The video shows exterior pest treatment around vents, walls and the foundation. Prevention does most of the work; treatments fill the gaps.

Video by Brian Huie on YouTube. Watch on YouTube

How often: Every 2 to 3 months (Brian's schedule)
Video: 16 seconds

How often is pest control needed?

Brian's schedule is every 2 to 3 months. Official sources give no routine spraying schedule; they put prevention first. For carpenter ants in heavily wooded areas, WSU notes preventive treatments may be needed 2 to 3 times a season, around April or May, mid-July and possibly September or October.

How do you keep pests out?

Seal gaps and holes inside and out, and weatherstrip doors and windows.
Fix leaks and make sure water drains away from the house.
Remove food: tight garbage lids, no pet food outside, pick up fallen fruit.
Keep bushes, vines and branches at least 3 feet from the house, and stack firewood 18 inches off the ground, away from buildings.
Avoid wood touching soil, remove stumps and rotting wood near the house, and keep crawl spaces ventilated.

Which pests matter most here?

WSU lists carpenter ants, moisture ants, termites, deathwatch and powderpost beetles and wood-rotting fungi among Washington's wood-destroying pests. Moisture ants usually signal a moisture problem, such as wood touching soil, to fix first. Rats and mice are covered by Public Health Seattle and King County.

Safety notes

Read the label before buying and before every use; using a pesticide against its label is illegal. Choose the least-toxic option: CAUTION is least hazardous, WARNING moderate, DANGER poisonous or corrosive.
Keep rodent bait locked in bait stations away from children and pets.

Seattle-area notes

In King County, property owners are responsible for preventing conditions that feed or shelter rats. Pest control companies should be licensed with the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

When to call a pro

Call a pro for carpenter ants, moisture ant colonies or heavy rodent problems. Ask for integrated pest management (IPM), check the license and references, and get two or three bids.

Sources

Checked October 2026. Manufacturer instructions for a specific model come first. General information, not a substitute for a licensed professional.

From the Home Care Advice by Brian Huie, a principal broker and Realtor with Compass in Seattle.

Home Care Advice

Pest control around the house