Best 10 Pest Control Companies in San Mateo, CA

Pests such as wasps and rats can become a nuisance in any San Mateo home. If you're dealing with an infestation, a licensed exterminator can help you contain it before pests damage your health and home.

Below, find our guide to the best pest control companies in San Mateo, who can help you solve any pest problem.

How To Choose a Pest Control Company

The most important step in the pest control process is hiring the right company for you. In addition to a company's qualifications and pest extermination methods, you might also look into how long it has been in business and what the reviews are like. Finally, you'll likely want to look at the cost of services.

Below, we discuss each of these factors in more detail.

Does the company have a valid license and permits to perform pest control?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains minimum standards of competency for pesticide applicators, but licensing is handled at the state level. All pesticide applicators and their supervisors in California must be licensed through the proper state regulatory agencies.

Is the company a member of any professional organizations?

Pest control companies can earn the GreenPro Service Certification, which requires a company to show that its practices are more environmentally friendly and that its employees receive up-to-date training. QualityPro and similar trade organizations also offer other certifications. These are not required, but can help show that a company is reputable.

A pest control company can also belong to certain professional organizations. When a company becomes a member of an organization such as the National Pest Management Association(NPMA) (or a state-level organization), it receives access to resources, education, and a network of other pest professionals with whom to compare methods. This can offer additional peace of mind that a company is following industry best practices.

Professional Experience and Specialties

You can get some insight into a pest control company's level of pest management experience by looking into how many years it has been in business. Local reviews and the company's own website can also tell you whether a company has the experience needed to deal with the specific species of pests invading your home. You can call the company directly to learn this information if it is not available online.

Reviews and Recommendations

Resources you can use to check a company's reputation include the Better Business Bureau (BBB), local review sites, and social media. You can also check the status of a company's license via the California licensing board.

Cost of Services and Guarantees

Things like the type of pest being treated, the size of your house, your location, and other factors can all affect the cost of pest control.

You can find out whether a company offers free on-site estimates (to determine if it fits in your budget) and what kind of guarantees it has. Often, a company will provide a guarantee that if it does not resolve your pest problem, it will keep coming back until it does.

Safety and Treatment Methods

Your preferences regarding safety for yourself, any children or pets, and the environment may influence the provider and the treatment methods you choose.

Safety

All pesticides (except those that pose only a minimum risk) are required to be registered with the EPA. Your pest control technician should be able to supply information on every pesticide they will be using. They should be able to tell you whether these chemicals are low toxicity or non-toxic, and if not, what safety precautions will be taken.

Treatment Methods

Companies often begin with more environmentally friendly solutions before employing harsh pesticides, following a framework called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). When using IPM, the following steps are taken:

1. Identify the source of the pest problem and determine whether immediate action is needed.
2. Determine the best and safest course of action.
3. Use a combination of physical, cultural, biological, and mechanical controls to manage the pest problem.
4. Use chemical controls only if needed, and always in combination with other methods for effective long-term pest management.
5. Evaluate outcomes and implement additional pest control as needed.

Common Household Pests in San Mateo

You might deal with some pests more frequently in San Mateo. Certain ones to keep an eye out for include these:

• Flies: You may see flies around sinks or in places where food is kept. Flies might get into your San Mateo home year-round, but they're especially common in warmer weather.
• Mice: If your home has a mouse infestation, you might notice droppings or things like chewed wires. You can often find mice in attics or in places where food is kept.
• Bed bugs: Bed bug infestations can be very hard to eliminate, so we strongly recommend calling a professional as soon as possible. Bed bugs are found throughout California, and can infest not just your bedsheets, but also other furniture and even wallpaper.

Sources

• EPA
• National Pest Management Association