Top 6 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Pest Control Company

Pest Control Questions

Whether hiring a company for ant control, bee service, bird control, flea control, gopher control, rodent control, snail control, spider control, or termite control, San Marcos home and business owners should be sure they’re making the right decision. The wrong decision in such an important matter could not only leave you wasting money on a solution that doesn’t even work, but in the worst case scenario it could be unsafe. From termite control to flea control, San Marcos residents are better off when they’re in the know before making any decisions on professional services. Here are the top 6 questions you should ask: 1. Are They Certified?

It’s important not to settle for a pest control company that isn’t certified. Being the member of a professional association is also a good sign. While each worker on the team may not necessarily be the member of a professional association, the company should be. When hiring a pest control company, always ask whether they are at the very least certified, if not members of a recognized industry association.

2. Are They Recommended?

Make sure to check for recommendations. If you haven’t heard any recommendations for a good pest control company from friends or family, look for companies with positive recommendations from current and previous clients. These recommendations might appear on the company website or various review sites.

3. Are They Safe?

Safety is the most important factor when it comes to pest control. San Marcos home and business owners should always be sure they’re making a safe choice when hiring a pest control company. Ask any pest control company you hire whether their pesticides and service methods are proven safe for humans of all ages, as well as any pets who might be around the home.

4. Are Their Services Guaranteed?

Before you sign on the dotted line, always make sure the pest control services that you’re agreeing to are guaranteed. This should include the initial service as well as any follow-up services you’ll be paying for. If they don’t offer a guarantee you need to look for another company, plain and simple.

5. Do They Have Insurance?

Although it’s most important to be sure you’re hiring a quality pest control company, it’s almost as important to be sure they’re insured and licensed to operate a business. You could not only face poor service if they’re not, but you could also have legal problems down the line.

6. Is the Contract Good?

Last but not least, make sure to ask yourself whether the contract is good after reading all the fine print. Since the contract puts all the company’s obligations in writing, you need to read it carefully to assess whether the agreement aligns with your expectations.

A local pest control company like Black Knight that can pass the test of all these questions is always your best choice. So always be sure to ask.

What to Do When You Spot a Drywood Termites Problem

If you think you’ve spotted Drywood termites in your home, you need termite control services immediately. The two biggest signs are swarms of reproductive males and females that fly out of the colony to mate, and collections of dry fecal pellets called “frass.” Spotting either of these telltale signs should be cause for grave concern, as Drywood termites can quickly damage your property, compromise the structural stability of your home, and cause unsafe living conditions. Pest control companies are really the only answer to this problem, and the quicker the better. If you’re still not convinced the problem is bad, or that the leading pest control methods are safe and effective, keep reading and you should see how important it is to take care of this problem with professional help immediately.

The Problem with Drywood Termites

In the best case scenario Drywood termites will cause some damage to your home that can be easily fixed by replacing part of the structural foundations, and in the worst case scenario the loss of property could be catastrophic and the structural instability could lead to fatalities. Any losses of home and safety are too much, though, so as soon as you see the problem it’s time to fix it. Drywood termites aggressively advance through the wood in a home, so it makes sense that your home pest control plan should be equally aggressive.

Your Termite Control Options

The good news is that you have options, so you can choose the services that are most appropriate for the level of infestation in your home.

• Foam Treatment – A high-quality foam can be used to treat the home in order to flush out termite infestations.
• Fumigation – This option is typically reserved for more extreme infestations, and it does cause quite a disruption, but when successfully implemented you can rest assured the termites will be completely gone.
• Localized Treatment – If you know exactly where the termite populations have infested your home, this type of treatment can be a viable option.
• Thermal Heat – The use of thermal heat can be a successful treatment for killing termites in the wood structuring, beams, walls, panels, and furniture of a home.

The team at Black Knight Termite and Pest Control, Inc. offers all of the above services, so whatever level of infestation you’re dealing with we can offer a solution that should salvage your home by keeping the problem from getting any worse. With services ranging from spiders and termites to bee and ants control, we can deal with all the pests in your home without harming any humans or pets residing there. When it comes to termites, there really is no real option but to call the professionals. And to do so as quickly as possible.

