10 Best Pest Control Companies in San Antonio, TX (2024) - USA Today (2024)

Pests most often encountered in San Antonio are snakes, fleas and spiders. DIY prevention techniques may help your pest problem, but you may need to use a pest control company for an existing infestation. A professional pest control service in San Antonio can diagnose, address and resolve your pest problems.

Pests that infest your property put your home and loved ones at risk. Insects and small animals can cause long-term damage to your home, contaminate foods and spread disease.

A professional pest control company can lower these risks. A technician will find nesting areas, and create a treatment plan, using methods such as blocking holes, capturing pests 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 Antonio

Look for pest control companies in San Antonio 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 Antonio?

Different pests infest different regions. If you think you have an infestation, here are some signs of common pests in the San Antonio area:

• Snakes: Snakes are more active during the warmer months and make homes among wood, rock piles, debris and areas withovergrown grass. Signs of a snake infestation include the appearance of snake skins and snake eggs. You can test for a snake infestation by pouring some flour out where you think a snake lives. If you see trail marks in the flour, call a pest control professional right away.
• Spiders: A increasing number of spiderwebs in your home is the clearest indication of a spider infestation. Many insects in the area for spider food and the presence of egg sacs are some more signs you may have a spider problem. Most spiders you may find in your home are harmless, with the exception of the black widow and brown recluse. Both are venemous and can deliver painful bites that require medical attention.
• Ticks: Ticks usually stay close to the ground outdoors, but they can enter your home on your pets, clothing or shoes. Once inside, a female tick will lay her eggs on curtains, in upholstery and in carpet fibers. You may also see nests along baseboards, in corners and even in the linings or pockets of clothing.
• Ants: Numerous ant species might infest your property. Carpenter ants target wood while fire ants go after oily or greasy food residue. Both of these two varieties bite, while pavement ants don't. Pavement ants also often make their way indoors. Finding a line of ants in your home means a a larger infestion is nearby.
• Fleas: Fleas typically target pets. Your pet may have fleas if it's constantly scratching itself and has black dots on its skin. While fleas don't live on human skin or hair, they do jump up and bite people, particularly around the ankles. Fleas can also spread various diseases, such as the bubonic plague.
• Wasps: More wasps than usual in and around your house is a big sign of an infestation. Wasps nest above or below ground. Ground nests are generally hard to spot, so you may not notice them until you step on them. Because wasps are so aggressive, it's important that you call a pest control company to remove the nest rather than attempt to remove it yourself. Otherwise, you may risk multiple stings or a severe allergic reaction.

How can you prevent pests in your San Antonio home?

While an infestation will usually require professional extermination, the best way to avoid infestations is to take preventative steps.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Left uncontrolled, insects and vermin can significantly impact your home and well-being. Discuss preventive options with a pest control service 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

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 food storage areas, sinks and counters stay clean and sanitized between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can hide in tall grass, standing water, trash and leaves. Keeping your yard clear of debris and your lawn and foliage well-maintained is one of the simplest ways to stop an infestation before it starts. If professional lawn maintenance is needed, find out if national lawn care services such as TruGreen cover your region.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off entrances will discourage insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for example, can squeeze into holes as tiny as a half-inch in diameter. Don't neglect cracks in your roof or siding, and remember to seal up broken window frames. Some pest control services specialize in blocking pests.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

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.

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?

The treatment plan a pest professional recommends will vary based on the particular pest type, the severity of the infestation, the specific treatment method and the location of the property. In most cases, pest control providers advise against relying on a one-time treatment to get rid of household pests, as there will likely be insects at various stages of their life cycles that may have laid eggs in hard-to-spot locations.

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some carried out only during the warmer months and others ongoing 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 solve your pest issue 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 notice less pest activity. However, pests might reappear once they hatch, warranting extra treatments. Alternatively, you may see more activity following the first treatment, as it can force 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 should be able to stay in your home during certain portions of the pest control process, such as when entry points are 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.

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 release the pesticide. You must stay elsewhere during that time.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

An experienced pest control professional knows 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 taken out of the area, including plants, animals and food.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest management companies provide environmentally conscious methods for addressing an infestation. This means they use products with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing potential pest entry points, using humane 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 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.