10 best pest control companies in Austin, Texas

In Austin, you may face pests such as snakes, flies and bees. Taking preventative measures by yourself can help you prevent pest issues, but calling a pest control company is advisable if you spot signs of an existing infestation. A professional pest control service in Austin can diagnose, address and solve your pest problems.

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

Hiring pest control professionals can significantly lower the damage from an infestation. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create custom treatment plans that could include closing off entryways, using traps or applying chemicals. With the right solution in place, your pest problem can be resolved for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Austin

Look for pest control companies in Austin 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 Austin?

Different pests invade different regions. Check for the following indications of common Austin pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Spiders: The easiest way to tell whether you have a spider infestation is if you notice a rising number of spiderwebs in your home. Other telltale signs include visible egg sacs and a plentiful supply of other insects, which spiders like to feed on. Most spiders in homes are not dangerous, except for the brown recluse and black widow. Both have painful, venomous bites.
• Bees: An increase in bee activity inside or around your home, buzzing within your walls or dark stains on your walls maysignal a bee infestation. You may also smell a strange odor coming from your walls, which happens as bees die or honey builds up inside, causing mold and fungi growth. Bees can harm your family or pets by stinging them and potentially provoking allergic reactions.
• Mice: If mice have infiltrated your home, you might see one out of the corner of your eye or find droppings around the size of a grain of rice. Mice often damage furniture and have a musky odor. They make nests with scavenged bits and pieces and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.
• Snakes: Snakes commonly nest among debris, wood, overgrown grass and rock piles 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, sprinkle flour near where you think a snake is nesting. If you find a trail through the flour, call a pest control professional right away.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are reddish-brown, wingless, flat insects about the size of apple seeds. Found in multi-unit apartments and hotels, they can cling to belongings, such as purses, clothing, used furniture and backpacks. They hide in your bed and in small cracks and crevices during the day then come out at night. When you have an infestation, you may see the bugs themselves or find blood stains on your bed or other furniture.
• Fleas: You may have a flea problem if your pet is always itching, and you notice black dots on its skin. While they don’t live on human skin or hair, fleas do leap up to bite, particularly around your ankles. Fleas are also responsible for a variety of diseases, including bubonic plague.

How can you prevent pests in your Austin home?

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

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals can cause serious issues in your home and health if not addressed quickly. Talk to a pest control expert about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your home. Their recommendations may include sealing off small entry points, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

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 half a foot off the floor and a bit away from the walls. Always ensure sinks, counters and food storage areas 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

Insects and small animals can take refuge in trash, tall grass, leaves and standing water in your yard. One of the simplest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard debris-free and properly maintained with mowed grass and pruned foliage. If you require professional landscaping services, check if national lawn care providers such as TruGreen service in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off entry points will prevent insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as small as a half-inch wide. Be sure to address gaps in your roof or siding and repair 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?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governs the use of pest control chemicals. Moreover, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to hold certifications according to the agency's standards and the laws of the affected 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?

A pest expert's recommended treatment frequency will be determined by factors such as the infestation severity, treatment type, pest type and property location. Generally, pest control providers do not recommend only a single treatment, since insects are often at different phases of their life cycle, and may have laid eggs in difficult-to-reach places.

Pest specialists often suggest recurring treatments, some of which may be limited to the warmer months, while others occur across all seasons. As a proactive measure, they might also recommend preventive treatments every two or three months to stop infestations from getting a foothold.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time needed to resolve your pest issue will vary based on the nature and extent 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 additional treatments. Alternatively, you may notice more pest activity following the first treatment, as it can force pests out of their hiding places. The good news is this should taper off within a few days.

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 entry points. Should your service provider use a pesticide, you'll most likely need to leave your home while you wait for the pesticide to dry. This can typically take 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 release the pesticide. Throughout this timeframe, you'll have to find other accommodations.

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 remove 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 eco-friendly methods for treating infestations. These companies employ techniques that have a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional methods. Some examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing up gaps for pests, setting catch-and-release traps for rodents, and using pesticides derived from natural sources.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control providers offer guarantees and warranties should pests reappear before a specified date. Some companies may provide a one-time solution, while others offer ongoing treatments to address recurring pest issues. Discuss the available options with your service professional.

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.