For the employee of the month (Photo credit: 4nitsirk)

As pest control operators it can be challenging at times finding extraordinary employees and technicians to work for your company. Showing up to work everyday and performing adequately is expected, but it doesn’t make for an outstanding employee.

Several pest control operators were asked, “What qualities do their most outstanding technicians and employees possess, and what traits do you look for when hiring them?”

Here are their top 10 responses:

1. They have a positive attitude. Working for a pest control company might not always be the most glamorous of jobs at times, but the most outstanding employees will always show up to work everyday with a positive disposition, enthusiastic about their jobs. Staying above the fray of office politics also helps.

2. They are punctual. This quality is a no-brainer in the pest control industry. Customers expect technicians to be on time for a treatment, as many make special accommodations to be at home to let techs inside. Punctuality shows that an employee is committed to the job, interested in the work, and able to handle responsibility. It facilitates a sense of professionalism and commitment. When an employee is late, its effects spread throughout the entire workplace and even to other employees.

3. They are organized. This quality is a definite must in the pest control industry not only for customer satisfaction, but for safety reasons as well. An organized technician needs to manage the different pesticides, inventory, and service routes to be effective.

4. They are self-motivators. Knowledge, intellect, talent, and skill are necessary, but personal drive is critical. Remarkable employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just the desire to do a good job. Self-motivators look around to see what needs to be done and do it. They ask questions to try to learn more.

5. They like to prove others wrong. Self-motivation is often derived from a need to show that the doubters are wrong. The pest control technician without a college degree, or the secretary who was told she didn’t have leadership potential, often possess a burning desire to prove other people wrong.

6. They possess excellent interpersonal communication skills. Pest control employees must have strong communication skills, as they have to communicate directly with customers, with fellow employees, and with supervisors. Listening skills are also essential, as employees must listen to different approaches and ideas for service assignments, especially when working with a team of technicians.

7. They’re neat in appearance. This attribute is self explanatory. Our customers are letting our technicians on their property and in their homes. They need to feel safe. Techs should to be clean cut, dressed in uniform, and always greet a customer with a smile.

8. They are always tinkering. Some employees are seldomly content, and I mean that in the best of ways. They are continually tinkering with something: Reworking a timeline, fine-tuning a process, or tinkering with workflow. Great pest control employees follow processes. Outstanding employees find ways to make those processes even better, not only because they are expected to… but because they just can’t help it.

9. They publicly praise and privately complain. Outstanding pest control employees identify the contributions of others, especially in group settings where the impact of their words are even greater. When issues need to be brought forward these employees will present them to their boss, privately, without setting off a company firestorm.

10. They are eccentric, but know when to dial it back. Unusual personalities shake things up, make work more fun, and transform a workplace into a place other employees can look forward to coming to each day. These eccentric employees also know when to conform, and when to back off. It’s a tough balance, but an infrequent few can walk that fine line effortlessly.

Human capital is the single most important aspect in running a successful pest control company. In this industry, having employees with these qualities can be the difference between thriving or closing your doors. As a pest control operator, look for these qualities during the hiring process—Hire tough, and manage easy. If you are a pest control employee, look to align yourself with these 10 outstanding qualities.

news (Photo credit: JSF539)

Fruit fly sex lives impact effectiveness of pest control strategies

Scientists in Australia have been hard at work watching fruit flies mate to figure out how fly sex is affecting your food. During this process they are discovering more effective pest control strategies. For a great read, check out:

http://nittygrittyscience.com/2012/09/06/fruit-fly-sex-lives-impact-effectiveness-of-pest-control-strategies/

Mosquitoes Plague the Northwest as West Nile Cases Increase

Recent rains, warm weather, and high humidity have made mosquito control in the Northwest challenging. The number of foreclosed properties in the area, with their sometimes un-kept swimming pools and scattered backyard debris that’s collecting water, is making mosquito control more difficult.

http://blog.pestcontrolceus.com/mosquitoes-plague-canyon-hills-neighborhood-as-west-nile-cases-increase/

