. They hide in the daytime in beds or cracks and crevices. Then they come out at night. You may have an infestation if you find the bugs themselves or blood stains on mattresses or bedding.

How can you prevent pests in your Winter Garden home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are things you can do before pests become a problem to to keep them from nesting in your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

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

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

As pests are commonly looking for food, making food difficult to access will discourage them from infesting your home. Food should be a minimum of half a foot off the floor and a short distance away from the walls. Make sure to keep sinks, counters and food storage areas 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

Trash, standing water, tall grass and leaves give ample shelter to insects and small animals. Keeping your yard free of debris and well-maintained with a mowed lawn and trimmed foliage is one of the simplest ways to prevent an infestation. If you need professional lawn care, check if national lawn care companies such as TruGreen service your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off access points into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just half an inch in diameter. Repair holes in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest exclusion services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to make sure you get a pest control expert that can handle your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pest control chemical use through the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. In addition, restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors must be certified in accordance with EPA requirements and the laws of relevant states, territories and tribes.

Florida requires pest control technicians to be licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Private, Public or Commercial Applicator Licenses are all available through this office.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

What treatment schedule a pest specialist advises will depend on the treatment type, infestation severity, property location and pest type. Pest control providers 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 continuous treatments, with some taking place only in the warmer months and others happening year-round. Preventative measures may also be recommended to stop infestations before they begin.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it takes for your pest problem to go away will vary depending on the infestation type 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 additional treatments. On the other hand, you might see increased activity following the first treatment, as it can force pests out of hiding. Fortunately, this should get better within a few days' time.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can remain in your home for certain portions of the pest control treatment, such as sealing holes and cracks. Should your service provider use a pesticide, you'll most likely need to leave your home along with your family and pets while you wait for the pesticide to dry. This typically takes a few hours.

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 different location.

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, food and animals before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Some pest treatment companies provide eco-friendly methods for treating infestations. This means they use products with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Examples include sealing areas where pests can enter, humanely trapping rodents or using pesticides made from natural sources.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place to protect you if pests return before a predetermined date. These companies may offer a single service or ongoing treatment to tackle a stubborn pest problem. Be sure to discuss the available options with your provider.

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.