Common Pest Control Questions

Below are some of the most frequently asked general pest control questions we get here at Clark Pest Control. Maybe you were wondering the same things? Of course if you have any questions at all, you can still contact Clark Pest Control directly.

Do I need a pest control company?

We think it’s a good idea. Pest management professionals will know how to inspect for pests, identify them properly, and then put the right treatment plan into action, and they will partner with you to eliminate conditions that allow pest activity to thrive.

Why do I need pest control?

Some pests are merely annoying, but others can pose a serious risk. For example, rodents, cockroaches, birds, and bats can carry disease pathogens; ants and cockroaches can spoil food; bed bug populations can quickly explode and make your home unlivable; stinging insects can trigger severe allergic reactions; and termites can destroy your home’s structural integrity.

Do I need monthly pest control?

We’ve found that a service visit every other month, once we gain control of pests on a property, usually works to keep pests in check. Should pest activity return, customers on our Year-round Pest-Away® plan can call or text us, and we will come back and treat for those pests.

What do pest control services do?

We partner with our residential and commercial customers to keep their homes or businesses pest free. We inspect for pest activity, identify existing pests, control them by treating or trapping, and then we recommend corrections to address conditions conducive to pest activity – sanitation, exclusion, and other measures.

How effective is pest control?

Pest control providers are trained to inspect for and identify pests, then choose the best mode of treatment to solve pest issues. They also know how to address any underlying conditions that make pest infestations possible. Because of their knowledge and training, they can solve pest problems much more quickly and effectively than the average person can.

Does pest control really work?

Yes. We pest management providers stay in business because our practices are effective. The systematic, science-based integrated pest management practices we put to work for our customers – inspecting for pests, identifying them correctly, treating to reduce or eliminate their presence, recommending corrective measures that make pest activity much less likely, and documenting what we found and how corrected it – make our services essential, according to our customers.

How long does it take for pest control to work?

Once we begin treatment, some pest problems clear up right away. Others, depending on the pest, may take longer to control, and you won’t notice a difference until after a second or third visit. Sometimes, pest activity appears to increase before it decreases, because the material we’re using agitates pests you had not noticed. After we gain control, we’ve found that regular visits will keep pest populations from exploding again.

What are the methods of pest control?

Clark’s control methods, which are anchored in integrated pest management (IPM), include biological (deploying a pest’s natural enemies), cultural (e.g., sanitation measures, or correcting excess moisture), mechanical/physical (exclusion, trapping), and chemical (pesticides, tented fumigation).

What is included in pest control?

Integrated pest management (IPM) starts with inspection – identifying pest activity and any conditions that allow pests to thrive. Then, control measures based on those findings begins; these can include treatment (chemical or non-chemical), trapping, and recommending sanitation and/or exclusion measures, all of which are documented so their effectiveness can be monitored. We also knock down spider webbing and can answer any questions you may have on how to keep your home or business pest free.

Do new homes need pest control?

Yes. Many subdivisions are built on land recently cleared of agricultural or wild vegetation, and there may be pre-existing pest problems, including subterranean termite colonies. As soon as people move in, their activities tend to attract the same pests that can be found in older homes and neighborhoods.

Do you have to be licensed to do pest control?

Yes. In California, our residential and commercial technicians are licensed by the state Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) to perform fumigation (Branch 1), general pest control (Branch 2), or termite and wood-destroying organism control (Branch 3). Those technicians who perform grounds management, including weed control and landscape pest control, are licensed by the state Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) as Qualified Applicators in various categories. In Nevada, our technicians are licensed by the state Department of Agriculture.

Is pest control harmful to humans?

Many of the materials our technicians use are classified as “generally regarded as safe.” However, we do use some pesticides. Should those products be needed, our state-licensed technicians are highly trained to apply the least toxic and smallest amount necessary to control a pest population, targeted to control only that pest.

Are pest control chemicals harmful to pets?

The safety of pets, and children, is as important to us as it is to you. We have families and pets, too, and we use the same pest control practices at our own homes that we provide for you. It’s why we train our technicians to use the least toxic materials, in the lowest amounts, to achieve control, and to use non-chemical measures wherever possible.

Can I do my own exterminating?

You can, but we don’t advise it. Pest management professionals are trained extensively on how to inspect a property for pest activity, and identify pests and the conditions that allow them to thrive. They know what works to control a pest and what doesn’t, and they are trained to apply the right amount of material to gain effective control of a pest without harming the surrounding environment. They’re also trained to use non-chemical means whenever possible. Because the products they use can cause harm in the hands of untrained persons, pest control is best left to professionals.

How often should we do pest control?

You can, but we don’t advise it. Pest management professionals are We've found that regular services every other month offer the most effective defense against pest activity once we get any active infestations under control. However, should any pest problem blow up between service visits, when you're our Year-Round Pest-Away program, we'll return at no charge and take care of it.

What pesticides do professionals use?

Our pest management professionals use products that are classified as generally regarded as safe. They’re trained to use the lowest amount that will be effective to control a target pest, expertly targeted to achieve that end. A list of the products we use can be found at clarkpest.com/commercial-pest-control/approved-materials.

What should we do before pest control?

Pests need three things to thrive: Food, water, and harborage. Cleaning (sanitation), eliminating water sources, and blocking entry points (exclusion) can keep pest problems from developing. A pest professional can help you focus on what you can do toward that end.

How important to pest control is good sanitation?

Good sanitation is an essential component of home pest prevention. Pests need three things: food, water, and harborage. By taking any of those away, you help eliminate what makes your home attractive to pest activity.

What pests are often called occasional invaders?

Occasional invader pests fall outside the usual list of pests that invest homes - generally, arthropods that wander in from outside but don't nest or breed there. These include: boxelder bugs, centipedes, crickets, earwigs, millipedes, pillbugs, and others.

Why is proper pest identification important?

Each pest species tends to have specific characteristics that determine how it is successfully controlled. What works to manage one pest may not work on another, and in some cases, can make an infestation worse. A pest professional is trained to identify a pest properly.

Can weeds in my garden affect pest problems in my home?

Yes. Outdoor weeds attract pests and provide harborage for them, which creates a staging area for those same pests to eventually move indoors. Eliminate potential pest harborages, and   pests don't have a place where they can breed before they move indoors to infest your living space.