New Kind of Ant Discovered in New York City

We can now add one more type of ant to the 13,000 plus known breeds in the world. A new type of ant was discovered by a biologist earlier this week near 63^rd and Broadway in New York City.

http://www.longislandpestcontrolblog.com/2012/09/06/new-type-of-new-york-ant/

Scorpion Sting Leaves Arizona Woman With Massive $83,000 Bill

Our friends at Pest Control Mesa AZ bring us this unfortunate story coming out of Phoenix. Imagine being in your garage, opening a box of air conditioner filters, when you are suddenly stung by a scorpion—and that’s not even the worst part! Read all about it at:

http://pestcontrolmesaaz.com/scorpion-sting-leaves-arizona-woman-with-massive-83000-bill/

Top 10 Considerations when Hiring Pest Control Companies

Here are ten criteria our customers are taking into consideration when they are looking to hire a pest control professional. As a pest control operator, look to align yourself with most of these demands to be successful in the industry.

http://xtremeartandentertaiment.blogspot.com/2012/09/top-10-considerations-for-pest-control.html

The Basics of Dust Mites

For all the ins and outs about dust might behavior, including: where they like to hide, how they get into your home, and the health concerns they can cause, check out:

http://www.richterslawncare.com/detroit-pest/the-basics-of-dust-mites/

Florida harvester ant polymorphic workers (Photo credit: bob in swamp)

Contrary to popular belief, Al Gore did not create the internet– Ants may have thousands of years ago.

New research from Stanford University suggests that Harvester Ants use their own type of internet, or “anternet,” for decision making inside the nest. These ant colonies are able to determine how many foragers need to be sent out by using a protocol system that is similar to the one IT professionals use to find out how much bandwidth is accessible on the internet.

Harvester Ant Evolution

It has long been thought by scientists that there may be some connection between ant behavior and computer science. Biologist Deborah Gordon and computer scientist Balaji Prabhaker of Stanford University have verified in this research that ant decision making and behavior is synchronized by a complex set of algorithms. It is suggested in the research that Harvester Ants have developed these algorithms over the course of millions of years of insect evolution, and that they still continue to evolve.

Transmission Control Protocol

After observing the Harvester Ants, the Stanford scientists were able to determine that the ants were using an algorithm similar to Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). TCP was a significant advancement in the formation of the internet. It permitted information technologists to take the internet from a few dozen nodes to the billions currently in use today. It works by moving a file from a source to the destination in a series of packets. The source is continually informed by the destination as to when the packets have arrived. So, if it’s taking too long, there must not be much bandwidth available, and the source will re-adjust by decreasing the rate of packet transmission.

TCP and Harvester Ants

Harvester Ants use their own type of TCP to determine how much food is available based on information brought back from the worker ants. The workers leave the nest in search of food. They harvest pollen directly from plants, gather dead insects, and forage for fallen seeds. Workers usually forage for only one specific type of food each day, changing their specialty daily, and will only return to the colony after it finds food. If the amount of food available is high, a higher number of worker ants will return. They’ll transmit acknowledgment messages, through the antennae, to the rest of the colony about the abundance of food. Much like TCP controls the release of data depending on bandwidth, the Harvester Ant colony will release worker ants depending on the amount of food.

What These Findings Mean for Pest Control Operators

All this new research is just confirming what many of us pest control operators already know… A Harvester Ant colony’s nest must be directly treated, not just the areas affected by the foraging ants. The foraging ants may be few, or many, depending on the TCP release of ants. No matter the number of foraging ants on a property, there will be thousands more inside the actual nest. Harvester Ant colonies will occur in open areas, and only have a single opening near the top of a dirt/gravel mound. There will be no vegetation within a three foot radius of the mound, and colonies are widely separated. Workers ants forage April thru September– Foraging throughout the day during cooler months, and only 5–11 am and 3–9 pm during the summer. Ant insecticide should be applied directly to the colony’s nest during the warmest part of the day when the ants are least active.

What Else Will Harvester Ants Teach Us?

