10 best pest control companies in Nashville, Tennessee

In Nashville, spiders, snakes and rats are the most common cause of issues. While you can try DIY removal and prevention techniques, an active infestation most likely requires a pest control expert's help. A professional pest control service in Nashville can safely pinpoint, address and solve your pest problems.

A pest infestation can lead to structural damage and pose health risks to you and your loved ones, including your pets. Insects and small animals can contaminate your food, cause long-term damage to the structure of your home and spread disease.

Hiring a professional pest control company can decrease these risks. They'll identify where pests have nested, and tailor a treatment plan that could include blocking access points, using traps or applying pesticides. With the right solution in place, your pest problem can be resolved for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Nashville

Look for pest control companies in Nashville 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 Nashville?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally impact the same regions. Check for these indications of common Nashville pests to determine whether you have an infestation:

• Snakes: Snakes become more active when the weather is warm, nesting in debris, wood, overgrown grass and rock piles. Seeing 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.
• Ants: Your home could be invaded by various ant types. Carpenter ants nest in wood, while fire ants like oily food scraps. Both bite, unlike pavement ants, which also often get into homes. Ant trails inside your home indicate larger colonies are nearby.
• Spiders: Seeing more spiderwebs and spiders than usual is the clearest sign of spider infestations. Additional clues include a significant number of other insects for the spiders to feed on and visible egg sacs. While spiders found in homes are generally harmless, brown recluses and black widows deliver venemous bites that require medical attention.
• Bees: Indications of a bee infestation include seeing more bees than usual, finding dark smears on your walls 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 honey seeping into the walls or bees dying. Bees can also harm your family and pets, given their stings can cause allergic reactions.
• Rats: You may have a rat infestation if you see a rat, find droppings about half an inch long or hear scratching in your walls or ceiling. Rats will also nibble into food wrappings and chew through walls and doors to create entryways.
• Ticks: Ticks usually stay close to the ground outdoors, but they can get into your home on your clothing, pets or shoes. Once inside, a female tick can lay her eggs on curtains, in upholstery and in carpet fibers. You may also find nests along baseboards, in corners and even in the linings or pockets of clothing.

How can you prevent pests in your Nashville home?

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

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Left uncontrolled, bugs and small animals can significantly affect your home and well-being. Discuss preventive options with a pest control service to stop infestations before they start. Experts may suggest that you set traps, seal gaps or apply pesticides in specific areas.

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 sinks, counters and food storage areas stay clean and sanitized between uses. Get rid of food scraps and other trash regularly, and keep your trash cans and dumpster areas clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Pests can take refuge in standing water, tall grass, leaves and trash in your yard. One of the easiest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard clean and properly maintained with mowed grass and pruned foliage. If you require professional landscaping services, check if national lawn care providers such as TruGreen operate in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off small access points will help keep insects and small animals from entering your home. Rats can maneuver through holes as tiny as half-inch in diameter. Inspect your roof and siding for holes, and be sure to seal off damaged window frames. Some pest control companies specialize in keeping pests out of your home.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

When selecting a pest control provider, ask the following questions to verify they have the knowledge to handle your unique situation.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees 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 following 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?

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

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some scheduled exclusively during the warmer seasons and others occurring throughout the year. To prevent infestations from taking hold, they might also propose preventive treatments every two or three months to stop new infestations from forming.

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 extent of the infestation as well as the pest's life cycle. After your home's initial treatment, you might see a decline in activity, but pests may reemerge after hatching, requiring additional treatments. Conversely, you could see a spike in activity following the first treatment, as it can push pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should decrease within a matter of days.

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 holes and cracks. However, if your service professional uses a pesticide, it may take hours to dry, during which time you'll need to be out of the house.

Certain treatments can be especially time-consuming like termite fumigation. The pest control provider erects a tent around your home, which is left in place for three days to apply the pesticide. During this period, you'll need to find another place to stay.

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 return 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 animals, plants and food.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest specialists provide environmentally friendly methods for treating infestations. These companies employ products that have a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional methods. Examples include sealing areas where pests can enter, setting humane traps for rodents or using pesticides made from organic materials.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control companies provide guarantees and warranties in the event that pests reappear before a specific date. To resolve a returning pest issue, specialists may offer a single treatment or ongoing treatments. Consult with your service provider to learn about the options available.

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.