Orkin Pest Control Review : Best Overall

• Overall :  

    5/5
• Products & Services :  

    4.5/5
• Cost :  

    4/5
• Ease of Use:  

    4.5/5
• Customer Support & Reviews:  

    4/5

Our Review

When it comes to pest control companies, Orkin has established itself as a household name. It’s been around since 1901 and has branches in nearly every state. But are its services right for you? The answer generally comes down to your personal needs and your budget. Orkin may charge more than other pest control companies, but they do offer a guarantee on their services and will treat your house, should it need it, between appointments.

Orkin technicians are highly-trained. They are required to undergo 160 hours of hands-on instruction in the first year. Orkin’s training program is award-winning, so you can trust that technicians know what they’re doing and how best to treat your pest problem.

Highlights

• Offers industry-leading technology

• Customer Care Team available 24/7

• Pest control specialists must complete 160 hours of training

Orkin Products & Services

Orkin provides general pest control for an extensive list of pests:

If you have general pest control through Orkin, a technician will show up at your house every 60 days to apply the general treatment to the outside of your home. They will also seal off any places around your house where pests may be getting in.

The type of spray Orkin uses is a high enough concentration it kills pests, but is safe for people and pets. The spray doesn’t hang in the air long, since the droplets are so small, allowing for a minimal chance of breathing it in.

Once the surfaces are treated, they dry quickly and whatever residue remains will be toxic for pests, but not for you. If you have pets that live in the house, keep them away from the treated surface between one and two hours while it dries.

If you are concerned about the spray for any reason, Orkin recommends you stay out of your house for a few hours after the application to ensure it has dissipated.

Aside from general pest control, Orkin offers a variety of other services to its customers.

In addition to residential pest control, Orkin also offers commercial services. Technicians will treat businesses for pests, bed bugs, rodents, birds, flies, mosquitoes, and termites. Orkin also offers disinfectant cleaning, exclusion services, floor and drain cleaning, restroom care, and odor control and scent services to its commercial customers.

Orkin is a solid choice for residential and commercial pest control. Their long history as a company is a testament to the quality of service they provide. The technicians are very knowledgeable and undergo extensive training to be able to identify and treat pests. And while other pest control services may be cheaper, you will likely not get the high standard of service with them that Orkin gives its customers.

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Orkin Cost

Pricing for Orkin’s services are comparable to other pest control companies. If you call Orkin for service, a pest control specialist will come to your home for an initial visit. That’s where they will inspect your property and look for signs of pest problems. After the inspection, they’ll treat your home – both inside and out. An initial visit from an Orkin technician will cost around $250. They’ll return to your home within 30 days to respray the outside of your property. You’ll then receive treatment once every other month and pay around $60 a month for regular, general pest control.

If you have a problem in between visits, a technician will treat your home at no extra charge. Orkin also doesn’t charge extra for mice or rat extermination. If you decide to add mosquito control to your general pest control plan, your initial visit will cost around $325 and your monthly cost would go up to around $108.

The cost for termite and bed bug treatments can vary. Each situation is unique and will depend on the size of the infestation and the extent of the problem. Orkin does offer a free termite inspection.

Orkin does offer a guarantee. If you aren’t happy with the service for any reason, Orkin will refund the full amount of your last payment.

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Orkin Customer Support & Reviews

Overall, Orkin receives high marks for its customer service. You can’t be in business for more than 120 years without treating your customers well. You will find negative comments and reviews on trusted consumer websites like TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau from people who’ve had bad experiences.

Some customers have had trouble getting rid of their pest control problems, taken issue with the behavior of specific technicians or had technicians that didn’t show up. You’ll also find complaints about billing trouble. But you will also see the company tries to respond to the comments and rectify the situation.

Orkin offers its customers 24/7 support – so you can call anytime with an issue you may be having. They also are the only pest control company to offer same day service if you call before noon.

If you want to cancel Orkin’s services for any reason, the best way to do it is to call the customer service number at 877-676-7537 or reach out to your local branch. Orkin enters into a one-year contract with their customers, so if you cancel before your year is up, they will charge you the remainder of the contract.

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Orkin Company Background

Orkin has been in business since 1901 when 14-year-old Otto Orkin developed a rodenticide to use for his family’s Pennsylvania farmhouse. It worked so well he started selling it door to door and by 1908 he started his own pest control business.

Since then, Orkin has grown into a worldwide industry leader and has become a name thousands of people trust with their pest control. Its main competitor is considered to be Terminix. Truly Nolen, Western Pest Control, and Western Exterminator.

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What Does Orkin Do On The First Visit?