Harvester ants continue to amaze us all with their capabilities. Working together as a collective, they are able of performing remarkably complicated responsibilities. As they continue to evolve, these ants may continue to teach our society more and more about network systems.

Source: io9.com

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• Ants in the Pants!

GPS Vehicle Tracker (Photo credit: Ikhlasul Amal)

Do you own or manage a pest control company? Have you ever found one of your guys asleep in the company truck at a nearby park? Have you happened to spot one of your techs in a drive thru while he was scheduled to be on a job?

What’s it Costing You?

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) estimates that employee fraud costs a company 6% of an organization’s total revenue, or $600 billion annually. If your pest control company’s revenue was $250,000 last year you’ve potentially lost out on $15,000. That’s $15,000 that can be reinvested in your company, helping it grow.

Some of this employee fraud can be directly attributed your tech’s work efficiency. Simply stated, your employees may not be working where they say they are working for the amount of time they say they are.

English: fuel theft seen in wialon gps tracking software (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

GPS Tracking System—Vehicle or Software

One way to reduce employee fraud and improve work efficiency today is to track your technicians with a global positioning system (GPS). Systems can be installed in your fleet of vehicles, or enabled in your tech’s smart phones. Pest control software, like PestPac, ServPro, and Smart Service Enterprise also have GPS features that make tracking your techs easy.

Benefits

GPS tracking systems will allow you to know where your techs are at all times. They can also improve your tech’s efficiency by allowing you to spot check the time on a job, calculate the percentage of time a tech spends driving, and evaluate your dispatching and routing.

With a GPS tracking system, you’ll be able to figure out the quickest routes from point A to point B, just in case your techs don’t know. Managing your route territories will save time and money because techs aren’t driving from one end of the city to the other for service calls frequently throughout the day.

The installation of GPS tracking systems in your fleet will likely lower your costs for your next insurance renewal as well. Don’t be surprised if you also see a significant reduction in traffic incidents. A GPS system will notify you in the event of speeding, sudden stopping, or acceleration.

Another added benefit a GPS system will provide is additional market research. As an owner or manager you’ll be able to see very easily what areas you are servicing most frequently and adjust your marketing and sales efforts accordingly.

Alerts

There are a few alerts pest control companies are finding the most useful while tracking their techs. “Proof of Position” alerts will tell you exactly where your techs are while on the road. For systems installed in a fleet, an “Idle” alert will tell you how long a vehicle has been left running. Some techs will warm up their trucks for 30 minutes or longer on a chilly day, or even leave them running while on a service call. Monitoring this behavior can save money on gas. The “Speed Indicator,”  “Sudden Stopping,” and “Exceeding Acceleration Threshold” alerts will notify you if driving issues need to be addressed with your techs. “Out of Area” and “After Hours” alerts help you see areas that might need improvement and training.

Benefits in Summary 

• Track location of techs
• Manage route territories
• Savings on insurance premiums
• Monitor speed and idling to save on fuel
• Employee safety
• Market Research

Challenges

If you decide to monitor your technicians through GPS tracking, expect some aversion and challenges at first. Some tech’s may feel like “big brother” is standing over them at all times, watching their every move. Some techs may feel that this monitoring is an invasion of their privacy. Others will feel like you do not trust them, and this can lead to some lower employee morale in the workplace. Another challenge to these GPS tracking systems is that they are not always 100% accurate on picking up the actual location.

As an owner or manager of a pest control company you will need to determine how you will inform your techs about your decision to use GPS tracking, or if you will inform them at all. If you do tell them, you’ll need to develop a training plan for proper use and implementation.

Challenges in Summary

•  Technicians feeling like “big brother” is watching over them over them, and that they can’t be trusted
• Feelings of invasion of privacy
• Location accuracy
• Development of a training plan for proper use
• How and when to communicate it to the technicians

What’s Worked for You?

Many benefits can come from the use of GPS tracking systems for your pest control company, but they are not without some challenges. What have been your experiences, both positive and negative, using a GPS tracking system? Has it helped? What methods have worked best?

