10 best pest control companies in Happy Valley, Oregon

Pests most often found in Happy Valley are flies, bees and rats. DIY prevention techniques may improve your pest problem, but you may need to bring in a pest control company for an existing infestation. These qualified pest specialists in Happy Valley can diagnose the problem and treat it safely and effectively.

Pests that invade your property put your home and loved ones at risk. Insects and small animals can cause permanent structural damage, contaminate foods and spread disease.

A reputable pest control company can reduce these risks. A technician will find nesting areas, and create an extermination plan, using methods such as sealing entrances, capturing pests or spraying pesticides. Once the right solution is administered, pests can be controlled for the long haul.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Happy Valley

Look for pest control companies in Happy Valley 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 Happy Valley?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally impact the same regions. If you think you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in Happy Valley:

• Rats: If you hear skittering in your walls or ceiling or find droppings about half an inch long, you may have rats. Rats nibble through doors, walls and food bags, forming entryways for themselves.
• Beetles: Several beetle varieties can enter homes and damage your home and belongings. Carpet beetles can destroy carpets, bedding and upholstered furniture, while biscuit beetles get into beans, seeds, pasta, rice and spices. Beetles are usually harmless as they don't bite or spread disease, but they can cause allergic reactions in some people.
• Flies: Everyone sees the occasional fly buzzing around their home during the summer months, but if you see more than usual, there’s a good chance you have an infestation. Flies leave feces that look like clusters of black dots and often appear near sink drains, high shelves and around trash. Another sign of an infestation is the presence of maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Ants: Your home could be infested with various ant types. Carpenter ants excavate wood, while fire ants like oily food scraps. Both bite, unlike pavement ants, which also often get into homes. Ant trails inside your home signal larger colonies are nearby.
• Termites: Termites feed on cellulose fibers found in wood. Signs of an infestation include termite swarms, mud tubes, cracked or bubbling paint, droppings and wood that emits a hollow sound when you knock on it.
• Bees: If you see more bees than usual inside or around your home, have dark stains on your walls or hear humming inside the walls, you may have a bee infestation. You might also notice a strange smell coming from your walls. This happens as bees die or honey seeps into the walls, causing the growth of mold and fungi. Bees can easily harm your family or your pets, as bee stings often cause allergic reactions.
• Snakes: Snakes are more active during warmer seasons, nesting in rock piles, debris, overgrown grass and wood. 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 seek professional pest management help.

How can you prevent pests in your Happy Valley home?

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

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals can cause significant damage to your home and health if not addressed promptly. Talk to a pest specialist about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your home. Their recommendations may include sealing off cracks and holes, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Because pests usually seek out food sources, limiting their food access will stop them from sticking around. 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 disinfected when not in use. Dispose of food scraps and other garbage regularly, and keep the areas around trash cans and dumpsters neat.

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 operate in your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off access points into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just a half-inch in diameter. Repair holes in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest exclusion services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

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

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

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

Pest control professionals in Oregon must have earned a Commercial Applicator License through the Oregon Department of Agriculture in order to provide services.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest expert's recommended treatment frequency will be determined by factors such as the property location, treatment type, pest type and infestation severity. Generally, pest control providers do not recommend only a single treatment, since insects are often at different phases of their life cycle, and may have laid eggs in difficult-to-reach places.

Pest pros typically suggest recurring treatments, some of which may only occur during the warmer months, while others are year-round. They may also suggest bimonthly or quarterly preventative treatments to stop an infestation before it starts.

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 severity 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 surge in activity following the first treatment, as it can push pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should lessen within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to remain in your home for some parts of the pest control treatment, such as sealing entry points. If your service professional uses a pesticide, it may take a few hours before it's dry, during which time you'll need to vacate the premises.

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 find alternative accommodations during that time.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A professional will understand the proper amount of a product to apply, the duration necessary for it to dry, and when it is safe for children and pets to come back to the treated area. Your pest control provider should let you know what items you must take out of the space such as plants, food and animals before beginning the treatment.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest control providers offer environmentally friendly methods for addressing an infestation. This involves using techniques that don't impact the environment as much as conventional chemical approaches. Examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing areas where pests might get in, 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 continuous treatments to tackle a stubborn 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.