KEYPORT — Creepy crawlies. Unwanted visitors. Pests.

They can run but they can’t hide from Marty Huff and Josh Cantrall.

The pair opened Kitsap Pest Control in March, specializing in those little, or not so little, things that can really bug homeowners.

Huff and Cantrall have a total of eight years experience in pest control between the two of them. They met working at a similar company in Kitsap County and eventually decided to go into business with one another.

“We decided we wanted to change some things and do it ourselves,” Huff said.

Kitsap Pest Control specializes in commercial, residential, pre-construction and home sales inspections. But preventive maintenance and customer education, they said, is one of the biggest components of any business they do.

To encourage customers to be pro-active about pest control, Huff and Cantrall offer open-ended contracts for services and realistic estimates for work. The pair also educate customers about things they can do such as trimming tree branches that reach the building, fixing leaking gutters and repairing holes in the walls or foundation.

“The cost is minimal for the long term benefit,” Cantrall said of preventive maintenance. “That’s why we started this. If we can go out to a customer’s home and explain it to them, even if it’s how to do it themselves, then maybe when it’s something they can’t do themselves, they’ll think to call us.”

One of the biggest misconceptions the pair said they encounter is people who don’t believe they could have a pest problem at any time of year. In fact, carpenter and sugar (or house) ants can actually do the most damage to property between November and February.

“Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean they’ve slowed down. It just doesn’t get cold enough here,” Huff said.

“A lot of people don’t even know that they live in the right conditions for a pest problem,” Cantrall added. “Nine out of 10 homes are suitable for pests.”

A typical visit by the Kitsap Pest Control crew includes a consultation with the property owner to find out what their issues are and then a detailed inspection of the area. The two will create a detailed map of the home or business, listing potential areas of concern and a detailed price estimate for both extermination and preventive maintenance services.

Huff said that during the fall and winter, the biggest component of preventive maintenance is checking crawl spaces and plumbing areas for ants and rodents.

Then, an environmentally-friendly pesticide is applied to the perimeter of the building. Exposure to the chemical, which is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and State of Washington, is safe for kids and pets.

“That’s the number one concern that people have about our chemicals,” Huff said. “But a dog would have to drink a couple of gallons of it to get sick. And we’re only spraying right around the lip of the house so we don’t get out of control.”

In fact, not only are the company’s chemicals safe for most people, they said those who attempt do-it-yourself fixes can cause more harm. Often, they encounter people who have ignored the signs of an infestation for too long or who have noticed a problem and attempted to solve it without seeking professional advice first.

“A lot of over-the-counter treatments don’t work or they make the problem worse,” Huff said of why he suggests calling a pest control company.

“Pest control is a science, it’s a field that’s always changing,” Cantrall added. “There’s no set solutions. It’s constantly changing as the environment changes.”

Besides a product property owners can bank on, the pair said what sets Kitsap Pest Control apart is its customer service. Right now, Huff and Cantrall are the only employees but both said they enjoy the work for the ability to help people protect their greatest investments — their homes or businesses. Though the duo someday hopes to grow their business to the size of needing additional employees, they said they always plan to be hands-on with their customers.

“Sure, some day I hope to be at a desk but if the phone rings, Marty or I will be the first ones out there,” Cantrall said.

“We’re always going to be pro-active,” Huff added.