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The Culture of the Negotiated Pest Control Transactions

Here’s a great blog for us pest control operators that explores the art of negotiating prices among different cultures, and how American’s are catching on. There’s a great take home lesson at the end on setting prices while still being able to negotiate with potential and existing customers. Check out:

http://heartspm.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/culture-of-negotiated-pest-control-price/

Tips on Hiring Pest Control Services

This article provides an interesting consumer perspective on exactly what our customers want in a pest control service. As pest control operators, we can look to model ourselves, and our customer service, according to these guidelines.

http://www.linksparadise.com/?p=20782

August Means Hungry Yellow Jackets

Heritage Pest Control of New Jersey reminds us all that August is Yellow Jacket season. These aggressive wasps have been busy the previous summer months building their paper-like nests on the ground, and now they’re on the lookout for food. For a few tips on dealing with Yellow Jackets:

http://www.heritagepestcontrolnj.com/blog/2012/08/27/august-means-hungry-yellow-jackets/

Borax/Boric Acid for Pest Control

Many of our possible customers are still turning to the toxic Borax/Boric Acid to help eliminate unwanted pests. If someone comes in contact with the powder it can cause health problems like nausea, vomiting, and throat swelling. Many consumers turn to the Borax method because they are uneducated about many of our industry’s safe, all-natural, or organic pest control methods.

http://www.momprepares.com/2012/08/27/borax-vs-boric-acid-for-pest-control-safe-and-effective/

Africanized Bees on Attack in Arizona!

Our friends at Pest Control Mesa, AZ bring us a frightening incident about a grandmother being attacked by Africanized “Killer” Bees. The women’s 4-year-old granddaughter witnessed the attack, and likely saved her life.

http://pestcontrolmesaaz.com/africanized-bees-on-attack-in-arizona/

Fall Season Pest Control

As the weather starts to cool this fall, pests of all kinds will be making their way into our homes in search of food and the warmer air. For some helpful how-to’s on keeping these pests out of your home this fall:

http://aaapestcontrolmyrtlebeach.com/541/fall-season-pest-control/

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Pest Control Held to New Standards

New legislation has been passed in Annapolis, MD banning toxic pesticides within 25 feet of schools, daycares, government buildings, and waterways. Starting July 1, 2013 pesticides will only be used in emergency infestations. This new legislation is following the same pest control approach of other cities like nearby Washington, DC.

http://annapolis.patch.com/articles/pest-control-held-to-new-standards-by-council

Parasites and Products

Here is a great blog on what the pest control industry is using to treat tick and fleas. Some Pyrethroids like Permethrin are working well for fleas as well as ticks. The article emphasizes customer preparation and education.

http://brownpestcontrol.com/aug-21-2012-parasites-and-products/

Tips For Cleaner, More Energy Efficient Living

McDonald Pest Control offers some great tips on how all of us pest control operators can live more energy-efficient, cleaner, greener lives.

http://www.mcdonaldpestcontrol.com/st-petersburg-pest/tips-for-cleaner-more-energy-efficient-living/

Don’t Let Bedbugs Ruin Your Vacation

Our Pest Control Atlanta friends give us some great pointers on the steps we need to take to prevent bringing those pesky bedbugs home with us while on vacation.

http://pestcontrolatlantaga.com/2012/08/dont-let-bedbugs-ruin-your-vacation/

Flea Prevention Tips For Families

Here is a good read on the life-cycle of fleas, and how they can be prevented.

http://www.modernpest.com/blog/flea-prevention-tips-for-new-england-families/

West Nile Cases Surge in Mississippi, Pest Control Companies Prepare For More

Great information on how Pest Control Operators can cope with the surge of business due to all theses outbreaks. 78 people have contracted West Nile in the state of Mississippi.

http://www.fieldaware.com/2012/08/21/west-nile-cases-surge-in-mississippi-pest-control-companies-prepare-for-more/

Brown Recluse Spiders In The News

The drought and heat are forcing spiders, like the poisonous Brown Recluse, into our homes. We don’t need to be afraid of this home invasion, but the article does offer some helpful preventative measures we all can take.

http://lennyspestcontrol.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/brown-recluse-spiders-in-the-news/

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As I was driving into work today I happened to notice a small street corner sign stuck into the ground advertising pest control annuals for $99.00. I suddenly began to cringe as I was left wondering how a pest control company could stay in business with pricing like this. The experience got me thinking.  

