Ok gang: what's the opinion on a bug spraying service - Orkin in particular

RRP

The other day NDG asked opinions on lawn care. That thread ended with 42 replies and 595 views. Now a question about these hard sell bug spraying services such as Orkin. Orkin here spends a bundle on mailings, print media and TV ads. I suppose in termite prone areas that is smart, but some such as my next door neighbor has had Orkin spraying 12 months a year for years even spraying the snow! HUH? BTW when we first built  I used a local reputable service to treat the ground around the foundation. Then for the next 3 years they charged me $35 a year to come out and do a quick walk around the perimeter of my home and then leave! I wasn't here to see those first two yearly visits but after witnessing the third one THAT was the last! What a rip off! Now with all the hype from Orkin makes me think they are now King of the pile of service company BS! Any opinions?

BYS1981

Dislike them.. they came to spray for fleas at my house and we noticed zero difference. They did a 6 month once a month.

theyolksonyou

We have to have a service here. Have to have a termite letter to sell a house and part of that is protection and remediation. On top of that we have a monthly service to keep the creepy crawlies at bay. 

westernbbq

I prefer Dale's Dead Bug....Mr. Gribble fills me in on all the conspiracies that our gum't is up to!

Actually, in AZ, not too many bugs here but I use DE media for my pool filter.  I sprinkle some of that dust around the yard and I see no bugs.  ever. 

Roadpuke0

I fired there asses when they tried to charge me for services that they did not perform. Said they came and sprayed on a day when I had a major party celebration and me and the wife were home with guest all day. WHat a joke. Hired terminex and at least that guy was honest. We live by a lake and the earwigs were just crazy. So we were the every month people as well. The terminex guy said we were wasting money had enough chemical down where just a routine maintenance was necessary. After a few times he told me you can get the spray at the big box store that works just as well. I think ortho makes it, it comes in a gallon jug with a battery powered pump and just spray the perimeter of the house. Enough said, going on two years now this way and can tell no difference between me or them doing it with any bugs in the house.

caliking

Here in the swamp, regular pest control has its merit. The inside and outside gets sprayed every quarter. if we miss a spraying, then there is a noticeable difference i.e. bugs around the house.

RRP

theyolksonyou said:

We have to have a service here. Have to have a termite letter to sell a house and part of that is protection and remediation. On top of that we have a monthly service to keep the creepy crawlies at bay. 

I understand that and I believe CA is the same way, but up here most of our bugs get frozen to death in the winter, though obviously some lava brings on another cycle in the Spring. It's just that the hype in their ads make me cringe and give the impression we need to sell and move to a 40 floor condo to get away from all the things Orkin makes you think goes to bed with you every night and and and ...get my point?

DoubleEgger

Here's a interesting read on the Rollins (Orkin) family. They are the butt of jokes here in Atlanta.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/09/29/inside-the-3-billion-feud-tearing-georgias-rollins-family-apart/

DMW

When we first moved to our house almost 6 years ago we didn't even think about pest services. After a few years of lots of crawlies and some wasp nests and a decent ant infestation we got Ehrlich out for a consultation. Turns out they treated our place before we moved it. Got them to start regular service and everything is under control now. 

Now, our backyard backs up to a corn field. Apparently when the corn comes down, all the pests find the nearest shelter possible (our basement). Since signing up with Ehrlich for 3x/year treatments we don't have the creepy crawlies in the basement like we used to. 

NPHuskerFL

Probably worth every penny especially in FL. I had it with Terminix years ago. Now I just keep them for termite service/bond and do the pest control on my own. I'm thinking of signing back up though because in the end the money for the chemicals and time spent about equal out plus if there's a problem you just call and death to bugs. 

dmchicago

DoubleEgger said:

Here's a interesting read on the Rollins (Orkin) family. They are the butt of jokes here in Atlanta.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/09/29/inside-the-3-billion-feud-tearing-georgias-rollins-family-apart/

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

johnkitchens

I use a local pest control company. I have a Sentricon system for termites. They also spray monthly for other critters. 

My house is a wood house built in 1890 so I am pretty leery of termites. 

RRP

DoubleEgger said:

Here's a interesting read on the Rollins (Orkin) family. They are the butt of jokes here in Atlanta.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/09/29/inside-the-3-billion-feud-tearing-georgias-rollins-family-apart/

I read that very article when I received that issue of Forbes and it just got me to thinking again about that whole top to bottom company! Everybody doesn't get rich until some uber sales pushes become a part of corporate strategy.

theyolksonyou

Ron, we do not use Orkin and I definitely was not endorsing them, only stating the need for the service. 

RRP

theyolksonyou said:

Ron, we do not use Orkin and I definitely was not endorsing them, only stating the need for the service. 

I never thought you did! We're cool! OK my cyber buddy? 

Zmokin

I usually do my own spraying when I feel the need.  I'm more of a kill em with my foot when I see em kinda person.  I periodically have to respond to screams about a spider and come do my civic/marital duty and kill the offending creature.  I then usually bury them at sea, er, flush them down the toilet.

sometimes I have used the flamethrower technique with a can of lysol and a lighter.

I used to have problems with ants, but ever since I had Terminex come out and treat my foundation for termites, the ants seem to avoid coming in the house.  I still see their trails outside all summer long and sometimes spray a long trail with raid, or flood them out of their home and spray them after hundreds/thousands come out with eggs.

mtbguy

I used to work for Middleton pest control. If they do it right once a year is good. Probably 18 months. We used termador works for most bugs ants termites and roaches. Spiders not so much. You can buy the chemicals online now. Doityourself pest control. Pretty reasonable and then you know it was done.

Monaarts

Buy the chemicals and do it yourself.  I paid about $75 for the liquid and powder chemicals and have done it myself every quarter for the past two years. It takes 15 mins every quarter and works better!

Monaarts

Here is what I bought... Again, it works better than the service I used to pay for.  With that said, I still pay for termite maintainance with a bond just incase they get somewhere I can't see. 

https://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/mobile_product_info.php?cPath=285&products_id=167

https://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/mobile_product_info.php?cPath=243&products_id=97

mtbguy

http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com
I used these guy. Let me know what your trying to kill I tell you what works 

nolaegghead

We're at formosan termite ground zero.  We have to have a contract and after some bad experiences with lyin' cheatin' local companies, we've settled on Terminex.  They actually train their people and do what they say, and wear tyvek suits as they crawl under the house.

blind99

I've used terminix quarterly for the past two years and it's been perfect. I'm going to try scaling back and see what happens. I've not had good luck doing my own bug control. 

H12mike

I use Terminix for the termite bond and also for the quarterly house treatments.  Our tech has been treating our house for 10+ years and he really knows what he is doing.  We would not consider going back to doing it ourselves.

fishlessman

15 years ago i had a bad problem with ants, had to take the 28 foot wide front wall down top to bottom and replace all the headers and studs and sills. used a one man show for 3 years, he spent 2 hours plus spraying and dropping pellets each visit once a year. since then i load the window tops with a powder and dont see the big black carpenter ants anymore. my biggest problem is mice now, 3 to 4 dozen mice migrate from the house next door every fall when it starts to get cool, that house has been basically abandoned since 1989 but a cop pays taxes on it so the town wont do a thing with it no matter how many neighbors complain, its bad enough that they dropped my taxes im not complaining