At a glance
- Platinum Pest Management's general pest control covers ants, roaches, crickets, spiders, silverfish, earwigs, beetles and wasps, plus scorpions on plans that include them.
- A general pest control visit from Platinum Pest Management includes exterior treatment around the foundation, doors, windows, weep screeds and block walls, along with web and wasp nest removal.
- Pest control products break down faster in Arizona heat and sunlight, so treatment renewed on a regular schedule does more to keep pests down than occasional spraying.
- General pest control from Platinum Pest Management is available on monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly plans, with prices quoted after a free inspection.
- If covered pests come back between scheduled visits, Platinum Pest Management returns and re-treats at no extra charge.
On this page
Pests covered by general pest control
General pest control from Platinum Pest Management covers the insects and spiders that live around East Valley homes:
- Ants that trail into kitchens and bathrooms or nest along the foundation
- Roaches, including American cockroaches that come up from sewer lines and irrigation boxes
- Crickets, which peak in late summer and fall
- Spiders, including black widows in garages and along block walls
- Silverfish and earwigs, which favor damp spots such as bathrooms and irrigated beds
- Beetles that gather around lights and come in under doors
- Wasps, including paper wasp nests under eaves and patio covers
- Scorpions, on plans that include them
Scorpion coverage depends on the plan. Arizona bark scorpions take more work to control than most household pests, and we go over the options at the free inspection so the plan fits the property.
What a service visit includes
Most of the work on a general pest control visit happens outside, where pests live and where they get in. A licensed Platinum Pest Management technician works through these areas:
- Foundation and weep screeds. The technician applies an exterior treatment around the foundation and along the weep screed at the bottom of the stucco, where many insects and scorpions find their way in.
- Eaves and overhangs. Webs come down from the eaves, and the areas where spiders and wasps build are treated.
- Doors, windows and the garage. Door and window frames get treated, along with the garage, where crickets and black widows tend to collect.
- Block walls. The base of each block wall is treated, since scorpions and crickets shelter in the joints and along the bottom.
- Landscape rock. Where it is appropriate, a granular treatment goes into the landscape rock to reach crickets and other insects living between the stones.
- Wasp nests. Nests under eaves and patio covers are knocked down and removed.
- Interior, on request. When the customer asks, the technician also treats inside, focusing on the rooms where pests have been showing up, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
It helps to tell the technician where pests have appeared since the last visit, so those areas get extra attention.
Where pests around East Valley homes come from
Pests around East Valley homes mostly live in the yard and the open land nearby, and they come inside looking for water and shelter. Block walls hold heat and have gaps where scorpions and spiders hide. Drip irrigation and turf keep the soil damp, which draws ants and crickets close to the foundation. Homes that back onto a wash or preserve land see more scorpions and crickets coming in from open ground. In new subdivisions built on former farmland, activity can stay high while construction nearby keeps disturbing the soil.
Why a regular schedule works better in desert heat
Exterior treatments do not last as long in Arizona as they do in cooler places. Heat and strong sunlight break the product down faster, and irrigation and monsoon rain wash some of it off. A treatment that is renewed on a schedule gets replaced before it wears out, which does more to keep activity down than occasional spraying.
Pest activity also rises and falls through the year, and a regular schedule keeps a fresh treatment in place for the busy stretches.
| Time of year | What changes |
|---|---|
| Spring | Ants and scorpions become more active as the nights warm up, and paper wasps start new nests. |
| Monsoon, roughly July to September | Storms flood burrows and drains and push roaches, scorpions and ants toward houses. |
| Late summer and fall | Crickets peak and draw more scorpions to the foundation. |
| Winter | Activity slows in cooler weather but does not stop, since Valley winters are mild. |
Platinum Pest Management offers general pest control on monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly plans. Homes with heavy scorpion activity may need visits more often. We recommend a schedule after the free inspection and give a written quote at the same time.
How the free re-service guarantee works
If covered pests come back between scheduled visits, call (480) 518-1942 and we will return to re-treat at no extra charge. The guarantee applies to every pest your plan covers, including scorpions on plans that include them. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available.
A few more insects for several days after a treatment is normal, since pests that cross the treated areas take time to die and some are driven out of hiding. If activity continues past that point, call us.
Services quoted separately from general pest control
Some pests need a different kind of inspection and treatment than a general pest visit provides, so we quote them separately:
- Termite control, including desert subterranean termites
- Bed bug treatment
- Rodent control for roof rats, mice and pack rats
- Gopher control for pocket gophers in lawns and gardens
- Mosquito control and yard treatment
If a home needs one of these along with general pest control, we can look at both during the same free inspection.
How to start general pest control service
General pest control service starts with a free inspection. A technician looks over the house and yard to see which pests are active and how they are getting in. We then recommend a plan and give a written quote, with no obligation to sign up.
Platinum Pest Management is a family-owned company that holds Arizona pest control business license #9562, and our technicians are licensed and insured. General pest control is one of several residential pest control services we offer homeowners in Gilbert and across the East Valley.
Frequently asked questions
What pests does general pest control cover?
Platinum Pest Management's general pest control covers ants, roaches, crickets, spiders, silverfish, earwigs, beetles and wasps. Scorpions are covered on plans that include them. Termites, bed bugs, rodent control, gophers and mosquitoes are separate services with their own quotes.
How often should I get pest control in Arizona?
Our pest control plans run monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly. Heat and sunlight break treatments down faster here than in cooler climates, so longer gaps give pests more time to move back in. Homes next to open desert or a wash, or with heavy scorpion activity, often do better with more frequent visits. We recommend a schedule after a free inspection.
Do you treat inside the house?
Interior treatment is available on request. Most of a general pest control visit happens outside, around the foundation, eaves, doors, windows and garage, because that is where pests live and get in. If pests are showing up indoors, tell the technician and they will treat the affected rooms as well.
What happens if pests come back between visits?
If covered pests come back between scheduled visits, we return and re-treat at no extra charge. Call (480) 518-1942 to set up a time; same-day and next-day appointments are often available. A few more insects for several days right after a treatment is normal, since pests that cross the treated areas take time to die.
Does general pest control include termites?
Termites are not part of general pest control. They need their own inspection and treatment, so we quote them separately, the same as bed bugs, rodent control, gophers and mosquitoes. Our termite control page explains how we inspect for and treat desert subterranean termites.
What products do you use around kids and pets?
We use EPA-registered products, applied by licensed technicians according to the label. The label sets where each product can go and how long people and pets should stay off treated areas, which for most exterior treatments means until the spray has dried. Tell the technician about pets and aquariums before the visit so the treatment can be planned around them.