Get Quotes from Top Pest Control Companies in San Antonio, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as an Exterminator in San Antonio?

To become a licensed exterminator in San Antonio, the State of Texas requires a license. Exterminators can obtain licenses as private applicators or commercial/non-commercial applicators from the Texas Department of Agriculture's Structural Pest Control Service.

Businesses and individuals who do structural pest control for hire must be licensed under the Structural Pest Control Act. Persons performing pest control at apartment buildings, day-care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, motels, lodges, warehouses, schools, and food-processing establishments - other than a restaurant, retail food, or food-service establishment require a license to operate. Also, employees of state government units who apply pesticides as part of their job duties must be licensed.

Pest control professionals in San Antonio might choose from a variety of categories. Pest control is one of them, and it involves inspecting and/or controlling pests in and around homes, companies, and enterprises. This includes exterminating roaches, silverfish, ants, flies, mosquitoes, rats, mice, and other insect pests and pest animals that may infest homes, restaurants, stores, and other buildings, attacking their contents or furnishings or causing a general nuisance but do not usually attack the building itself.

Other categories include termite control, lawn and ornamental, structural fumigation, commodity fumigation, weed control, and wood preservation.

To check if a pest control service is licensed in San Antonio, use the Texas Department of Agriculture's Pest Control Business Licensee Web Search. Operating without a license is considered a maximum hazard potential that can result in fines of up to $2000 for first-time offenders, $3000 for second-time offenders, and $5000 for third-time offenders. To apply for a Structural Pest Control License in San Antonio, use the Texas Department of Agriculture eApply platform. For more information about obtaining a pest control license in San Antonio, contact the Department at:

Texas Department of Agriculture
1700 N. Congress, 11th Floor
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-7476

To be eligible for license renewal as a Private Applicator, the pest control professional must complete 15 CEUs - Continuing Education Units. An online course can provide up to ten of these credits. The remaining 5 hours of instruction must be completed in a live training session. In addition, as part of their minimum 15 CEUs of training, Private Applicators must receive at least two credits in rules and regulations and at least two credits in integrated pest management.

Before renewal, the commercial or noncommercial applicator must receive at least 5 CEUs, according to Texas laws. The applicator must get one credit each in at least two categories: drift minimization, laws and regulations, and integrated pest management.

According to the Structural Pest Control Act, everyone in the structural pest treatment business in San Antonio must obtain a business license from SPCS for each business location, including branch offices. Each business license holder must choose a qualified commercial applicator not employed by another business licensee or business license site. A business or individual cannot advertise for services or solicit business without first obtaining a business license and having an applicator certified in each license category in which business is done.

According to federal law and regulations, anyone who applies or supervises the use of restricted-use pesticides must be certified as a private or commercial applicator by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on laid-down Federal Certification Standards. Private applicators must meet some requirements, like demonstrating a practical understanding of agricultural pest problems and control strategies and proper pesticide storage, use, handling, and disposal, before they can be certified.

In the same vein, commercial applicators must also show that they have a working knowledge of basic pesticide use and safety and at least one specialty application category. Please contact the EPA via email or fill out this online form for more information about Federal Certification Standards.

Are You Registered with the Texas State Pest Control Association?

In addition to checking that your prospective San Antonio exterminator has a valid state-issued pest control license or has been state-certified, check that they are members of the Texas Pest Control Association (TPCA). Exterminators who join this organization gain access to various networking opportunities, low-cost courses and training across the state, industry updates, and state and national public policy and legislation representation. All of these translate to better service for homeowners who hire them and a new option for dispute resolution if they are unhappy with the exterminator's work.

Members of the Texas Pest Control Association are also automatically members of the National Pest Management Association, which gives them access to a broader range of educational and business resources and commercial prospects. Any San Antonio exterminator who claims to be a member of one of these organizations must always show proof of membership.

How Much Do You Charge for Pest Control Services and Why?

