Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I use 5 Star?
 How do I prepare for my first treatment?
How do you treat for ants if you can’t find the ant hill?
Are there products to kill mosquitoes and other flying insects?
What steps can I take to keep bugs out of my house?
What if I have a pest treatment and still see bugs?
Do you guarantee your service?
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
Will I have a different Technician each time? 
Why do you recommend monthly service?
 
 

Why Should I use 5 Star?
We at 5 Star operate with the highest degree of integrity, respect and responsibility. We want to make sure you have the best experience and are satisfied with our services. Welcome to the 5 Star family, we look forward to building a relationship with you.  

How do I prepare for my first treatment?
This depends on what kind of treatment you will receive. There are some general things you can do to prepare. You can do a cleanup of the house and make sure items are off the floor and put away. If you like to mop on a frequent basis, mop the night before the service.If we are treating for roaches please prepare by removing items from under the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
 

How do you treat for ants if you can’t find the ant hill?
There are a number of avenues we can take when treating for ants, but can’t find the ant hill. We can use a bait that foraging ants pick up and take back to their colony, and we can also use a liquid treatment to create a barrier that will kill ants that cross it.

Are there products to kill mosquitoes and other flying insects?
Flying insects are difficult to control because they must come into contact with the product. The best way to help control flying insects is to destroy their habitat or food. With mosquitoes you are looking for any standing water or areas that constantly stay moist. Often after looking around your property with a close eye you may discover that you do have standing water even though it has been a while since the last rain. Most other flying insects eat decaying organic matter, so looking around for what is rotting and getting rid of it will solve your problem. There are a few things that we can do to assist you with flying insect problems. Give our office a call and we can evaluate the issue based on your specific problem.

What steps can I take to keep bugs out of my house?
There are many things a homeowner can do to prevent insects from entering the house. Make sure that doors have weather-stripping and a tight fitting door threshold to keep the bugs from coming in. All windows should have screens that are in good condition and fit properly. Insects can squeeze through very small cracks. Take a good look around your house and seal up any cracks, even the tiny ones. Seal areas where cable wires and other utility wires, pipes, outdoor facets, dryer vents and similar objects enter buildings. You would be surprised at what small space an insect can squeeze through to get inside your house. Keep weeds eliminated, tall grass and weeds are a great harborage area and can provide food for most insects. A weed and debris-free yard tends to reduce the amount of bugs near your house. Mow your grass on a regular basis. Store all pet food in closed containers; this includes dog, cat and bird food. Food lying out is a food source for bugs. Reduce any and all moisture sources. Fix leaky faucets and pipes inside and out. Keeping water away from your house will greatly reduce the bug populations wanting to be near your house. Even though Tucson tends to be on the dry side installing gutters will do wonders for not only keeping bugs away from your house, but also keeping termites away as well. Routing water from the AC condensation drain away from the house also helps keep moisture away.   Just like us, bugs need food, shelter and water to survive. If you interrupt any one of these the bugs will be sent packing to the neighbor’s house.  

What if I have a pest treatment and still see bugs?
Often times you may see bugs after a treatment. The products we use have a flushing action and tend to flush bugs out of their hiding areas; this is a good thing because it pushes the bugs to cross the pesticide barrier. We recommend monthly service to keep bugs to a minimum. We understand that some people would prefer to have fewer products applied and live with a few bugs here and there. That is why we do NOT require contracts; you can go monthly, every other month or quarterly.

Do you guarantee your service?
You must have monthly service in order to receive a guarantee, after 6 months of continuous service we will guarantee service. For instance if you happen to notice an ant hill between services we can have your tech come out to treat at no additional charge to you.  Our customers have the option to go monthly, every other month or quarterly; just remember that in order to get that guarantee you need to schedule monthly. You get the best control of insects by having monthly service. 

How do I know if I have bedbugs?
The first thing you will usually notice is that you will wake up with bites that are red and itchy on areas of your body that were exposed while sleeping. Inspect the sheets for any red or brown spots and examine the mattress folds for the bug themselves. Bedbugs like to hide in cracks & crevices, which can include baseboards, box springs, drawers, and other crevices.  It is almost impossible to diagnose what  bit you without having the actual insect. Call our office to discuss cost and treatment options. For more information on bedbugs you can visit this informative Website page from the University of Kentucky.

Will I have a different Technician each time?
Our technicians service the same zip codes every month. Your technician will schedule your next appointment with you at the end of each service, thus making it easier for you to plan ahead. Because you have the same technician each month, they will be familiar with the problem areas of your home and will be diligent in making sure your pest concerns have been addressed.

Why do you recommend monthly service?
Monthly service is recommended in order to keep bothersome insects under control. Especially here in Arizona where we have so many venomous insects including the bark scorpion, kissing bug and black widow to name a few. In the western United Stated the bark scorpion has venom potent enough to be dangerous to humans. For more information on scorpions including how to keep them out of your home see this Fact Sheet written by entomologists at the University of Arizona. Most pesticide labels only have a 30 day residual, so re-application  is recommended every four to six weeks.