10 best pest control companies in Gastonia, North Carolina

Common pests such as snakes, bees and fleas can regularly get into living spaces in Gastonia. DIY prevention techniques may improve your pest problem, but you may need to bring in a pest control company for an existing infestation. Licensed pest exterminators in Gastonia know how to correctly identify pests, apply suitable treatments and resolve your pest problem.

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

Bringing in exterminators mitigates these risks. They'll determine where pests have nested, and tailor a treatment plan that could include sealing access points, using traps or spraying chemicals. 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 Gastonia

Look for pest control companies in Gastonia 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 Gastonia?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally impact the same regions. Here are some indications of common pests in the Gastonia area.

• Bees: If you see more bees than usual inside or around your home, have dark stains on your walls or hear humming inside the walls, you may have a bee infestation. You might also notice an odd smell coming from your walls. This happens as bees die or honey seeps into the walls, causing the growth of mold and fungi. Bees can easily harm your family or your pets, as bee stings often provoke allergic reactions.
• Fleas: Fleas typically target pets. Your pet may have fleas if it scratches itself often and has black dots on its skin. While fleas don't live on human skin or hair, they do jump up and bite people, especially around the ankles. Fleas can also carry various diseases, such as the bubonic plague.
• Snakes: Snakes commonly nest among wood, debris, overgrown grass and rock piles and are more active during the spring and summer months. Signs of a snake infestation include snake eggs and shed snake skins. To test for a snake infestation, pour flour near where you think a snake is nesting. If you find a trail through the flour, call a pest control professional right away.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown, wingless insects about the size of apple seeds. Found in multi-unit apartments and hotels, they can attach to belongings, such as used furniture, backpacks, clothing and purses. They hide in your bed and in cracks and crevices during the day then come out at night. When you have an infestation, you may spot the insects or find blood stains on your mattress or other furniture.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches tend to be active at night and will run away when a light turns on. However, you may see them running across surfaces if there is a serious infestation. They often nest in kitchens, bathrooms and basements. Signs of cockroaches include droppings that look like brown or black specks, brown stains on walls and floors and egg casings. Cockroaches can also transmit disease and worsen respiratory issues.
• Moths: Clothes moths and pantry moths are often seen as household pests. Clothes moths chew wool and cotton, leaving tunnels, trenches, silky furrows and small tubes, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths puncture plastic food packaging, leaving webbing in pantry corners and on or in dried goods. Moths are naturally attracted to fermented sugar, light and ripe fruits.
• 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 gnawing through them. They build nests from scavenged materials and torn fibers. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear rustling inside your walls or ceiling.

How can you prevent pests in your Gastonia home?

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

Schedule regular preventative pest control

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

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 counters, sinks and food storage areas clean and sanitized when not in use. Dispose of food scraps and other garbage regularly, and keep the areas around trash cans and dumpsters clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, trash, standing water and leaves create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly cutting 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 operate in your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off small openings 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 cracks 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) monitors pest control chemical use through the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. In addition, restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors must be certified according to EPA requirements and the laws of relevant states, territories and tribes.

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?

A pest control expert will create a treatment schedule based on the type of pest, location of your property, type of treatment and severity of the infestation. Pest control technicians typically discourage a single-treatment approach, as insects are often at different stages of their life cycles and may have laid eggs in hard-to-find locations.

Pest professionals generally advise continuous treatments, with some taking place only in the warmer months and others needed year-round. Preventative measures may also be recommended to stop infestations before they begin.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

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

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You can stay in your home during certain portions of the pest control process, such as when holes and cracks are being sealed. However, if your service technician applies a pesticide, it might take a few hours to dry completely, and you'll need to leave the house 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 release the pesticide. Throughout this timeframe, you'll have to find other accommodations.

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 re-enter 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 animals, plants and food.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control providers offer environmentally friendly methods for addressing infestations. This involves using methods that don't impact the environment as much as traditional chemical approaches. 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 if pests return before a certain date. Companies may offer a single treatment or continuous services to resolve a stubborn pest problem. Ask your service provider what options they offer.

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.