Why are so many pest control companies quoting such low prices with operating costs on the rise and profit margins shrinking?

I wish I had a solid answer to this question. I have seen numerous companies fail, in various industries, because they don’t know how to properly figure out their real costs and subsequently quote a job accordingly. To understand this complex issue, I dove a little deeper for some more answers.

Penetration Pricing

Penetration pricing is a marketing technique many new pest control companies practice to attract new customers. The new company will offer a relatively low initial price, compared to industry standards, in order to gain a piece of the market share. After gaining a portion of the market share, the pest control company will eventually raise prices in order to increase profit margins. The company can expect some customer attrition during this process.

Setting the Initial Price Point

When setting an initial price point a company must first determine their primary customer base. A price point will inevitably dictate who your customer is. If it is your objective to be cheaper than your competitors, you can be assured that you will attract those customers where price is their main concern. These customers are known as discount driven consumers or price shoppers.

Raising Prices

After the initial price point, a company must raise prices to stay in business. Raising prices can best be described as an art form and can be very difficult to bring about. If you raise your prices without offering something additional customers will feel like you’re cheating them. After all, you’ve already told them that your service was worth $ X.XX. We all saw what happened to Netflix when they suddenly raised their prices by 20%. Subscribers couldn’t cancel their services fast enough. When they opted to raise prices, they weren’t increasing the VALUE of their new price point.

The Disadvantages of Penetration Pricing

Penetration pricing establishes long term expectations for your services. Simply stated, you have to be careful when setting out to be the cheapest pest control company in your area, because you are essentially establishing that your new lowest price is what your services are worth. This expectation can also lead to a negative or “cheap” image preconception for your pest control company. Opponents of penetration pricing also argue that you will only attract bargain hunters that will eventually switch companies when prices are raised.

Industry Fear

The #1 reason we are seeing pest control companies quote lower and lower prices is because it’s driven by fear. These companies are scared they will lose a customer if they raise their prices. Likewise, they are scared to ask for a more reasonable price right up front because of the possibility of not getting the customer at all. It can be argued that companies need to sell the “value” in the services they provide or do a comparison of services and providers.

Industry Regulation

Many pest control companies are voicing their desires for a national or local pest control association where these low-ball price issues can be brought up among peers, and potentially have the playing field leveled. Many would also get on board with an advertising campaign to promote the professionalism of the industry. An excellent example would be The National Association of Realtors. Working together with a number of other pest companies can provide a larger presence in the industry.

Anyone can start an association, and the benefits can be huge. Members can also qualify to get big discounts on things like insurance and cell phones with group rate buying power. This also allows for the small-medium sized companies to get together and bid on larger contracts.

A Better Business Model

I have emphasized many times previously the need for pest control companies to focus on the VALUE of their services instead of just price alone. By focusing on the quality of your service, the premium products you use, and the availability and expertise or your technicians you strengthen you company’s value to the consumer.

There are so many other ways to compete, other than price alone. Find a niche in the market and work it hard. Find a way to set yourself apart from others in your business by doing something they don’t do or offering something they don’t offer. 

Business Model Triangle (Photo credit: Alex Osterwalder)

As an owner or manager of a pest control company, you must also educate your consumers.  “Buy cheap, pay twice, and still have a pest problem!” Remember to educate, educate, educate!!

Please share any ideas on how we might become united as an industry on this issue. 

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Top 10 Financial Mistakes Made By Pest Control Companies

Finance (Photo credit: Tax Credits)

Administering to all aspects of your pest control company is never simple. As an owner or manager you must manage workflow, cash flow, sales, overhead, inventory, and your employee’s needs, all while not neglecting customer service. With every one of these responsibilities it can be easy to make mistakes in your businesses accounting and bookkeeping.

