10 best pest control companies in Wake Forest, North Carolina

Pests commonly encountered in Wake Forest are snakes, flies and cockroaches. While you can consider DIY removal and prevention methods, an active infestation often requires a pest control expert's help. A professional pest control service in Wake Forest can safely pinpoint, address and solve your pest problems.

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 pass on disease, damage your home's structure and contaminate food.

Hiring a professional pest control company can decrease these risks. A pest professional will spot infestations and treat them in a variety of ways, from sealing cracks and holes to using traps or pesticides. With the right solution in place, your pest problem can be solved for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Wake Forest

Look for pest control companies in Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally impact the same regions. The following pests are common in Wake Forest, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are nocturnal and tend to flee when you turn on a light. Still, you may catch a cockroach or two on the run if you have an infestation. Their nests tend to be around basements, bathrooms and kitchens. Cockroaches often leave brown smudges on walls and floors, and droppings that look like small black specks around your home. Cockroaches can transmit various diseases through contamination and aggravate respiratory problems.
• Termites: Termites feed on cellulose fibers found in wood. Signs of an infestation include cracked or bubbling paint, droppings, termite swarms, mud tubes and wood that emits a hollow sound when you tap on it.
• Ants: Numerous ant species might nest on your property. Carpenter ants target wooden structures while fire ants go after oily or greasy food debris. Both of these two varieties bite, while pavement ants don't. Pavement ants also frequently find their way indoors. Spotting a line of ants in your home means a a larger infestion is nearby.
• Snakes: Snakes are more active during warmer seasons, nesting among overgrown grass, rock piles, wood and debris. Shed snake skins and snake eggs point to infestations. To test if you have a snake infestation, sprinkle flour on the ground where you suspect they're nesting. If you see snake trails in the flour, you know it's time to contact a pest control company.
• Fleas: Fleas typically target pets. Your pet may have fleas if it scratches itself constantly and has black dots on its skin. While fleas don't live on human skin or hair, they do jump up and bite people, particularly around the ankles. Fleas can also carry various diseases, including the bubonic plague.

How can you prevent pests in your Wake Forest 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 company 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

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

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, standing water, leaves and trash 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, check whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen service your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off small access points will help keep insects and small animals from invading your home. Rats can maneuver through holes as little as half-inch in diameter. Inspect your roof and siding for cracks, 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?

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) regulates pest control chemical use through the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. In addition, restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors must be certified following 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 specialist will recommend a treatment schedule based on the severity of the infestation, location of your property, type of treatment and type of pest. Pest control professionals typically discourage a single-treatment approach, as insects are frequently at different stages of their life cycles and may have laid eggs in hidden spots.

Pest specialists often suggest recurring treatments, some of which may be only done in the warmer months, while others last across all seasons. As a proactive measure, they might also recommend preventive treatments every two or three months to stop infestations from starting.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

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

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home for certain portions of the pest control treatment, such as sealing entry points. Should your service provider use a pesticide, you'll most likely need to leave your home along with your family and pets while you wait for the pesticide to dry. This typically takes a few hours.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company places a tent over your entire home for three days to release the pesticide. You'll have to vacate your home during this process.

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?

Some pest control providers offer green solutions for addressing infestations. These companies employ methods that have a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional methods. 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?

Most pest control providers offer guarantees and warranties should pests reappear before a specified date. Some companies may provide a single treatment, while others offer continuous service 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.