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Pest Control Myths
"I Always Thought Monthly Service Is Better."...
Why would you think that? That's FALSE! Most companies offering monthly service are charging $45 per month on average, because of the frequent driving costs to your home. They are also using a short-life pesticide residual with an average of only 14-21 days in the summer climate. It actually costs the company less and customer more. Not to mention, when a problem arises and is discovered by the customer, due to the pesticide wearing off, most companies won't schedule the customer til they are due for service again anyways so that they will be due to pay for their service again.
QUARTERLY SERVICE with moisture active granules are better for several reasons due to the newest slow-release pesticide technology that can last up to six months per application, while being safer for children and pets. When applied quarterly (a three-month basis) the second pesticide application can actually ramp up while the first application is beginning to ramp down causing an overlap in residual for a more thorough effect and less scheduling hassle over-all since it needs done only once per three months instead of each and every month. Keep in mind that the monthly cost average for quarterly service is only about $30 dollars (instead of $45). That is an average of $60 savings over the year with the same results and less scheduling hassle. Don't forget to consider the prepayment discounts as well...almost another $20 off for the year in savings! That's an $80 benefit to you in itself!
"I Have Pipes In The Walls Of My Home, So I Think I Need A Company That Can Inject Pesticides Through The Walls Of My Home."...FALSE!
Most pest control companies will tell you that problem insects don't enter your home through the walls, but through leaks in door seals, window seals, and pipe-entry points (so why would you want more pipes, instead of less?). If you have the pipes, but have no pest issues with your existing company...it is because they are treating the outside effectively (not because of the pipes being injected). The outside is where the insects are typically coming from, right? So it makes sense that an effective outside treatment would take care of the problems before they can get inside. Keep in mind that moisture injected into a wooden structure (whether gas vapor or wet moisture) has to be absorbed somewhere and we all know what potential hazards water can be to wood over time. (Fungus loves these moist and damp conditions!) Whoever thought up the idea was a gimmick genius. By having the pipes in your wall, makes a great ploy to get their foot in your door for an easy sell. (The system is patented to where only they can treat your home with that system.)
"All Companies Have a Start-Up Fee."...FALSE!
Usually the companies that charge a start-up fee have to pay a salesman who does whatever he can to get a commission off of your service cost by talking you into their service. They will try to tell you that it costs more in materials the first service, but the same material that is used for preventing those insects is also used to get rid of existing ones. There is no need for the salesman or the start-up fee. In reality, the technician is the one doing the service and also the one who knows how to get rid of the problems at hand. A good technician does a thorough inspection along with his or her treatment.
"All Companies Have An Annual Contract" ...FALSE!
(In most cases, an annual contract is called "An Agreement" -- to sound nice.) One of the main reasons pest control companies lock us into contracts is in case they want legal justification to be on your property when you might not be home. An annual contract makes the customer feel like they are obligated to have service during times that might other-wise be a potential famine when the economy slows down for the company doing service. If you ever get this feeling when you try to back out of service...ask yourself "Am I also bound not to move to an area they don't service?" The answer is most likely "No". If they don't have your social security number they can't affect your credit score either.
Why would you think that? That's FALSE! Most companies offering monthly service are charging $45 per month on average, because of the frequent driving costs to your home. They are also using a short-life pesticide residual with an average of only 14-21 days in the summer climate. It actually costs the company less and customer more. Not to mention, when a problem arises and is discovered by the customer, due to the pesticide wearing off, most companies won't schedule the customer til they are due for service again anyways so that they will be due to pay for their service again.
QUARTERLY SERVICE with moisture active granules are better for several reasons due to the newest slow-release pesticide technology that can last up to six months per application, while being safer for children and pets. When applied quarterly (a three-month basis) the second pesticide application can actually ramp up while the first application is beginning to ramp down causing an overlap in residual for a more thorough effect and less scheduling hassle over-all since it needs done only once per three months instead of each and every month. Keep in mind that the monthly cost average for quarterly service is only about $30 dollars (instead of $45). That is an average of $60 savings over the year with the same results and less scheduling hassle. Don't forget to consider the prepayment discounts as well...almost another $20 off for the year in savings! That's an $80 benefit to you in itself!
"I Have Pipes In The Walls Of My Home, So I Think I Need A Company That Can Inject Pesticides Through The Walls Of My Home."...FALSE!
Most pest control companies will tell you that problem insects don't enter your home through the walls, but through leaks in door seals, window seals, and pipe-entry points (so why would you want more pipes, instead of less?). If you have the pipes, but have no pest issues with your existing company...it is because they are treating the outside effectively (not because of the pipes being injected). The outside is where the insects are typically coming from, right? So it makes sense that an effective outside treatment would take care of the problems before they can get inside. Keep in mind that moisture injected into a wooden structure (whether gas vapor or wet moisture) has to be absorbed somewhere and we all know what potential hazards water can be to wood over time. (Fungus loves these moist and damp conditions!) Whoever thought up the idea was a gimmick genius. By having the pipes in your wall, makes a great ploy to get their foot in your door for an easy sell. (The system is patented to where only they can treat your home with that system.)
"All Companies Have a Start-Up Fee."...FALSE!
Usually the companies that charge a start-up fee have to pay a salesman who does whatever he can to get a commission off of your service cost by talking you into their service. They will try to tell you that it costs more in materials the first service, but the same material that is used for preventing those insects is also used to get rid of existing ones. There is no need for the salesman or the start-up fee. In reality, the technician is the one doing the service and also the one who knows how to get rid of the problems at hand. A good technician does a thorough inspection along with his or her treatment.
"All Companies Have An Annual Contract" ...FALSE!
(In most cases, an annual contract is called "An Agreement" -- to sound nice.) One of the main reasons pest control companies lock us into contracts is in case they want legal justification to be on your property when you might not be home. An annual contract makes the customer feel like they are obligated to have service during times that might other-wise be a potential famine when the economy slows down for the company doing service. If you ever get this feeling when you try to back out of service...ask yourself "Am I also bound not to move to an area they don't service?" The answer is most likely "No". If they don't have your social security number they can't affect your credit score either.