Pest Control Services
Below are many questions that we frequently receive here at Decan Solutions Pest Control regarding general pest control (including ant control, spider control, flea control, rodent control, etc.) and termite control. If you have any additional questions, please contact us or, submit an online pest control service request with your question.
Even though you might not notice damage around your house, new cracks and crevices are always forming. Annual inspections of your home are recommended to prevent new pest problems from occurring.
Any house with wood in it is attractive to termites. The old saying goes…there are two kinds of houses – those with termites and those that will get termites.
If subterranean termites discover your home, they will enter and search it for wood fiber. They will squeeze through cracks as narrow as the thickness of a penny. Expansion joints, foundation cracks, tiny gaps around plumbing and electrical service entries are all opportunities for termites.
If you suspect you have termites, call in a certified pest management professional to perform a thorough termite inspection. A Certified Professional from Decan Solutions is your best choice.
Spring is typically when large numbers of winged termites, known as “swarmers,” emerge inside homes. In nature, termites swarm to disperse and start new colonies. Triggered by warmer temperatures and rainfall, the winged termites emerge from the colony and fly into the air.
Absolutely. Oftentimes, by the time you see the damage pests are doing to your home, they are already well on their way to a very destructive intrusion. Ensure that there are no pests in your home and call us today for your Free Inspection. We guarantee you that you won’t have any pest problems for an entire year.
Contact Decan Solutions will assess the damage with a free inspection and provide you a detailed report on the steps necessary to prevent any more damage to your property. We will ensure that all potential disasters are controlled.
Sure. Contact us to schedule your appointment for a thorough WDI report. In a hurry? We can offer you same day service.
Termites may fly around your house (called swarming). They look like large black ants with wings.
Termites often leave some evidence of their presence, even if you can’t see them. Look for small holes in wood, crumbling drywall, and sagging doors or floors.
You may find insect wings that termites shed when they swarm.
You might see the shelter tubes termites build to serve as their passageways. They are the size of a large straw, and are made out of mud.
However, termites can eat away at your home for years without any obvious signs to you. An inspection by a Decan Solutions Pest certified inspector will determine the presence of termites in the home. Our Decan Solutions professionals will be able to determine, in most cases, the severity of an infestation by the visual signs present including, discarded wings, shelter tubes or actual live termites. A visual inspection of accessible areas along with probing and/or sounding of obstructed areas to determine the presence or absence of termites will be conducted and communicated with you the homeowner.
Absolutely. Moving into a new home, you need to be aware of any possible entry points or potential pest problems that could arise. Preparing your house prior to noticing the pests is the best form of pest control.
Yes, all of of our work comes with a full warranty.
All products are approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency and when used according to label directions present no significant health risk. Material Safety Data Sheets for all of our products are available upon request.
No, a thorough twice a year service that coincides with peak levels of pest activity is sufficient.
No. Decan Solutions does not require a customer to sign binding contracts. You may cancel our services at any time for any reason.
You should have your home inspected to be sure you do not have a termite infestation in your home. Termites are subterranean (they have colonies in the ground) and tend to be widespread in some areas but not others. If your neighbor has termites it means they are present in the soil where you live and you have a good reason to be concerned.
There are several different techniques that we use to eliminate termites from a structure. It will be necessary to inspect the house first to determine the best method for your particular situation. There is no charge for the inspection and estimate.
These are most likely carpenter ants and while not as voracious as termites they are classified as a wood-destroying insects. They will often times chew the wood to make hollow "galleries" in their efforts to establish a suitable nesting site. They are often found in areas of the structure where moisture exists, as this wood is much easier for them to attack.
In some instances, yes. Retail products that are available, if used properly, can control pest issues. In other cases a professional pest control operator, who will be in possession of equipment and materials that are not available to the average person, will be better suited to address the your needs.
Since mice can squeeze through the tiniest of cracks and are excellent climbers, complete exclusion is often not possible. Obvious openings can be caulked and steel wool can be used to plug visible gaps. Typically an effective control program involves trapping or baiting mice once they have entered the structure.