Before any work begins, determine exactly how much you will be required to pay for your desired pest control treatment. This will help to avoid any misunderstandings that may arise once the work has started. According to figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, pest control workers in the San Antonio area earn an average hourly wage of $18.28.

However, some factors, such as the type of pests involved, the size of the area where the work must be done, the level of infestation, and the number of visits required, may impact the amount of money these professionals charge for their services.

To ensure you get a reasonable bill for your pest control service, contact at least three different exterminators in the city and acquire cost estimates from these professionals. Compare these estimates and choose the one that fits your budget the best. You shouldn't just pick the exterminator who offers the lowest quote since some unscrupulous persons purposefully offer low prices to defraud naive homeowners.

Pest control workers in San Antonio earn an average annual wage of $38,030. The list below compares the average hourly wages of this category of professionals in the city with those in other parts of the State of Texas and other locations across the United States:

Do You Comply with San Antonio Regulations for Pesticide Applications?

Before hiring any pest control professional, it is crucial to verify that they comply with the city's regulations for pesticide application. The Texas Department of Agriculture can pursue administrative, civil, or criminal penalties against anyone who misuses pesticides. This power also applies to pesticides for general use or those the general population can purchase.

Applicators are responsible for good stewardship and compliance with all applicable laws. Pesticides can be withdrawn from the list of tools accessible for agricultural production if they are used illegally or irresponsibly. The following are regulations for pesticide application:

• Pesticides should be securely stored and disposed of to avoid theft or accidental exposure,
• If there is a potential that people or animals will come into contact with pesticides, pesticide applicators should exercise the appropriate level of caution.
• Label instructions should be read carefully, and warnings should always be obeyed.

Using pesticides in violation of the Department's standards can result in administrative penalties of up to $4,000 per incident, civil penalties of up to $25,000, Class A, B, and C misdemeanors, and a third-degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. For more information on pesticide regulations and the appropriate use of pesticides in San Antonio, contact the Texas Department of Agriculture via email or visit their regional office at:

South Central Regional Office (Region 4)
8918 Tesoro Drive, Suite 120
San Antonio, TX 78217
Phone: (210) 820-0288

What Type of Pest Control Method Are You Using?

Before hiring exterminators in San Antonio, find out what type of pest control approach they will use and ensure that it is appropriate for removing the pest infestation from your home. The following are popular pest control procedures employed by exterminators in the city:

• Organic Pest Control: Those who want to limit the harm caused by small animals and insects while ensuring the safety of children, pets, and plants usually select an organic or natural solution. Biodegradable poisons, such as Sodium fluoroacetate, can be incorporated into baits to eliminate various pests in this manner. It is the most cost-effective means of controlling pests in challenging areas. Using traps, sprays, insecticidal soap, oil, sprays, parasitic nematodes, and floating row covers are all part of the strategy. Organic pest control solutions used by professionals in San Antonio include:
  • Wondercide All-Purpose Organic Home Garden Insect Control
  • Eco Defense Organic Home Pest Control Spray
  • EcoRaider Ant Crawling Insect Killer
  • EcoSmart Ant Roach Killer
  • Verdana Cold-Pressed Organic Neem Oil
  • Essentria IC3
• Biological Pest Control: In this method, natural enemies of the pest, such as predators, parasites, and pathogens, are introduced to manage pests biologically by interfering with their capacity to procreate and infecting them with a lethal bacterial disease. The application of Pseudacteon species decapitating flies against red imported fire ants is one example. This method is most commonly employed in greenhouses but can also be utilized outside. Compared to the potential pesticide threats, this method is safer for your plants, family, and natural animals. However, this procedure's success is contingent on the effective usage of appropriate species in the right conditions.
• Chemical Pest Control: Chemical pesticides are utilized in thousands of homes, workplaces, stores, farms, and other locations today. Pesticides are dangerous and pollute land, air, food, and water. They can sometimes be too dangerous for the individuals who use them and other living beings in the area. Insecticides, bactericides, and herbicides are among the pesticides available in solid, liquid, and aerosol forms and are classified according to the type of pest they kill. Pesticides should only be handled by certified personnel familiar with the chemicals and can avoid contaminating exposed food, drinks, utensils, and other useable goods. Professionals use the following products for chemical pest control in the home:
  • Bifen IT Concentrate
  • Suspend SC Concentrate
  • Termidor SC Concentrate
  • CimeXa Insecticide Dust
  • BioAdvanced 3-in-1 Insect Disease & Mite Control
  • Bonide (BND952) Insect Control Systemic Granules
  • Natria 706230A Insecticidal Soap Organic Miticide
  • Trifecta Crop Control Super Concentrate All-in-One
  • Bonide (BND253) - Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew
• Electronic Pest Control: Picking up house bugs and permanently removing them has become much easier thanks to technological breakthroughs. Electromagnetic pest management is a type of electronic pest control that affects the neural systems of numerous animals, including mice. Its only flaw is that it only repels insects and rodents. The ultrasonic approach, on the other hand, produces high-frequency, short-length sound waves. Avantaway, Rostermark, Pest Soldier, WahooArt, Diaotec, Loraffe, Aigoo, Abilly, Zovenhci, MaxMoxie, Cleanrth CR008, Neatmaster, and Victor M756K are some of the most used electronic pest control devices by pest control professionals.

