Typical jobs across Scott County

The calls we handle most often: what homeowners notice, what our technicians do, and what to expect.

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6 job stories

Typical job

What homeowners notice: On an early-1900s house on the bluff in McClellan Heights, large black ants march along the front porch ceiling every spring evening, and small piles of coarse wood shavings keep appearing on the porch floor. An old oak hangs over the roof, and one gutter has leaked for years.
What we do: The technician follows the trails back to soft, water-stained boards in the porch roof and a limb resting on the eaves, then treats the nest area and the foraging trails with labeled products. Fixing the gutter, replacing the wet wood and trimming the oak back from the roof are noted as the lasting fix.
What to expect: Ant traffic usually fades over the following weeks, and the written report marks the nest site and the moisture problem so both get rechecked on the next visit.

90 minutes typical visit

Typical job

What homeowners notice: On sunny late-September afternoons, hundreds of black-and-red boxelder bugs cover the south and west vinyl siding of a newer Eldridge home, and a few dozen already turn up on upstairs window sills. A row of boxelder and maple trees lines the back of the lot.
What we do: The technician applies a labeled perimeter product to the sunny walls, the foundation line and the window trim, then points out gaps at the soffit returns, dryer vent and window frames to seal. Vacuuming the bugs that get inside, instead of crushing them, keeps stains off curtains and paint.
What to expect: Bugs on the siding typically thin out within days and far fewer reach the living space over winter; the report lists every gap found so it can be sealed before next fall.

1 hour typical visit

Typical job

What homeowners notice: On a warm April afternoon, dozens of small winged insects pour out near the basement stairs of an older stone-foundation house in the Village of East Davenport, then die on the floor and a window ledge. A few days later only piles of shed wings are left.
What we do: The technician inspects the basement walls, sill plate, stair stringers, sump area and front porch, finds mud tubes climbing the foundation and confirms eastern subterranean termites. Liquid soil treatment with drilling where needed and a bait system are both priced up front, with the trade-offs of each explained.
What to expect: The homeowner picks an option at the price already approved, and the report maps each spot with tubes or damage, which helps if the house is ever sold.

2 hours typical visit

Typical job

What homeowners notice: A week after the first frost, a family in a 1950s Moline house hears scratching above the basement ceiling at night and finds droppings in a kitchen drawer and behind the furnace. A bag of dry cat food in the laundry room has been chewed open.
What we do: The technician sets snap traps along the walls, joists and laundry room, then walks the exterior looking for gaps around the gas line, dryer vent, sill plate and garage door. Those openings are closed with copper mesh, sealant and metal flashing, and the pet food moves into a lidded bin.
What to expect: Catches usually slow within two or three weeks once the gaps are shut, and each follow-up check is logged on the written report.

2–3 hours typical visit

Typical job

What homeowners notice: On a wooded lot up the bluff from the Mississippi in Hampton, the family dog brings in small dark ticks every few days in May, and one turns up on a child after playing where the lawn meets the trees. They look like blacklegged (deer) ticks.
What we do: The technician walks the yard to find where leaf litter, brush and tall grass meet the lawn, then treats those edges, the play area and the shady beds according to the label. Raking out leaf litter, mowing a strip between trees and lawn, and asking the vet about tick prevention for the dog are all recommended.
What to expect: Tick finds typically drop in the treated zones over the next few weeks, and the report flags October, when adult ticks peak again, as a sensible time for a second visit.

75 minutes typical visit

Typical job

What homeowners notice: By late August, a gray, football-sized paper nest hangs high in a maple next to the back deck of a Silvis home. Black-and-white hornets dive at anyone who gets near the grill, and one family member has already been stung.
What we do: Working around dusk, when most of the hornets are back inside, the technician treats the nest through its entrance with a labeled product, then takes it down and bags it once activity stops. The eaves, shed and ground near the deck are checked for yellowjacket nests on the same visit.
What to expect: The deck is usually usable again by the next day, and the report records where the nest hung and any other nests that turned up.

45 minutes typical visit

Call and tell us what you see. We will tell you what it likely is and what it usually costs before anyone drives out.