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Last Updated: February 25, 2025
El Cajon is known to have many common pest problems, similar to any city that big. Homeowners and apartment dwellers who have a preventative pest control plan can avoid encounters with these unwanted tenants. Luckily, pest control companies can help take care of this for you.
There are many great exterminator options, so the team at Today's Homeowner has researched some of the best pest control companies in El Cajon to help you make the right decision. Read on to learn more about each exterminator.
Free inspection policy
Educational web content
Lack of hidden fees
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Proactive approach to pest control
Services Offered
No-cost inspections
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Transparent pricing
Reviews praise customer service
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Educational web content
Positive customer service reviews
No-cost inspections
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Free inspection policy
Transparent pricing
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reviews praise customer service
Commitment to customer education
Transparent pricing
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Transparent pricing
Positive customer service reviews
No-cost inspections
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Free inspection policy
Preventative pest control services
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Educational web content
Lack of hidden fees
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Free inspection policy
Lack of hidden fees
Offerings of preventative treatments
Positive customer service reviews
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Free inspections
Continuous highly praised customer service reports
Helpful homeowner content on its website
Lack of hidden fees
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Free inspections
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:
We narrowed it down to these pest control companies by analyzing contracts, state availability, costs, pest control treatments offered, customer reviews, and more.
This is how we ranked the top pest control companies in El Cajon:
Terminix has 300 branches in more than 22 countries and has been in the pest control industry for almost 100 years. With this breadth of experience, you can see why Terminix is a top choice for many homeowners.
Terminix treats dozens of pests in El Cajon, and it offers a 30-day guarantee. Their service also includes follow-up visits and annual inspections for guaranteed results.
With more than 100 years of experience, Orkin is one of the largest pest control companies in the country. It has excellent customer reviews and professional exterminators who all complete 160 hours of training.
Orkin will send a pest control expert to inspect your property to identify potential problems and draw up treatment plan. After your first visit, your pest control specialist will follow up regularly to make sure that the pests have stayed away for good. If they have, your local technicians can help
Rentokil is a service group with over 90 years of experience in the pest control industry. The company provides innovative pest control solutions all around the world. In North America, Rentokil is the parent company of quite a few local pest control companies like Western Exterminator, Presto-X, and J.C. Ehrlich.
It helps with 36 of the most common pests including rats, cockroaches, flies, mice, spiders, bed bugs, moths, and more. Depending on where you live, the pest control company may cover wildlife like rodents, snakes, and birds.
Not all pest control companies are identical when it comes to credibility, qualifications, and effectiveness. It's important to do your research to determine the most suitable option for your specific pest problem. Focus on these key factors when choosing a pest control professional:
It's best to choose a pest control company that can effectively address your specific problem, whether it's termites, bed bugs, roaches, rodents, or something else. The company should have clearly laid out its expertise with your specific pest.
When choosing a pest control company, look for technicians that are licensed by the state and certified in pest control methods by industry associations such as the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Possessing these credentials shows that a technician has adequate training. Inquire with the company about the training hours required for its technicians as well as its policies for continuing education.
We highly recommend checking out customer reviews prior to scheduling a pest control appointment. Google, Yelp, and other review sites will show whether a company consistently provides quality service and has happy customers. Also check for any Better Business Bureau complaints that have been filed. Ask about the kind of continuing education technicians receive to stay current on best pest control practices. When you choose a company from our list of El Cajon's best pest control, you can feel confident knowing that you're hiring an expert that meets our quality and review standards.
If you prefer more natural, eco-friendly pest control solutions, look for providers that have "green" accreditations. If you’re dealing with larger pests, such as mice or other rodents coming inside, you can also inquire about humane catch and release. Bear in mind that natural pest control options may be less effective. You may need to consider a more traditional route for a more serious infestation. Regardless of what methods you choose, all pesticides (besides those classified as minimal risk) are required to be registered with the EPA.
Quality pest control professionals typically offer service guarantees for ongoing plans. The guarantees mean the company will return and re-treat for free if you still have pests in your home following the initial visit. One-time treatments don't typically include reservice guarantees.
Once you have found your top exterminators, contact each one with these questions:
Take the time to thoroughly review pest control companies using these questions. This will allow you to select a qualified provider to effectively control your pest situation at a fair price.
A variety of pests like to find their way into El Cajon houses. Some are relatively harmless, but others can damage your home and carry diseases. All of them can cause anxiety. Our team studied around 10 million social media conversations to determine the pests that are the biggest headache in the area.
Our top picks for the best pest control companies in El Cajon are Orkin and Terminix. They're well known in the industry and help get rid of all common pests.
The best way to prevent a pest infestation is getting a pest control company to come to your home once every quarter. Regularly spraying your property will stop insects and other wildlife from returning.
For the most part, pest control chemicals are safe. That being said, they need to be handled by a trained professional to make sure they’re used properly. After your house has been sprayed, the exterminator will recommend staying away from your home for a certain period of time. This is usually 2 to 4 hours, but can be as much as 24 hours.
There are some pests you can get rid of yourself. For example, if you see some ants or a rogue wasp, chances are you can take care of it on your own. But some infestations warrant bringing in the professionals. If you have an out-of-control infestation, you don’t know what the pest is, or would like preventative pest control, you should hire a pest control company.
Many El Cajon homeowners are concerned about the cost of pest control. Monthly pest control generally costs $40 to $70 a visit. Quarterly pest control costs about $110 to $250 per visit. To figure out exactly how much it will cost for you, we recommend getting in touch with several pest control providers for a quote.
If you already have a serious pest infestation, you should seek pest control as soon as possible. However, if you’d just like preventative pest control, the best time of year to have a professional spray your house is in the spring before colony numbers get too high in the hotter part of the year. However, it’s never too late for pest control. You can still spray in the summer or any other season and see effective results.