If you decide to use Orkin’s services, a technician will show up to your home at an appointed time and conduct an initial inspection of your property. He or she will thoroughly canvass the inside of your home and the outside of your property for any evidence of pests.

After they survey your home and property, the technician will then discuss with you what they found and how they plan to treat it. He or she will then gather their equipment and apply the necessary treatments inside and outside of your home. During their inspection, they’ll identify any areas where pests may be getting inside and seal them with caulk.

Once they’ve finished treating your home, they’ll provide a detailed report of what they’ve done and give you suggestions and advice on how to keep pests away.

How Do I Prepare My House For Orkin?

Getting your house ready for your Orkin technician to arrive is similar to getting your house ready for any pest control specialist. On the very first visit, you will need to be home. The technician will need access inside your house to spray so you will have to be there to let them in.

And much like when company comes, you will want to pick up and clean up around the house to give them the access they need. Since pests love to hide, it’s helpful if you pull things away that may be hugging the wall and making it difficult for the technician to spray behind. That doesn’t mean you need to move every piece of furniture in your home – just things that might be in tight corners, stored under beds or inside closets.

Pests tend to like kitchens, so it’s important to give yours a thorough cleaning. Wash down all the countertops, wash all the dirty dishes and clean out the sink. If you have fruit or bread that normally sits on a countertop, you’ll want to store that – just to keep it completely safe from any spray that might get airborne. It’s also important to sweep or vacuum the floors, so there isn’t any food trash laying around.

Since the bathroom is a place that harbors moisture, it will be important for your pest control specialist to spray it well. Clean all your sinks, tubs and countertops and pick up anything in the floor that might hinder easy access.

If you have pets inside, make sure you crate them or secure them in an area to keep them away from the spray until it’s dried so they won’t get into it. It will also keep them from interfering with the technician and make the job go smoother and quicker. You’ll also want to cover up your pet’s water and food bowls and if you have a fish tank or bowl, be sure and cover it while the technician is applying the spray.

Technicians will also spray around the exterior of your home on the first visit. It’s important to make sure they can access the perimeter of your home. So, before they get there, it’s a good time for an outside cleaning. Getting rid of any trash or debris that might keep a pest control technician from reaching areas they need to. If you keep pets outside, be sure and secure their food and water bowls to avoid overspray.

If you have a particular area of concern, be sure to point that out. And if it’s an infestation, be sure the area is completely clear of furniture or clutter. After the initial visit, your technician will just be spraying outside and you don’t have to be home – unless you’ve called them to treat a new problem inside. 

How Long Does Orkin Spray Take To Dry?

The type of spray Orkin uses is a high enough concentration it kills pests, but is safe for people and pets. The spray doesn’t hang in the air long, since the droplets are so small, allowing for a minimal chance of breathing it in.

Once the surfaces are treated, they dry quickly and whatever residue remains will be toxic for pests, but not for you. If you have pets that live in the house, keep them away from the treated surface between one and two hours while it dries.

If you are concerned about the spray for any reason, Orkin recommends you stay out of your house for a few hours after the application to ensure it has dissipated.

Is It Hard To Cancel Orkin?

If you want to cancel Orkin’s services for any reason, the best way to do it is to call the customer service number at 877-676-7537 or reach out to your local branch. Orkin enters into a one-year contract with their customers, so if you cancel before your year is up, they will charge you the remainder of the contract.

Who Are Orkin’s Main Competitors?

There are many companies across the country that offer pest control services. But Orkin is considered a leader in the industry. Its main competitor is considered to be Terminix, Truly Nolen, Ehrlich, Western Exterminator, and Aptive Environmental.

How Often Does Orkin Come Spray?

If you have general pest control through Orkin, a technician will show up at your house every 60 days to apply the general treatment to the outside of your home. They will also seal off any places around your house where pests may be getting in.

If you have termite treatment through Orkin for preventative purposes, a pest control specialist will visit your home once every year to look for signs of termites or damage. If you have an established infestation, the frequency of visits and treatment will depend on the size of the problem.

You generally won’t know if you have bed bugs until they start biting you at night and you wake up scratching. The number of visits and the type of treatment you receive from Orkin will depend on the size of the bed bug infestation.

Depending on where you live, mosquitoes are, generally, a seasonal pest. Orkin offers mosquito control during the ‘season’ and will spray your yard regularly for signs of mosquitoes in every life cycle.

The Bottom Line

Orkin is a solid choice for residential and commercial pest control. Their long history as a company is a testament to the quality of service they provide. The technicians are very knowledgeable and undergo extensive training to be able to identify and treat pests. And while other pest control services may be cheaper, you will likely not get the high standard of service with them that Orkin gives its customers.

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