Here are some of the most frequent accounting mistakes compiled from current and former PCO’s:

1. Not separating personal finances from your business. Mixing up business and personal money can cause bookkeeping and legal problems.

2. Turning over your financials to someone else. Without an intimate knowledge of your company’s finances, you can’t make successful business decisions. Even if you don’t want to deal with the daily bookkeeping tasks, look at your financial statements every month to help you plan for profits and prevent potential problems.

3. Setting prices too low. Know your costs before you set product or service prices, or you run the risk of losing money on every sale. A simple break-even analysis can help you set prices at a profitable level.

4. Mistaking profits for cash. When you have a lot of credit sales, your company can post big profits without seeing any cash.

5. Not knowing your true cash balance. Due to things like automatic payments and bank charges, money that appears on your bank statement and your checking account may already be spent.

6. Extending credit without checking credit. Until you collect some basic credit information about that new large account, don’t make on-account sales. A sale won’t do you much good if your company never gets paid.

7. Paying bills too soon. If your vendors give you 30 days to pay them, take it! Unless you get a discount for paying early, paying your bills only when they’re due improves your company’s cash flow.

8. Avoiding bookkeeping tasks. Not recording and posting transactions regularly leaves you with a mountain of bookkeeping to deal with instead of a molehill. Plus, the time lag can act like a vacuum, where transactions disappear and never are recorded.

9. Not hiring a payroll service. The minor cost of hiring out this task provides a huge benefit for your company. It can free up your time and help avoid the financial penalties that go along with late and incorrect filings.

10. Spending too much during pest season and not planning for the winter. The winter months are usually slower in most markets, but overheard must still be paid. Look at setting a little aside for this less profitable season.

As with almost every piece of advice, there are some situations that the advice would be inaccurate. I feel that most most of these rules apply to the small business owners of the pest control industry. I hope a few of these financial tips will help in keeping your pest control company thriving.

What other financial advice have you found to be critical in running a successful pest control company? Please comment below!

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And if you need Charlotte Pest Control call Bulwark Exterminating.

Most people will agree that while its the skills of the NASCAR driver that wins the race, that if we take away that well oiled racing machine and replace it with a pest control truck it doesn’t matter who is behind the wheel, he/Danica Patrick would have no chance at winning. No matter how great of a technician you hire, crappy abused and broken equipment will cause your pest control company to fail. So let’s show a little more love for our pest control trucks and equipment.

Top 10 Pest Control Equipment Productivity Tips

By Andrew Greess

#10 – Good Filtration

Design good filtration to prevent debris from getting into your system.  Debris will clog or damage pump, plumbing, fittings, hose and spray guns.  It will cost you money and productivity by bringing your system to its knees and causing expensive repair bills.  Design your filtration based on your water source, type of application, sensitivity of your pump, technician skill.  For example, bad water in new housing developments may require more than one strainer.  Place filtration so it is easily accessible for technicians to check and clean.

#9 – Clean your filter

The biggest secret in spray equipment is “check your filter”.  There is nothing you can do with your spray equipment that will save you more money than this simple activity.  We repair and replace more pest control spray equipment (and weed control spray equipment) because of clogged filters than for any other reason.

#8 – Release the pressure

Take the pressure off.  When you are done spraying, release the pressure.  Squeeze the handle of your spray equipment so that the system is not under pressure.  If you don’t want to waste the material, spray it back into the tank.   Your equipment will have fewer breakdowns and will last longer if you remove the stress of constant pressure from the spray components.    Never store equipment overnight under pressure.

#7 – Don’t run it too fast

Don’t push your equipment to its limits.  Our experience is that techs run power spray rigs at high speeds to get done quickly, and tend to overpressurize B&Gs and backpacks.  All of these actions will reduce sprayer life.  Your power spray rig can run at extremes for short periods but it is not designed to be run full out all the time.  Running “in the red” for extended periods will shorten engine and pump life.  Make sure your techs know proper operating ranges.

#6 – Clean it out

Rinse your system with clean water periodically to remove old chemical buildup, debris, etc.   Chemical buildup & debris can clog your filter, starve your pump, damage spray tips, and play havoc with other components as well.  All of these items fall into the category of “not good”.  When in doubt, rinse it out.  Be sure to follow all labels and laws when cleaning out spray tanks.

