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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
No matter where you call home, pests are uninvited little creatures that can wreak havoc in your home and cause you a lot of stress. Without a pest control regimen in place, the chance of recurring infestation is high.
There are many exterminators to choose from, which can make difficult for homeowners to know which is best for them. That’s why we've reviewed plenty of options to find the best pest control companies in San Francisco. Read on to learn more about each exterminator.
Educational web content
Reviews praise customer service
Lack of hidden fees
Proactive solutions for pest control
Free inspection policy
Services Offered
No-cost inspections
Transparent pricing
Educational web content
Reviews praise customer service
Services Offered
Educational web content
Consistently high customer service reviews
No-cost inspections
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Punctual arrival
Commitment to customer education
Transparent pricing
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Offerings of preventative treatments
Services Offered
Transparent pricing
Free inspection policy
Proactive solutions for pest control
Consistently high customer service reviews
Services Offered
Reviews praise customer service
Free inspection policy
Lack of hidden fees
Services Offered
Services Offered
Reviews praise customer service
Transparent pricing
Commitment to customer education
Free inspections
Services Offered
Reliable exterminators
No-cost inspections
Transparent pricing
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Services Offered
Services Offered
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on pest control companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
When ranking these pest control companies, we took into consideration several factors like types of pest control treatments offered, industry experience, customer service, coverage, and more.
Here’s how the top providers ranked:
Terminix’s headquarters are in Memphis, Tennessee, but it has branches in 45 states and several countries globally. It has also been in business for about 100 years. The company provides professional pest control treatments that are safe for your family and pets.
Terminix can help you with all types of pest issues for residential and commercial customers. These include raccoons, roaches, opossums, ants, spiders, rodents, and termites. Their service also comes with follow-up visits and annual inspections to help keep your home pest-free.
Orkin Pest Control is based in Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of the longest-running pest control companies with a large network of branches. Because of its vast network, Orkin can provide same-day or next-day service.
Pests Orkin deals with includes termites, cockroaches, earwigs, bed bugs, carpenter ants, spiders, ticks, moths, crickets, scorpions, and more. After your initial visit, your technician will follow up regularly to make sure that the pests have stayed away for good. If they have, your local technicians can assist
Founded in 1925, Rentokil has close to a century’s worth of experience dealing with pests. In North America, Rentokil is the parent company of several local pest control companies like J.C. Ehrlich, Western Exterminator, and Presto-X.
Rentokil and its partners control for the following pests: crickets, wasps, bees, spiders, ants, flies, cockroaches, moths, mosquitoes, and bed bugs. Rentokil’s services cover preventative maintenance, treatment, and monitoring for pest infestations.
Not all pest control companies are the equal in reputation, background, and competence. Researching providers helps you identify the right choice for your pest circumstance. Focus on these key factors when hiring a pest control provider:
Look for a pest control company that focuses their business on the pest you have, like roaches, bed bugs, termites, or rodents. The company should describe how they go about treating your type of pest.
When choosing a pest control provider, look for technicians that hold certifications from respected industry associations, such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), in addition to proper state licensing. The right credentials indicate that the technicians have completed proper training. Also inquire about required training hours and continuing education.
We highly recommend looking at customer reviews prior to scheduling a pest control appointment. Google, Yelp, and other sites can tell you whether a company consistently provides quality service and has happy customers. Also check the Better Business Bureau website for any complaints that have been filed. Ask about the kind of ongoing education technicians receive to stay current on the latest pest control techniques and treatment methods. When you choose a provider from our list of the top pest control in San Francisco, you can rest easy knowing you're hiring an expert that meets our quality and review standards.
If you prefer more eco-friendly and natural pest control solutions, look for companies that have "green" certifications. If you’re dealing with larger pests, such as mice or raccoons nesting in trees, you can also ask about humane catch and release methods. Keep in mind that natural pest control options may be less effective. You may need to consider the traditional route if dealing with a serious infestation. No matter your approach to pest control, any pesticides (besides those classified as minimal risk) are required to be registered with the EPA.
Reputable pest control companies usually offer service warranties for continuing plans. The guarantees mean that a provider will come back to re-treat your home free of charge if pests remain after the first treatment. One-off treatments might not include these reservice warranties.
Once you have reduced your options to your top pest control providers, contact each one and ask questions such as:
Take the time to thoroughly review pest control companies using these questions. This will enable you to hire a qualified provider to effectively manage your pest situation at a fair price.
It's important to be aware of the pests you might come across as a resident of San Francisco. We compiled a list of the most common pests in the city by examining what pests were frequently mentioned on social media.
Our top picks for pest control companies in San Francisco are Orkin and Terminix. They're respected in the industry and help get rid of all common pests.
The best way to prevent a pest infestation is having a pest control company come to your home once every quarter or every two to three months. Spraying your property regularly will stop insects and animals from coming back.
Whether you should do pest control yourself or hire an exterminator depends on the situation. You’ll want to take into consideration factors like what chemicals need to be used, how much the pest control will cost, and the size of the infestation. Additionally, you may want to also consider professional pest control if you're concerned about your young children or pets.
A pest control company removes unwanted bugs or animals that have infested a property. Pest control also includes preventative measures that stop those pests from returning, which can happen at any point in San Francisco, but usually during the warm summers.
In a big city like San Francisco, where the cost of living is very high compared to other cities, the cost of pest control is most likely a concern. The cost of pest control varies depending on several factors, including what kind of pests are infesting your home and how bad the infestation is. A single visit can cost between $300 and $500, but a quarterly treatment plan is usually cheaper — around $100 to $300 a visit.
Spring is the best time for proactive pest control. This is because nests and colony numbers will get much higher as it gets warmer, so pest control in the spring can help prevent your home from getting too many pests later.