10 best pest control companies in Tukwila, Washington

In Tukwila, you can come across pests such as bees, rats and ants. You can try DIY measures to avoid potential pest problems, but you may need to contact a pest control company if you already have an infestation. Experienced pest experts in Tukwila know how to accurately identify pests, apply suitable treatments and resolve your pest problem.

Letting a pest problem go unchecked can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family members and your pets. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible structural damage to your home, contaminate your food and spread disease.

Hiring a professional pest control company can decrease these risks. A pest professional will find infestations and treat them with a range of methods, from closing entry points to using traps or chemicals. 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 Tukwila

Look for pest control companies in Tukwila 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 Tukwila?

While pests are all over, not all of them invade the same areas. The following pests are common in Tukwila, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Rats: You may have a rat problem if you see a rat, find droppings about half an inch long or hear skittering in your walls or ceiling. Rats will also eat into food wrappings and bite into walls and doors to create entryways.
• Bees: Signs of a bee infestation include finding dark smears on your walls, hearing the sound of buzzing or humming inside your walls and seeing more bees than usual. A strange odor may also come from your walls. This happens when mold and fungi grow inside due to bees dying or honey seeping into the walls. Bees can also harm your family and pets, as their stings can cause allergic reactions.
• Mice: If you have mice in your house, you may see one running out of the corner of your eye or find droppings about the size of a grain of rice. Mice tend to chew on furniture and emit a musky smell. They make their nests from gathered bits and torn fibers. Mice like to nest in tight spaces, so you may hear them rustling in your walls or ceilings.
• Ants: Your home could be infested with various ant types. Carpenter ants nest in wood, while fire ants like oily food scraps. Both bite, unlike pavement ants, which also frequently invade homes. Ant trails inside your home suggest larger colonies are nearby.
• Snakes: Snakes become more active when the weather is warm, nesting in wood, overgrown grass, debris 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.

How can you prevent pests in your Tukwila home?

While an infestation will probably require professional help, the best way to prevent infestations is to implement preventative measures.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Insects and small animals can cause serious issues for your home and health when left unchecked. The best way to stop these infestations before they start is to work with a pest control company. They may recommend plugging holes, laying traps or spraying pesticides in key 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 six inches off the floor and a bit away from the walls. Always ensure counters, sinks 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 hide in leaves, tall grass, standing water and trash in your yard. One of the simplest methods to avoid an infestation is to keep your yard debris-free and properly maintained with mowed grass and pruned foliage. If you require professional landscaping services, find out if national lawn care providers such as TruGreen operate in your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off entry points will deter insects and small animals from coming inside. Rats, for instance, can squeeze into holes as small as a half-inch in diameter. Don't neglect holes in your roof or siding, and remember to seal up broken window frames. Some pest control services specialize in pest exclusion.

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) regulates the use of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Furthermore, the EPA mandates that restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors have certification compliant with the agency's regulations as well as state, territorial and tribal legislation.

Those using pesticides in Washington must earn a Commercial or Private Applicator License from the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment plan a pest professional suggests will vary based on the particular pest type, the location of the property, the severity of the infestation and the specific treatment method. In most cases, pest control providers advise against relying on a single treatment to get rid of household pests, as there will likely be insects at various stages of their life cycles that may have laid eggs in hard-to-spot areas.

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some scheduled exclusively during the warmer months 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?

How long it will take for your pest problem to go away depends on the type and severity of the infestation 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 supplementary treatments. You may also find increased activity after the first treatment, as it can flush pests out of hiding places. Luckily, this should subside 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 hours to dry completely, 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 skilled service technician has the knowledge to determine the appropriate amount of product to apply, the drying time required and when it is all right for children and pets to re-enter the treated space. Before administering any treatment, they should instruct you on which items such as food, animals and plants must be cleared from the area.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control providers offer environmentally conscious methods for treating an infestation. This involves using methods that don't impact the environment as much as traditional chemical approaches. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing potential pest entry points, using humane traps for rodents and using less harmful 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 one-time treatment or ongoing treatment to tackle a recurring pest problem. Be sure to discuss the 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.