10 best pest control companies in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

In Chapel Hill, mice, snakes and fleas are a regular cause of problems. You can take action yourself to avoid potential pest problems, but you may need to reach out to a pest control company if you are dealing with an infestation. These qualified pest control professionals in Chapel Hill can pinpoint the problem and treat it effectively.

A pest infestation can lead to property damage and pose health risks to you and your loved ones, including your pets. Insects and small animals can pass on disease, damage the structure of your home and contaminate food.

Bringing in exterminators decreases these risks. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create tailored treatment plans that may include sealing entryways, using traps or spraying pesticides. When the proper fixes are put in place, you can get rid of infestations for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Chapel Hill

Look for pest control companies in Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill?

Different pests infest different areas. The following pests are common in the Chapel Hill area, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Snakes: Snakes become more active when the weather is warm, nesting among overgrown grass, wood, debris and rock piles. Snake skins and snake eggs indicate an infestation. If you think you might have a snake, sprinkle flour in the suspected areas. If you see trails in the flour, contact a pest control professional for help removing the snake.
• Rats: You may have rats if you see a rat, hear scurrying in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long. Rats will also chew into food wrappings and chew through walls and doors to create access points.
• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart by quickly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a distinct musky smell and damage household items by nibbling through them. They build nests from shredded fibers and other found materials. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear noises inside your walls or ceiling.
• Fleas: If your pet is always scratching itself, and has black specks on its skin, you might have a flea infestation. Although fleas do not live on human skin or hair, they leap to bite, especially around the ankles. Fleas can carry various diseases, including bubonic plague.
• Termites: Termites eat and nest in wood. You may have a termite infestation if you have spots in your home that sound hollow when you tap on them, or if you see mud tubes, termite swarms, cracked or bubbling paint or droppings.
• Ants: Numerous ant species might invade your property. Carpenter ants target wood while fire ants go after oily or greasy food residue. Both of these two varieties bite, while pavement ants don't. Pavement ants also frequently make their way indoors. Seeing a line of ants in your home means a a larger infestion is nearby.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches come out at night and run away when you switch a light on. With a major infestation, however, you may see them during the day. Their nesting spots tend to be in bathrooms, basements and kitchens. Cockroaches often leave egg casings, droppings that look like brown or black specks and brown stains on walls and floors. They can spread disease and worsen allergies and respiratory issues.

How can you prevent pests in your Chapel Hill home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are precautions you can take before pests become a problem to keep them at bay.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Left uncontrolled, pests can significantly impact your home and well-being. Discuss preventive options with a pest control company to stop infestations before they start. Experts may suggest that you set traps, seal openings or apply pesticides in specific areas.

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 six inches off the floor and a bit away from the walls. Always ensure counters, food storage areas and sinks stay clean and disinfected between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, standing water, trash and leaves create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly mowing your lawn and trimming foliage are among the easiest ways to prevent an infestation from taking hold. Should you need expert lawn care assistance, check whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen operate in your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off entry points into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just half an inch in diameter. Repair holes in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest blocking services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

To find a pest control service with the proper qualifications for your individual needs, ask the following questions during the hiring process.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governs the application of pest control substances under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Furthermore, the EPA mandates that restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors have certification compliant with the agency's regulations as well as state, territorial and tribal legislation.

Professionals using pesticides in North Carolina must earn a Commercial Ground Applicator, Public Ground Operator, Private Applicator or Aerial Applicator License issued by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

What treatment schedule a pest specialist advises will depend on the property location, infestation severity, treatment type and pest type. Pest control companies generally do not advocate for getting a single treatment to rid a home of pests, as insects are often at different points in their life cycle, and can lay eggs in areas that are challenging to get to.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are year-round. They may also suggest bimonthly or quarterly preventative treatments to stop an infestation before it starts.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it takes for your pest issue to disappear depends on the infestation nature and severity, as well as the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may notice a decline in activity, but pests could resurface after hatching, requiring supplementary treatments. On the other hand, you might see increased activity after the first treatment, as it can force pests out of hiding. Fortunately, this should get better within a few days' time.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can remain in your home for some parts of the pest control treatment, such as sealing entry points. If your service professional uses a pesticide, it may take hours to dry, during which time you'll need to vacate the premises.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company sets up a tent over your entire home for three days to release the pesticide. You'll have to seek accommodation elsewhere during this process.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A service professional will know how much of a particular product to use, how long it takes to dry and when children and pets can safely come back to the area that's been treated. Before applying any treatment, they should educate you on what you must remove from the affected space, such as plants, food and animals.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control providers offer environmentally conscious methods for managing infestations. These companies employ products 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 organic ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place to protect you if pests return before a predetermined date. These companies may offer a one-time treatment or ongoing treatment to tackle a stubborn pest problem. Be sure to discuss the options with your provider.

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.