Pest Control Services Available in Southern California

There are many different kinds of pest control. Riverside, Temecula Murrieta and Escondido California pest control companies may have one specific type of pest control they specialize in, or they may only offer a few services (often limited to insects). Once you find a company you can trust, though, it makes sense that you would want to call on them again in the future for other kinds of pest control. Escondido, Murrieta, Temecula and Riverside have many different kinds of pests, after all. While termite control is among the most common services people call for, residents and business owners can also be affected by other types of insects, spiders, rodents, birds, and more.      This is why companies like Black Knight Termite & Pest Control, Inc. offer a wide range of services. Here are the main pest control services you should expect to find in this region:

Ant Control

Did you know that scientists have estimated the world’s ant population to be approximately 10,000,000,000,000,000, or about 10 million ants per person? If you find one, there are bound to be more. Black Knight Pest Control can get rid of carpenter ants, fire ants, and other varieties.

Bee Services

We need honey bees in the world, but they can also be a big threat around the home if kids and pets are around. Africanized honey bees, aka killer bees, can be especially threatening or even deadly to kids and adults. Black Knight can get rid of carpenter bees, honey bees and killer bees.

Bird Control

Birds are a beautiful part of nature, but you don’t necessarily want them landing on your home to set up a nest and start roosting and leaving disease-carrying droppings behind. Safe and humane bird control services are available to get rid of the birds without doing them harm.

Flea Control

Did you know that one female flea typically produces about 18 eggs per day? You don’t want that on your dog or cat, and certainly not in your home! Invest in pest control right away to get rid of these rapidly producing menaces.

Gopher Control

Gophers can do serious damage to yards, gardens, plants, vines, shrubs and trees. If you’ve spotted a gopher, you’re going to need to invest in pest control. Murrieta, Temecula, Riverside and Escondido homeowners can count on Black Knight for a simple, three-step plan.

Rodent Control

Mice “can transmit pathogens that cause diseases such as salmonellosis, a form of food poisoning,” according to Researchers at UC Davis. If you’ve got a problem with mice or other rodents, invest in pest control before it’s too late!

Snail and Slug Control

Snails and slugs may seem harmless, but they can destroy gardens and crops by eating away at the plants and even the roots. Most store-bought snail and slug control products are harmful to household (or neighborhood) pets, though. Black Knight Pest Control offers a safer alternative.

Spider Control

Not only are spiders creepy with all their legs, eyes and fangs – the venom of species such as the Brown Recluse and Black Widow can be very dangerous and even deadly, especially for small children. Don’t wait to invest in pest control if you’ve spotted these crawling menaces.

Termite Control

This is the most common type of pest control Temecula, Riverside, Murrieta and Escondido homeowners invest in. Termites can destroy homes, but many people don’t think about them past the initial home inspection. Black Knight controls both Drywood and Subterranean termites.

Why You May Need Ant Control Services More than You Think

Seeing a few ants here and there might not seem like cause for calling in the pest control services, but these little insects can quickly become big problems. Professional ant control, in house and outdoors, is always more effective than risking any home remedies. And when you see one or two, you can bet they’re just scoping out the scene to let their buddies know where the good stuff is. A single colony of ants – such as the Argentine Ants that have been spreading from South America to Europe, Japan, and North America – may contain millions of ants, millions of queens, and occupy entire city blocks. More likely, however, the ants you see in your home are part of a much smaller colony. Hundreds or thousands of ants are still far more than you want around your loved ones, your house, your food and all your belongings, though, so if you think you have a little ant infestation it’s a wise idea to take care of it before it gets any bigger.

The Problem with Ants

Ants are more than just a nuisance – they’re dangerous, and in dry areas like Temecula and San Marcos, California are especially susceptible to these pests. They don’t just steal your food. They also contaminate it. Ants can leave droppings or die in your food, which is a pain if you have to throw the food out, and physically painful if you don’t catch it. Ant bodies and droppings can cause gastrointestinal problems for those eating the contaminated food, which you especially want to avoid if you have kids around. Not to mention how embarrassing it is when guests see that you’ve been living with ants in your house! This is simply no way to live. Some ants, such as fire ants, even hurt when they bite. If you spot these suckers in or around your house it’s time to invest in fire ant control services right away.

Where Ants Hide

Ants can hide both indoors and outdoors, and the treatment you seek should differ depending on the source, so it’s important to determine where they’re coming from if you’ve spotted ants on your property. If you’ve found an ant colony living outside your hours, an outdoor ant control treatment may include blocking access to the house with an insecticide and eliminating any pheromones the ants leave to help them find their way back there.  If the colony has made its home inside your house, an indoor ant control treatment may include a carefully chosen insecticide approved for indoor use, as well as gel and insecticide treatments to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. There are even organic ant control services available.

Whatever you do, just don’t let this little problem become a big one. Before you know it that couple of ants you squished in the kitchen will be returning full force to contaminate your food, make you and your family feel sick, and embarrass you in front of your friends. Contact your local pest control service provider today and rest easy that ants won’t be overrunning your house.