10 best pest control companies in Columbia, Tennessee

Pests commonly seen in Columbia are snakes, flies and spiders. DIY prevention techniques may help your pest issue, but you may need to hire a pest control company for an existing infestation. These pest control professionals in Columbia can diagnose the problem and resolve it effectively.

Pest infestations pose risks to your home, family and pets. Insects and small animals can cause permanent property damage, contaminate foods and spread disease.

A reputable pest control company can lower these risks. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create tailored treatment plans that may include closing off cracks, using traps or applying pesticides. When the proper fixes are implemented, you can get rid of infestations for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Columbia

Look for pest control companies in Columbia 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 Columbia?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally affect the same regions. The following pests are common in the Columbia area, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Snakes: Snakes are more active during the warmer months and make homes among wood, overgrown grass, rock piles and debris. Signs of a snake infestation include the appearance of snake skins and snake eggs. You can test for a snake infestation by pouring some flour out where you think a snake lives. If you see trail marks in the flour, get in touch with a pest control expert right away.
• Moths: Clothes moths and pantry moths commonly enter households as pests. Clothes moths eat wool and cotton, leaving tunnels, silky furrows, trenches and small tubes, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths puncture plastic food packaging, leaving a web-like residue in pantry corners and on or in dried goods. Moths are naturally attracted to ripe fruits, fermented sugar and light.
• Rats: Signs of rats include seeing a rat, finding droppings about half an inch long or hearing scratching in your walls or ceiling. Rats can chew through food packaging, doors and walls to create access points for themselves.
• Flies: It's common to spot a few flies inside your home during the summer, but an excessive number likely signals an infestation. Flies leave droppings resembling clusters of black dots by sinks, shelves, or trash. Finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in your trash also indicates an infestation.
• Spiders: The easiest way to tell whether you have a spider infestation is to notice a rising number of spiderwebs in your home. Other signs include visible egg sacs and lots of other insects, which spiders like to feast on. Most spiders in homes are not dangerous, except for the brown recluse and black widow. Both have painful, venomous bites.
• Mice: If mice have infiltrated your home, you might see one darting by or find droppings around the size of a grain of rice. Mice often damage furniture and have a distinct musky scent. They make nests with scavenged bits and pieces and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are wingless, reddish-brown, flat insects about the size of apple seeds. Common in hotels, hospitals and apartment buildings, they attach to backpacks, purses, clothing and secondhand furniture. They conceal themselves during the day in beds or cracks and crevices. Then they come out at night. You may have an infestation if you see the bugs themselves or blood smears on mattresses or other furniture.

How can you prevent pests in your Columbia home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are things you can do before pests become a problem to prevent them from getting a foothold in your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Insects and small animals can cause serious issues for your home and health when left unchecked. The best way to stop these infestations before they start is to work with a pest control service. They may recommend plugging holes, laying traps or spraying pesticides in key areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Because pests typically seek out food sources, limiting their food access will prevent them from invading your home. Place food at least six inches above floor level and slightly away from walls. Be sure to keep sinks, food storage areas and counters clean and sanitized when not in use. Dispose of food scraps and other garbage regularly, and keep the areas around trash cans and dumpsters neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can hide in trash, tall grass, standing water and leaves. Keeping your yard clear of debris and your lawn and foliage well-maintained is one of the easiest ways to stop an infestation before it starts. If professional lawn maintenance is needed, find out if national lawn care services such as TruGreen are available in your region.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off small openings will prevent insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as tiny as a half-inch wide. Be sure to address gaps in your roof or siding and seal damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on pest prevention and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to ensure you hire a pest control professional that can meet your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Additionally, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to have certification in accordance with the agency and state, territorial and tribal laws.

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 pest type, treatment type, infestation severity and property location. 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 difficult to reach.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are carried out throughout the year. 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 be resolved depends on the type 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 more 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 subside within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home during certain portions of the pest control process, such as when entry points are sealed. However, if your service technician applies a pesticide, it might take a few hours to dry completely, and you'll need to stay out of your home during this period.

Some pest control services can be particularly lengthy. During termite fumigation, the pest control professional must set up a tent around your home for three days to apply the pesticide. Throughout this timeframe, you'll have to find other accommodations.

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 food, plants and animals before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest management companies provide green solutions for managing an infestation. 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 less harmful ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control providers offer guarantees and warranties should pests reappear before a specified date. Some companies may provide a one-time solution, while others offer ongoing treatments to address recurring pest issues. Discuss the options available with your service 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.