Yes. These black and red insects come onto the structure in large numbers in the fall as they attempt to find a suitable harborage site to spend the winter. An exterior application of a residual insecticide in the fall will dramatically reduce the number of insects that will gain access to the structure.
These are Asian ladybeetles. They, like boxelder bugs, come onto homes in large numbers in the fall as they attempt to find a suitable harborage site to spend the winter (usually on the sunny side of the home). In the spring you may see them inside the home as they start to emerge. An exterior application of residual insecticide when they first come onto the home in the fall will greatly reduce the number that survives the winter.
Quite a few customers call us in frustration after they have already wasted time and money buying and applying over the counter products to control their ant, spider, flea or other general pest problems. Decan Solutions will solve your problem efficiently without you having to buy, apply or store pesticides. Homeowners very often over apply pesticides, resulting in unnecessary personal exposure, or potential environmental harm. Decan Solutions also offers a 60-day guarantee on treatments. If your pest problem persists within 60-days after initial treatment, we will come back for additional service at no additional cost to you.
Most of the pesticides we use are classified in "Category III" - the lowest in toxicity. Additionally, many of the materials that we use are natural oils or plant derivatives. Our goal is to expose only pests to pesticides by carefully following all of the manufacturer's instructions as well as all rules and regulations from our licensing agencies. Even relatively non-toxic materials still require proper safety precautions.
Yes! Our Sensitive Solutions division offers natural, chemical-free options and low-toxic solutions for the customer to choose from when developing an individual pest management program. The treatment plan of pest control measures designed to reduce or eliminate pests while minimizing customer concerns regarding chemicals may include repair or exclusion work, improvements in sanitation, interior/exterior baiting, harborage reduction, habitat modification, and alternative controls. Many of the options are eco-exempt and organic including granules, botanicals, clove oil, insecticidal soaps, and more.
All our technicians are licensed and most have achieved higher training and are licensed as "Field Representatives." This license requires ongoing continuing education, and a demonstration of knowledge of pest biology, pesticide safety, rules and regulations, and proper sanitation. You can identify and recognize a Decan Solutions technician by their uniform with name tag and signature truck with our "Decan Solutions was here" logo.
No, we do not require a long-term contract. We offer as-needed services as well as monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly service plans. We feel that if you are benefiting from our maintenance service that you will remain an active customer. You will not be penalized for canceling your service. If you do wish to re-start a canceled service after 90 days, there will be a small extra fee.
Yes, Visa and MasterCard are accepted, as well as online payments through PayTM. You can pay online, by phone, or by mail. Your check is always welcome as well!
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the practice of using improved sanitation, exclusion, cultural controls, habitat manipulation, trapping, and targeted pesticide application to control or reduce pest problems. In other words, we use knowledge and common sense to prevent pests, not just pesticides.
We try our best to meet your needs efficiently and effectively. With that being said, our summer months are busy, and we give top priority to all of our regular maintenance customers. Even in our peak months, we can usually have help on the way within a day or two, and even sooner for emergencies. Remember, good service providers are often busy, but are worth the wait!
It depends on the type of pest and many other factors. A routine initial service for ants, for example, will often take less than an hour, and still control the problem for several months. Your technician will recommend things you can do to reduce pest pressure around your home. Rodent problems may require several service visits and cultural control measures as well.
Your technician will advise you if it is necessary to leave the home, or only to avoid specific areas until any treated surfaces have had time to dry. Advise your technician of any sensitive persons, pets, or organic gardens requiring extra care. Fish ponds are especially sensitive and care will be taken to avoid any exposure.
Your technician will advise you to remove pet food, water dishes, exposed food items, and children's toys from areas he needs to treat. If there are active pests indoors, other items may need attention.
You should avoid any treated areas until dry. That is the minimum precaution for virtually all pesticides. If you accidentally touch a moist deposit or are otherwise exposed to a diluted pesticide, wash the exposed skin with soap and water. Remember that most of the common materials that we apply have been highly diluted and should not cause any ill effects. Consult the specific pesticide label for any further recommendations. Our service invoice and your technician will have further instructions for the specific products applied.
