10 best pest control companies in Phenix City, Alabama

Common pests such as rats, snakes and mice can often get into living spaces in Phenix City. You can take action yourself to prevent potential pest problems, but you may need to reach out to a pest control company if you are dealing with an infestation. These pest specialists in Phenix City can diagnose the problem and treat it effectively.

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

Bringing in exterminators reduces these dangers. A pest professional will find infestations and treat them in a variety of ways, from plugging holes to using traps or pesticides. Once the right solution is applied, pests can be contained for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Phenix City

Look for pest control companies in Phenix City 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 Phenix City?

While pests are everywhere, the hot spots for different species differ. Here are some signs of common pests in Phenix City.

• Rats: Signs of a rat infestation include seeing a rat, finding droppings about half an inch long or hearing skittering in your walls or ceiling. Rats can nibble through food packaging, walls and doors to create access points for themselves.
• Mice: If mice have infiltrated your home, you might see one out of the corner of your eye or find droppings around the size of a grain of rice. Mice often chew on furniture and have a distinct musk. They make nests with foraged materials and shredded fibers, and favor tight areas, so you may hear them in your walls and ceilings.
• Snakes: Snakes are more active during the warmer months and make homes in debris, wood, areas withovergrown grass and rock piles. Signs of a snake infestation include the appearance of snake skins and snake eggs. You can test for a snake infestation by laying down some flour where you think a snake lives. If you see trail marks in the flour, get in touch with a pest control expert right away.
• Ticks: Ticks typically stay close to the ground outdoors, but they can easily enter your home on your shoes, clothing or pets. Once inside, a female tick will lay her eggs on curtains, in carpet fibers and in upholstery. You may also see nests along baseboards, in corners and even in the linings or pockets of clothing.
• 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 feces resembling clusters of black dots by drains, shelves, or trash. Finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in your trash also indicates an infestation.
• Beetles: Multiple beetle species can enter homes and damage your home and belongings. Carpet beetles can destroy bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture, while biscuit beetles get into spices, pasta, seeds, beans and rice. Beetles are generally harmless as they don't spread disease or bite, but they can trigger allergic reactions in some people.

How can you prevent pests in your Phenix City home?

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

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals are troublesome and can cause significant damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control company about taking preemptive measures to keep pests from invading your home. They may recommend sealing small entry points, setting traps or spraying the area with pesticides.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are generally in search of sustenance, restricting their access to food sources will deter them from settling in. Store food at least six inches above the ground and slightly away from walls. Ensure food storage areas, sinks and counters are kept clean and disinfected when not being used. Promptly dispose of food waste and other garbage, and keep the spaces near 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 cover your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing 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.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

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 in accordance with EPA requirements and the laws of relevant states, territories and tribes.

Pest control professionals in Alabama are required to have a Commercial Applicator Permit. They are certified through the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

What treatment schedule a pest specialist recommends will depend on the infestation severity, property location, treatment type and pest type. Pest control services 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 professionals generally advise continuous treatments, with some taking place only in the warmer months and others happening year-round. Preventative measures may also be recommended to stop infestations before they begin.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time needed to treat your pest issue will vary based on the type and extent of the infestation, along with the pest's life cycle. After the pest control specialist applies the initial treatment, you may notice less pest activity. However, pests might reappear once they hatch, warranting further treatments. Alternatively, you may see more pest activity following the first treatment, as it can force pests out of their hiding places. The good news is this should decrease within a few days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to 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 several hours to dry, and you'll have to vacate your home while it dries.

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 release the pesticide. During this period, you'll need to stay in a hotel or 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 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 plants, food and animals.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control providers offer green solutions for managing an infestation. This means they use products with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Eco-friendly pest control methods may include sealing potential entry points where pests can gain access, humanely trapping rodents or applying pesticides made from natural 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 single service or continuous treatments to tackle a recurring pest problem. Be sure to discuss the available 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.