#5 – Don’t wait for failure – do your Preventative Maintenance (PM)

PM will save you time, money, equipment breakdowns, unhappy customers, etc.   You are running your equipment hard and pumping strong chemicals through it.  It will need service.  This service will be much cheaper and less painful if you do it before you need it.  Read manufacturer’s recommendations then customize for your use and application.  A good preventative maintenance program is your best friend for reducing equipment down time and improving productivity.

#4 – Train Employees to Report Problems

We are constantly amazed at the equipment problems employees will tolerate.  They will continue to use leaking pumps, hose, backpacks, etc.  Ignoring these problems inevitably leads to higher repair expenses and increased down time.  Encourage your employees to report problems so that you can take the appropriate action.

#3 – Emergency repair kit

Many simple repairs can be performed in the field. Field repairs can allow the technician to finish their work before heading to the service site for more thorough repairs. You’ll want to assess technicians’ skill and training to determine which parts you are comfortable with technicians changing in the field. A little tracking can go a long way toward understanding the causes of your breakdowns. Track equipment failures by part to determine which items you should consider stocking on your trucks. Also track equipment failures for each technician to identify training opportunities, and track failures by truck to set time frames for preventative maintenance and replacement.

#2 – Pre-flight Checklist

Every pilot has a checklist and goes through a pre-flight routine BEFORE taking his or her plane into the air.   Spray techs should do the same thing.  Before getting into the truck and heading to the first stop, a few minutes spent checking equipment can save time and money, as well as preventing downtime that hinders your ability to provide timely service to Clients.  Here’s the key point.  If you are going to have an equipment problem, you are probably better off knowing about it at your office than in the field, when it will most likely take longer and cost more to fix.  Technicians should report any problems or exceptions to their supervisor.

#1 – Don’t Over-pressurize Manual Sprayers

If your backpack isn’t spraying, don’t pump it up more.  You will break it.  It is easy to turn a $3.00 o-ring replacement into a $50 repair.  I like the following analogy for this situation.  I went to France.  The waiter didn’t understand English, so I yelled louder.  Don’t overpressure your manual sprayers!

Andrew Greess is the President of Quality Equipment & Spray, which designs, builds and sells pest control equipment.  Follow Greess on Facebook & Twitter. For more information or to share comments, check out www.SprayEquipmentBlog.com

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Dallas Wildlife Control is a lucky benefactor of our post here today. Code: k9bugsit33Bulwart

What is the difference between Animal Control and Pest Control?

A wildlife control is very different from structural pest control. Different laws apply to dealing with wildlife. Different techniques apply. In many states a separate license is required. It is almost always prohibited to relocate nuisance animals and other wildlife without written permission from the state’s gaming department. Yet, somehow, animal control and pest control seem to be synonymous to the general public. Pigeon control, rat control, and wildlife control are very much different than general pest control. Trapping and removal are also different from exterminating a rat or mouse. Animal cruelty charges have been made against pest control companies that have not handled animal removal properly. See the NJ case. One of the most glaring differences between animal control and pest control is that general pest control often uses pesticides for pest control solutions, where as animal control uses exclusion techniques and trapping.

From more info on the differences that may apply in an Animal Control license vs a Pest Control license visit: http://www.crittercatchersinc.com/license/

What to do as an Exterminator who doesn’t offer Animal Control Services

Exterminators that often get calls for animal control or wildlife removal may want to find local resources that they can refer to. Providing links on your website to local Animal shelters is a good idea. Finding a local company that deals exclusively with Animal Control or Bat Removal, or Pigeon control may help foster a mutually beneficial relationship. But choose whom you recommend wisely. You don’t want another company’s bad service to reflect on your own company. You also don’t want to refer out business to a company that may try to steal general pest control companies from you. Build a solid relationship and check in from time to time to keep that relationship strong.

If you know of any quality animal control services please let us. We would love to add them to our pest control directory.