10 best pest control companies in Chattanooga, Tennessee

In Chattanooga, fleas, bees and ticks are a regular source of issues. DIY prevention techniques may help your pest issue, but you may need to use a pest control company for an existing infestation. Qualified pest experts in Chattanooga know how to correctly identify pests, apply suitable treatments and resolve your pest problem.

Pest infestations pose risks to your home and family. Insects and small animals can contaminate your food, cause significant damage to your home and spread disease.

An experienced pest control company can lower these risks. A pest professional will spot infestations and treat them with a range of methods, from sealing cracks and holes to using traps or chemicals. Once the right solution is implemented, pests can be contained for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Chattanooga

Look for pest control companies in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga?

Different pests infest different regions. If you suspect you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in Chattanooga:

• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart past you unexpectedly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a distinct musky smell and damage household items by gnawing through them. They build nests from shredded fibers and other found materials. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear scratching sounds inside your walls or ceiling.
• Fleas: If you notice your pet has black flecks on its skin and it's scratching more than usual, you may have a flea problem. Although fleas can't live on human skin or hair, if you have an infestation, you'll often find red, itchy marks near your feet and ankles from them jumping up and biting. Fleas also spread disease, such as the bubonic plague.
• Flies: It's normal to find the occasional fly buzzing around your home during the summer months, but if you see a significant number, you could have an infestation. Flies leave waste that looks like clusters of black dots near sink drains, around trash and on high shelves. The presence of maggots, which are fly larvae, in trash or other food waste also suggests an infestation.
• Rats: Signs of rats include seeing a rat, finding droppings about half an inch long or hearing scurrying in your walls or ceiling. Rats can eat through doors, walls and food packaging to create more entry points for themselves.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches come out at night and flee when you turn a light on. With a major infestation, however, you may see them during the day. Their nesting spots tend to be in bathrooms, kitchens and basements. Cockroaches often leave brown stains on walls and floors, egg casings and droppings that look like brown or black specks. They can spread disease and worsen allergies and respiratory issues.
• Bees: Indications of a bee infestation include finding dark smears on your walls, seeing more bees than usual and hearing the sound of buzzing or humming inside your walls. A strange odor may also come from your walls. This happens when mold and fungi grow inside due to bees dying or honey seeping into the walls. Bees can also harm your family and pets, as their stings can cause allergic reactions.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs have flat bodies, no wings and are reddish-brown, looking similar to apple seeds in size and shape. Apartment buildings and hotels are usually where you come in contact with them. They get into your home by clinging onto clothing, backpacks, purses and used furniture. They are inactive during the day, concealing themselves in beds and near sleeping areas. At night, they come out to feed. Finding the bugs themselves or bloody marks on your mattress or bedding means you may have an infestation.

How can you prevent pests in your Chattanooga home?

Getting rid of pests isn’t easy, but a good defense is always the best offense. While an infestation probably requires professional help, there are steps you can take on your own to reduce the risk of infestations.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals can cause significant damage to your home and health if not addressed promptly. Talk to a pest specialist about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your home. Their recommendations may include sealing off access points, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Pests primarily seek food, so making food hard to reach will keep them on their way. Keep food a minimum of half a foot 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, leaves, trash and standing water create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly mowing your grass and trimming foliage are among the easiest ways to prevent an infestation from taking hold. Should you need expert lawn care assistance, look into whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen cover your location.

Seal off pest entrances

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

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

To ensure you hire a pest control expert that's equipped to meet your specific needs, ask these questions.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governs the use 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.

Tennessee requires pest control professionals to earn a Commercial or Private Applicator License through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment schedule a pest specialist recommends will depend on the infestation severity, pest type, property location and treatment type. Pest control companies generally do not recommend 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?

The time it will take for your pest issue to go away depends on the nature and severity of the infestation as well as the pest's life cycle. After your home's initial treatment, you might notice a decrease in activity, but pests may reemerge after hatching, requiring further treatments. Conversely, you could see a surge in activity following the first treatment, as it can force pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should lessen within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can stay in your home for some stages of the pest control treatment, such as when the professional is sealing up entry points. But if a pesticide is used, it may need hours to dry completely, and you'll have to vacate your home while it dries.

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

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A professional will understand the proper amount of a product to apply, the duration necessary for it to dry, and when it is safe for children and pets to come back to the treated area. Your pest control provider should let you know what items you must clear from the space such as animals, food and plants before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Some pest control providers offer eco-friendly methods for managing infestations. This means they use techniques with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing potential pest entry points, trapping rodents and using naturally sourced pesticides.

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 single service or continuous treatments 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.