You need a centipede exterminator when centipedes keep turning up indoors after you’ve dried out damp areas, sealed gaps and dealt with the other pests they feed on; an occasional centipede in a basement usually calls for those fixes, not treatment. Centipedes don’t damage plants or household items, and UC IPM’s pest note on centipedes and millipedes notes that their numbers drop when their food, other household pests, is reduced. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company based in Orem, Utah, that provides the best centipede control for homes and businesses, following integrated pest management, which pairs targeted treatment with sealing entry points and reducing the food, water and shelter pests rely on.
Understanding Centipedes and Why They Come Indoors
Centipedes are long, flattened predators with one pair of legs per body segment, and despite the nickname “hundred-leggers,” most have closer to 30 legs than 100, according to UC IPM. The house centipede, a species that often comes indoors, is about 1 to 1½ inches long with 15 pairs of long, fragile legs and three dark stripes on a grayish-yellow body, according to Washington State University’s house centipede fact sheet. It runs quickly, hides in basements, bathrooms and closets, and, Ohio State University Extension notes, can live its entire life indoors.
House centipedes hunt at night for spiders and insects such as flies, cockroaches, moths and silverfish, so a home with many centipedes usually has plenty of their prey. Clemson University’s centipede fact sheet notes that their presence may point to another pest population or simply too much moisture. Bites are uncommon, though according to UC IPM some large centipedes can inflict a painful bite that may cause localized swelling, discoloration and numbness, and Ohio State calls bites very infrequent.
Signs You Need Professional Pest Control
The signs that call for professional help are repeated sightings, young centipedes and evidence of the other pests centipedes feed on. Seeing one now and then is common, especially after spring warm-up and in fall, when Ohio State notes cooler temperatures send centipedes looking for shelter.
Regular sightings, especially outside damp basements and bathrooms, suggest centipedes are finding enough moisture and food to stay. House centipedes are mostly active at night, so seeing them often or out in the open is worth investigating rather than ignoring. If they keep turning up, read when professional centipede control makes sense.
Young centipedes are another sign. Washington State notes that newly hatched house centipedes start with four pairs of legs and add more with each molt, so small centipedes with fewer legs suggest they are developing nearby, possibly inside. If you also see silverfish or other insects, read about the areas of your home most vulnerable to silverfish, since those insects can be what the centipedes are eating.
The Professional Approach to Centipede Control
Professional centipede control combines an inspection, changes to moisture and shelter, and targeted treatment where it is justified, rather than relying on pesticide alone. That matches Saela’s integrated pest management cycle of pest identification, activity monitoring, targeted treatment and evaluation, with adjustments based on the results.
Initial Inspection and Assessment
The inspection looks for how centipedes get in, where they shelter and what they are eating. Every Saela plan includes a 50+ point property inspection that includes entry points, basements and nesting sites, and a useful centipede inspection checks for:
- Entry points around foundation joints, lower windows and doors, and utility penetrations.
- Damp basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms and laundry rooms that give centipedes the moisture they need.
- Other household pests, such as cockroaches or silverfish, that are feeding the centipedes.
Customized Treatment Strategy
Treatment should follow what the inspection finds, and UC IPM notes that insecticide use is rarely justified for centipedes alone. The focus is usually on moisture, shelter and the insects centipedes eat rather than on the centipedes themselves, because those conditions are what keep them in the house.
Indoors, that means reducing the other pests centipedes feed on, since UC IPM notes household centipede numbers fall when that food source shrinks. Vacuuming removes the centipedes you find, as Washington State suggests, and any product used indoors should be applied only as its label directs.
Outdoors, Ohio State notes that an insecticide barrier around the foundation can be used as a preventive step, but it works alongside removing the debris and moisture where centipedes shelter, not in place of it. Ask any provider to explain what they will treat, where and why.
Moisture Management and Habitat Modification
Moisture is the condition centipedes depend on most, so drying out the places they hide often does more than any treatment. Saela’s IPM approach reflects that: it includes sealing entry points and reducing the food, water and shelter that support infestations.
Indoors, Ohio State recommends ventilating basements and crawl spaces to eliminate excess moisture and notes that a dehumidifier may be useful. Fix plumbing leaks and run bathroom fans, since bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, closets and crawl spaces are where Clemson says house centipedes hide indoors.
Outdoors, keep old boards, rotting wood, compost piles, grass clippings, leaves and stones away from the foundation, as Ohio State University Extension’s centipede fact sheet advises. Clemson also suggests removing mulch, rocks and boards that give centipedes shelter close to the house.
Prevention: Keep Centipedes and Their Prey Out
Prevention is mostly routine maintenance that keeps centipedes from finding moisture and a way inside, and it also cuts down the insects they hunt. Most of it is work you can do yourself, with a professional check of the harder-to-reach areas.
Home Maintenance Recommendations
Home maintenance prevents most centipede problems because it removes the damp, sheltered spots centipedes need and closes the gaps they use to get in. These three habits do most of the work, and they also discourage the insects centipedes hunt:
- Seal around lower windows and doors, maintain foundation expansion joints as Ohio State recommends, and keep window screens in good repair.
- Keep basements, bathrooms and crawl spaces dry with ventilation or a dehumidifier.
- Clear clutter indoors and debris against the foundation outside, and recheck these areas each season.
Seasonal Considerations
Centipede sightings indoors tend to rise in spring and fall. Ohio State notes that most home-invading centipedes show up after spring warm-up and in the fall, when cooler temperatures encourage them to seek shelter, and that they overwinter as adults and lay eggs in spring. Seal gaps before fall and fix damp spots before spring.
The Value of Professional Expertise
Professional help is worth it when centipedes keep appearing after you’ve dried out damp areas and sealed gaps, because the cause is often a moisture problem or another pest population you haven’t found. Saela began as Edge Pest Control in 2008 and has performed more than 4 million services since then.
Access to the Right Training
Professionals can identify which pest is feeding the centipedes and treat that pest, rather than spraying for centipedes alone. Dennis Weiss, Saela’s board-certified entomologist, develops the company’s pest-control protocols and trains its technicians, and he holds the Entomological Society of America’s Board Certified Entomologist credential.
Comprehensive Problem Solving
Because centipedes follow moisture and prey, a lasting fix addresses both, along with the gaps they use to get in. If the inspection finds silverfish or other insects, ask how they will be handled too; Saela also offers silverfish control.
Ongoing Support and Monitoring
Saela offers no-charge return visits for covered pests between scheduled services. In a February 2024 Google review, Terry Sotta described a Saela technician as “quick, thorough, checks to determine if we have any issues & addresses them.”
Making the Right Choice for Your Home
When choosing a centipede exterminator, compare the inspection, treatment plan and follow-up terms on equal scope. Saela’s Better Business Bureau profile for its Orem, Utah headquarters showed an A+ rating and BBB accreditation since June 2022 as of October 2026. Ask any provider about:
- Experience with centipedes and the moisture problems behind them.
- State pest control licensing and proof of insurance.
- Return-visit terms between scheduled services and what the written agreement covers.
- An integrated pest management approach that fixes conditions as well as treating pests.
Get Help With Centipedes
Saela quotes by pest type, location, property size and visit frequency rather than publishing one price, so compare Saela’s plans and pricing before you decide. On Google, Saela’s Kansas City, Missouri location is rated 4.7 out of 5 from 2,795 reviews as of October 2026.
If centipedes keep turning up after you’ve dried out and sealed your home, book a call to schedule an inspection.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