Every pesticide requires that pets and people avoid treated surfaces until dry. This is the minimum standard for all products. Once dry, the material will not be easily transferred to paws or human skin.
Generally, 2 to 4 hours or until dry. Your technician will inform you in advance of any precautions required by the label and our safety policy. If you have any questions you can always feel free to call our office.
Sure! Our technicians can usually identify a bug by asking you a few questions about where you found it, size, color, and general shape.
A granular form of a pesticide has the active ingredient pre-diluted and impregnated on clay, paper or other sand like particles. Granules can be equally effective to sprays in damp winter conditions for a variety of crawling perimeter pests (ants, earwigs, millipedes, Oriental Cockroaches, etc.). Sprays are most effective on contact for ornamental and turf pests such as caterpillars, aphids, scale, whiteflies, and most spring and summer garden pests.
Pesticide applied to eaves, around windows, under patio covers, and many pest harborages will be effective even if it rains. Dormant Oil sprays need to dry a little before it rains to smother overwintering insect eggs on shrubs and fruit trees. If pests re-appear within 60 days, we will be happy to do extra service under our standard guarantee.
Sometimes, depending on the pest and the type of treatment. For German Cockroaches it is necessary to remove all the food and dishes to allow us to get access to every cockroach hiding place we can find.
There are often many areas around the exterior of the home that can either be a pest attractant or an area conducive to pests. These may include vents, windows, eaves, debris around the home, landscaping issues, etc. Before applying the treatment, Decan Solutions Technicians do an inspection and walk-around of your house to help identify any problem areas. They note any problems on the inspection form, and make suggestions of what can be done to reduce pest pressure. After treatment, they will drop-off the inspection form with you, provide an estimate for us to repair any problem areas, and answer any questions you might have. Decan Solutions is looking after your home and property!
Absolutely. Most of our technicians have a lot of rodent control experience. Rodent proofing services are also available. Please fight the temptation to toss "De-con" bait around, as this will often lead to dead animal odors and flies, and, frequently, no easy solution to locate or remove the animal. Trapping and exclusion are the best first steps in most rodent problems.
Every 2 to 4 years depending on age and condition of home. Many companies sell annual inspections, but this is really more than most people need in our area
In a full inspection, we inspect all the structure that we can access without damaging, defacing, or moving anything. Inaccessible parts of the structure are noted on the report. A limited inspection is generally one particular area where the homeowner has noted or suspects damage, and is useful only for identification and estimate purposes.
Sooner or later almost every home in our area eventually gets attacked by termites. Subterranean, Drywood, and Dampwood termites all occur in the Bay Area. Subterranean termites nest in the soil, and can be prevented by applying a termiticide to the soil around the foundation of the home. Drywood termites enter directly into wood and have no requirement for soil contact.
Fumigators take great pains to avoid any of the fumigant getting confined in nearby buildings. Measurements with a sensitive gas monitoring device show that the gas dissipates very rapidly when not confined under the tarp. In addition, the warning agent "Chloropicrin" (tear gas) is introduced to the structure being fumigated to help determine if any improvements to the seal of the tarp is needed. Tear gas is intolerable well below levels that are toxic. While highly lethal at levels under the tarp, the fumigant Vikane® leaves no residue behind after the proper aeration of the structure.
Typically, 3 days.
Remove anything alive (Pets, plants, people!), as well as unprotected foods and medicines not in airtight bags. Canned goods and unopened glass bottles are fine. Corked wine bottles should be removed. You will be given an "Occupants Fumigation Notice" listing all the things that you should remove or bag.
Fumigation will kill most pests in your house. Vikane is not 100% effective on insect eggs at rates used for termites. A higher dosage is used for killing bed bugs.
Fumigation kills the termites presently in your home. Killroy does guarantee our fumigations for 4 years, as it generally takes several years for termites to become a problem again in your house. This is why we recommend an inspection every 2 to 4 years to keep your home protected.