10 best pest control companies in Sumter, South Carolina

In Sumter, bees, spiders and ants are the most frequent source of issues. You can take action yourself to prevent potential pest problems, but you may need to call in a pest control company if you are dealing with an infestation. A professional pest control service in Sumter can pinpoint, address and resolve your pest problems.

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

Hiring pest control pros can substantially minimize the risk of an infestation. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create tailored treatment plans that may include plugging cracks, using traps or applying pesticides. The right pest treatment can take care of your pest infestation for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Sumter

Look for pest control companies in Sumter 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 Sumter?

While pests are all over, not all of them infest the same locations. If you think you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in the Sumter area:

• Flies: Flies often buzz around homes in the summer, but a noticeable increase could mean an infestation. Fly droppings look like black specks and are often found in around sink drains, trash and high shelves. Another sign of an infestation is finding maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches tend to be most active during nighttime and will scatter when a light turns on. However, you may see them running across surfaces if there is a serious infestation. They often nest in kitchens, basements and bathrooms. Signs of cockroaches include droppings that look like brown or black specks, egg casings and brown stains on walls and floors. Cockroaches can also spread disease and aggravate respiratory issues.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are wingless insects about the size and shape of apple seeds. They have a flat reddish-brown appearance. Apartment complexes and hotels can harbor them and follow you home by getting into used furniture, clothing, backpacks and purses. They take refuge in beds and couches by day, then come out while you're sleeping. If you see the insects themselves or find blood stains on your bedding or mattress, you may have a bed bug infestation.
• Spiders: The best way to know you have a spider infestation is a significant increase in spiderwebs in and around your home. Visible egg sacs and plenty of other insects that the spiders can feed on are some other indications of an infestation. Aside from hazardous brown recluses and black widows, which have painful, venemous bites, most spiders found in homes are harmless.
• 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. An odd 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, as their stings can cause allergic reactions.

How can you prevent pests in your Sumter home?

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

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Left uncontrolled, pests can significantly harm your home and well-being. Discuss preventive options with a pest control company to stop infestations before they start. Experts may suggest that you set traps, seal cracks or apply pesticides in specific areas.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are often in search of sustenance, restricting their access to food sources will discourage them from settling in. Store food at least six inches above the ground and slightly away from walls. Ensure sinks, food storage areas and counters are kept clean and sanitized when not being used. Quickly dispose of food waste and other garbage, and keep the spaces near trash cans and dumpsters clean.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Trash, tall grass, standing water and leaves offer ample shelter to insects and small animals. Keeping your yard tidy and well-maintained with cut grass and trimmed foliage is one of the easiest ways to prevent an infestation. If you need professional lawn care, check if national lawn care companies such as TruGreen are available in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off small entrances will help keep insects and small animals from infiltrating 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 pest exclusion.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to ensure you get a pest control provider that can handle your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the use of pest control chemicals. Moreover, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to hold certifications in line with the agency's standards and the laws of the affected states, territories and tribes.

Pest control professionals must have earned a Commercial, Non-commercial, Business, Private or Dealer Certification in order to apply or sell pesticides in South Carolina. Licenses are issued through the South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest specialist will make a treatment schedule based on the location of your property, severity of the infestation, type of pest and type of treatment. Pest control technicians typically discourage a single-treatment approach, as insects are often at various stages of their life cycles and may have laid eggs in hard-to-spot 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 will take for your pest problem to be resolved depends on the infestation type and severity and the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may see a decline in activity, but pests can return after they hatch, requiring further treatments. You may also notice increased activity after the first treatment, as it can force pests out of hiding places. Luckily, this should decrease within a few 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 several hours to dry, and you'll have to vacate your home while it dries.

Some services take a particularly long time. During termite fumigation, the pest control company needs to erect a tent around your home for three days to apply the pesticide. You must stay elsewhere during that time.

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 come back 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 control providers offer environmentally friendly methods for treating infestations. These companies employ techniques that have a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional 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 sources.

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 one-time treatment or recurring treatments 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.