The best approach to ensure that the most efficient pest control strategy is applied to your peculiar circumstance is to hire a professionally qualified exterminator. The Better Business Bureau has an online directory where you may identify licensed exterminators in San Antonio. Your exterminator may prescribe a mix of two or more of these approaches, depending on the pest problem you're dealing with.

What Household Pests Do You Control?

The three primary pest management services are pest extermination, pest removal, and pest prevention. As their names suggest, pest extermination and removal involve eliminating current pest infestations. In contrast, pest prevention is taking proactive measures to ensure that pests do not enter your house in the first place. Furthermore, while many exterminators in the city are qualified to handle a wide range of bugs, some professionals may specialize in one or two types of pests.

As a result, before concluding any employment arrangements with an exterminator, you should always confirm the types of household pests they specialize in eradicating and the types of pest control services they provide. Based on the type of pests involved, the following are cost estimates for pest control services per one-time visit of exterminators in San Antonio:

It is essential to remember that, depending on the severity of the infestation, you may need numerous treatments and exterminator visits.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Exterminators in San Antonio?

Pest control workers across the country had four fatal and 2,820 nonfatal on-the-job injuries in 2020, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hiring an exterminator with enough general liability insurance and, where necessary, workers' compensation insurance ensures that you are financially and legally protected if your essential pest control treatment causes property damage or bodily injury.

All business license applicants must file a policy or contract of insurance with the Texas Department of Agriculture's Structural Pest Control Service for at least $200,000 in personal injury and property damage coverage, with a minimum total aggregate of $300,000 for all incidents. Liability insurance should also cover damage to people or property under the pest treatment professional's care, custody, or control.

Always ask for proof of insurance and bonding from your prospective exterminator, and then contact the issuing institutions to confirm that the documentation is valid and that the coverage levels are sufficient for the extent of your job. For more information on insurance requirements for pest control specialists in San Antonio, call (866) 918-4481, send an email, or stop by the Texas Department of Agriculture's SPCS office at:

Texas Department of Agriculture
1700 N. Congress, 11th Floor
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-7476

Choosing Between Local Pest Control Firms and Large National Chains: The Pros and Cons

Even if you manage to get pest control companies that match what you are looking for in terms of reputation, licenses, certifications, specialties, methodologies, and coverage, hiring an exterminator might be difficult. Most consumers are torn between hiring a local exterminator or a large company like Orkin, Terminix, Arrow Exterminators, Hawx, Ehrlich, Bulwark, Aptive, Mosquito Joe, Truly Nolen, and Viking to control pests in their home or office at this stage. However, assessing the benefits and drawbacks of adopting a local or national brand in light of the following aspects will help you make an informed decision:

Pros

Cons