Edmonds roof rat exterminator
Rodent Control Services in Edmonds, WA
Look at Edmonds from the water and you see it: houses tucked under big trees. That canopy is a road for roof rats, and older homes have had decades to open up the gaps they use. We find those gaps, close them for good, and clear out what is already inside.
Free Edmonds Rodent Control Quote
Step 1 of 2Photo: SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0
Under the canopy
How a Roof Rat Gets From an Edmonds Street Tree Into Your Attic
Roof rats are climbers, and in the Bowl, Five Corners and Westgate they barely need to touch the ground. That is why rodent control in Edmonds so often starts on a ladder rather than at the foundation, and why trimming a branch can matter as much as a trap.
- A big tree Branches that reach the roof or a wire
- A power or cable line Roof rats walk them like a sidewalk
- The roof edge Gutters and the top of the fascia
- A soffit gap An old vent or a return that has opened up
- The attic Warm insulation to nest in all winter
Older homes
Four Places an Older Edmonds House Opens Up
A house that has stood for seventy years has settled and weathered. Rats rarely need to chew their way into it. These are the four spots we check on every Edmonds rodent call.
- The rim joist
- The band of framing just above the foundation. As a house settles, small gaps open along it, and rats use them to get from the crawl space into the walls.
- Crawl space vents
- Screens rust, get pushed in by a dog or a mower, or were never fitted tight. On an older Edmonds house these are the most common way in at ground level.
- Soffit returns
- The boxed ends of the eaves. Old wood shrinks away from the siding and leaves a gap a roof rat can squeeze through from a branch.
- Where siding has moved
- Seventy years of weather move siding just enough to open a seam at a corner or around a window trim.
What you found
What the Droppings Tell Us
Droppings are usually the first thing people find, and where they turn up says a lot about which rodent it is and how it is getting in. Rat droppings look like the photo: dark, about half an inch long or a little more.
-
In the attic insulation
Usually roof rats coming in at the roofline. We look at the trees, wires and soffits first.
-
On the crawl space soil
Usually Norway rats or roof rats coming in low. We look at the vents and the rim joist.
-
In kitchen drawers or along the garage wall
Usually mice. Droppings like grains of rice, and lots of them.
-
Around a shed or woodpile
Could be rats or deer mice. Do not sweep it up; see the cleanup note below.
Do not sweep or vacuum droppings.
Dust from rodent droppings can carry hantavirus. The Washington State Department of Health says to soak them with a bleach solution first and wipe them up damp. Read their cleanup steps, or leave the attic and crawl space to us.
Under the house
Damp Ground, Old Vapor Barrier and Rats in the Crawl Space
Around Perrinville Creek, Meadowdale and the other shaded, damp parts of Edmonds, crawl spaces stay wet, and many still have very old vapor barrier. Rats nest on it and soil it, and the smell stays until it comes out. Sealing the vents and rim joist stops new rats, and a cleanout clears what the old ones left behind.
Crawl space cleanout and vapor barrier5.0 from 64 Google reviews
What Customers Say About Our Rodent Control
"We were in need of immediate local service, since I woke up hearing scratching in my wall. I knew it wasn't good. I am super thankful for the care and concern that was given to me by the owner (who's amazing by the way), very knowledgeable, honest and very fair price. So much so that I dropped Orkin and signed up with these guys due to the low price I got quoted. When the tech showed up, he put me at ease, very knowledgeable young man, and answered all my questions and concerns. By that same night one of the traps that was laid down had caught the little bugger in my wall. I'm thankful for the quick reply and how quickly someone came out to help us. They even came back to retrieve the critter. I appreciate honesty, it's hard to come by these days. So thank you!"
"This company is fantastic. Not only did they come to treat my home within a day, but the service was super friendly, educational and reasonable. The owner spoke with me personally and took care of my rat issue swiftly and professionally. Just call them."
"I was having a problem with rats and mice. I called so many places. I live in Lake Stevens. Pure Guard worked with me. The price is low. They set me up quickly. Would highly recommend! Thank you."
"Brian stopped by to let us know about his eco-friendly pest control services, and we are happy to know we are supporting an eco- and family friendly small business. He is super knowledgeable and uses products that are safe for our pets and kids, and applies them so they won't interfere with our honey bees. We are also going to have chickens in the near future, so we are happy that they (and we) will be protected from rats too. We are fine with bugs being outside where they belong, but very glad we don't have to worry about them being inside!"
"Reliable and effective. Very affordable pricing. Got rid of the rats and wasps!"
Questions, answered
Edmonds Rodent Control Questions
-
Why Do Edmonds Homes Get Roof Rats?
- Mostly the trees. The Bowl, Five Corners and Westgate sit under a mature canopy, and roof rats are climbers. They travel branches and utility lines and come in at the roof, which is why trimming trees back from the house and sealing the soffits matters as much as trapping.
-
My House Is Old. Is Sealing It Even Possible?
- Yes. Older houses just have more gaps to find. We walk the rim joist, the crawl vents, the soffits and the siding seams, and close each opening with hardware cloth and metal flashing rather than foam, which rats chew through. Then the trapping inside can actually finish.
-
Should I Replace My Crawl Space Vapor Barrier While You Are Under There?
- If it is torn, soiled or missing, it is worth doing in the same job. Many Edmonds homes still have very old barrier, and once rats have been living on it, the smell stays until it comes out. We will tell you plainly whether yours needs replacing or is fine as it is.
-
How Much Does Rodent Control Cost in Edmonds?
- On an older Edmonds house, the price is mostly about how many gaps need sealing, so we quote after we have looked. Crawl space cleanup is priced separately on the size of the space. You have the number before any work starts.
-
How Quickly Can You Get to Edmonds?
- Someone is out within 48 hours, and Edmonds is a short run down from our Lynnwood base, so it is often sooner. You get a text about 30 minutes before the truck pulls up.
Free quote · Edmonds, WA
Get a free rodent control
quote in Edmonds.
Answer two quick questions below and we call or text back within one business day, usually sooner. Or skip the form and call the number here. A person picks up.
Your Free Edmonds Rodent Control Quote:
Step 1 of 2No account needed. The form goes straight to our office.
What you are getting
48 hrs
Guaranteed to get someone out
Stinging-insect calls get priority.
15 min
From our base to Edmonds
Down from our Lynnwood base. Rodent calls are often same-day.
100%
Warranty-backed
Pests come back inside the window, so do we. No charge.
#112338
WSDA applicator license
Checkable on the state lookup. Ask us for the link.