Pest infestations are one of the leading causes of repair and remediation costs, and certain pests threaten the stability of your home and your family’s health. When you’ve noticed some clues that your home is now also the living quarters of some unwelcome guests, you need to find a professional that can meet your needs immediately.
There are two key questions that you must first ask your potential pest control service before signing on the dotted line. The first thing you should learn about any potential exterminator is whether or not they operate in your local area. The second piece of information you need to know is if the company can deal with the type of pest you think you may have.
At Home Pros can help get you from step one to hiring an exterminator much more quickly than if you were operating on your own. By streamlining your search to the local providers that can deal with your issue, At Home Pros makes this process a headache-free one for homeowners.
Orkin vs. Bulwark: Overview
After learning which service providers are located in your area and handle your type of pest, you will have narrowed down your search to a handful of companies. It’s wise to get as much information as you can about the potential exterminators so that you know what you’re getting into when you pick one.
Orkin is a well-known company with 1.7 million residential customers and 400 global offices. On the other hand, Bulwark has a local presence, available only in 12 states, with streamlined deals. The drawbacks for each company is that Orkin doesn’t have an online chat function, while Bulwark does not deal with bed bugs.
If you have termites, you may want to go with Orkin, as they have multiple specialized plans and can treat many types of termites. Bulwark also treats these wood-eating pests as well as 60 more pests, but you have to buy a specialty plan in order to treat them.
About Orkin
This pest control service is well-known, has a broad reach and many resources. Available in 47 states, Orkin is a trusted service provider that takes care of almost every common pest that homeowners may come across. Orkin does not have a chat function on its website, which may present a challenge for customers who prefer 24/7 accessibility.
Technicians who work for Orkin have to go through a rigorous 160-hour training program, and the company has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating. Orkin’s Points of Service plan eradicates all common pests in its six-step process so that you can rest assured pests aren’t breaching the perimeter of your household.
Orkin Pest Control Locations
You can find Orkin in 47 states, excluding Wyoming, South Dakota and Alaska; Orkin also maintains a presence in 400 global locations as well. The states in which Orkin operates are:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montant
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
About Bulwark:
Based in Mesa, Arizona, Bulwark offers treatment for lots of pests, excluding bed bugs, and has a slew of positive reviews. Bulwark has a chat function that is mainly served by chatbots, which can be frustrating when you’re anxious to speak with a live human.
You can select from three general plans and two specialty options when you sign on with Bulwark. Prices are estimated by the number of times technicians need to visit your property. While it seems as if this company doesn’t provide treatment for bed bugs, their plans are comprehensive, covering everything from termites to mosquitos.
There are three general plans that customers choose between: seasonal, quarterly or bi-monthly. The seasonal plan is the best for property owners that don’t have active infestations but still want to maintain a strong perimeter against pests; the quarterly plan allows for six visits per year; a bi-monthly plan is the most rigorous of Bulwark’s options.
Bulwark Locations
You can find Bulwark in only 12 states, and those are:
- Arizona
- Georgia
- Missouri
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
Orkin vs. Bulwark: Services
If you have a pest problem or have noticed some telltale signs, like bubbling paint, sagging window sills, frass, egg casings or discarded wings, you need to call a professional as soon as possible. At Home Pros can make sure that you get the help you need quickly, connecting you with local experts in a blink of an eye.
Orkin uses its Points of Service plan to make sure the pests that are bugging you have no foothold once their professionals leave your property. The company’s customers appreciate the 30-day guarantee the company offers, although the lack of a chat function may frustrate more tech-savvy clients.
- Moths
- Crickets
- Fleas
- Hornets
- Scorpions
- Ants
- Silverfish
- Cockroaches
- Mice
- Spiders
- Centipedes
- Earwigs
- Termites
- Bed bugs
Along with the three general plans, Bulwark also offers two specialty plans to deal with mosquitoes and termites. The company’s website claims to handle 60 household pests, and chooses treatments that are reliably people- and pet-friendly.
- Ants
- Cockroaches
- Crickets
- Earwigs
- Fleas
- Flies
- Grasshoppers
- Mice
- Millipedes
- Moths
- Pillbugs
- Rats
- Scorpions
- Spiders
- Ticks
- Wasps
Although the website is unclear about bed bugs, some regional offices of Bulwarks do deal with these pests, so it may be worth your time to call your closest office to check.
Orkin vs. Bulwark: Termites
These insidious insects threaten the stability of your home and the health of your loved ones. Since termites love to eat wood, the structure of your house itself is their favorite meal. These bugs are tenacious and colonies are notoriously hard to dislodge and eradicate.
Both companies offer guarantees that are helpful when dealing with sly adversaries like termites. Here’s a rundown on how both of these companies get rid of one of the most pervasive critters homeowners go up against.
Orkin
With a two-pronged approach, Orkin eradicates active termite colonies with Sentricon bait stations and Termidor liquid bait. Both of these modern techniques have been widely researched and tested, and are the top-of-the-line in pest control. If you have dry wood termites, Orkin’s pros can help you with these particularly pernicious pests by tent fumigation.
Orkin’s technicians also use Orkinfoam, a specialty product that makes it almost impossible for new pests (especially termites) to breach your property lines. Orkinfoam swells up around ducts, pipes, and other openings to ensure the durability of your home.
With a 30-day guarantee, Orkin also provides its customers with the security they want to know that their pest problem is in the past.
Bulwark
Bulwark mainly uses bait stations to eradicate a termite colony; the termites take the bait back to their colony, where it’s consumed and poisons the rest of the bugs. Technicians come at different intervals to replenish the bait stations as consistent treatment is the best counterattack against termites.
Bulwark offers its customers a 60-day guarantee, so once treatment is completed, if you see any signs of termite infestation, you should contact Bulwark offices immediately. This pest control service also has a “Anti-No Show” policy, so if any technician doesn’t show up to an appointment, your next visit is free.
Termites are incredibly hard to get rid of, and if you have noticed signs of termite infestation, quick action is your best defense. After the technicians leave, you also should keep a vigilant eye out, as these bugs in particular have been known to reinfest.
At Home Pros Conclusion
The moment you know you have a bug (or critter) problem is the moment you need to start looking for a pest control service. Once you notice the signs of pest habitation, they have probably been in your residence for some time. And the longer pests set up house, the worse it is for the structure of your home and your family’s health.
Once you’ve determined two key determinations — service area and pest treatment type — you can then pare down your choices in terms of your budget and expectations. Since Bulwark doesn’t have a wide service area (only available in 12 states), this may be a deciding factor. This company also doesn’t treat bed bugs, but does cover 60 pests in three streamlined plans and two specialty ones.
Orkin is a worldwide pest control service that uses outlined plans, expert products and patented treatments to eradicate almost any pest you can have under your roof. Although lacking a chat function, Orkin has admirable customer reviews and a strong track record.
To defend your family and house against unwanted pests, contact At Home Pros as soon as you notice that there’s a problem. Although getting rid of an infestation can be a stressful business, At Home Pros can make the process easier and simpler.