A-1 Pest Control owner Leo Renello began the family-owned-and-operated business in the 1980s, and today has plans to keep it in the family for years to come.
“I have great-grandchildren who are going to take the business over, and my son works with me now,” he said. “At one point, I had eight trucks and I wasn’t happy. I couldn’t keep an eye on my customers or treat them correctly.”
For Leo, delivering top-quality service is the most important aspect of business, which he does by staying up to date on the latest products and pest control technology. He even quickly provides emergency services, like bee removal, when needed.
He recommends customers are serviced monthly or bi-monthly, with many customers opting for services monthly in the warmer months when insects are more prevalent.
“Sometimes people will go bi-monthly, and I don’t recommend any less than that because with our heat out here, you can’t go quarterly because nothing holds up,” he said. “The way these chemicals are manufactured now, scientifically, environmentally safe, they won’t hold up for 90 days without re-establishing the barrier around the home.”
Especially during this time of year, with the weather switching between hot and cold, there is a large influx of insects attempting to enter homes, making a barrier of pesticide products especially important.
“You’re putting up a chemical residual around the home, so that helps prevent ants, scorpions, ticks and fleas, the whole majority of insects,” Leo said.
“A lot of our service is outside only, the reason being if you put up enough residual outside around the entry points—the doorways, the garages, the window sills and the patio—that will stop the insects from protruding all the way into your home. They may get in, but, of course, they’ll belly up,” he continued.
Leo’s team is certified in termite work. So, when pest control services are administered, they also are looking for signs of termites, helping to protect the home.
He also recommends sealing the home as well as possible, eliminating damp and dark spaces, while also keeping wood and watered shrubbery away from the home to further prevent pests.
A-1 Pest Control services are available in Mesa and throughout most of the Phoenix area. For more information, call (480) 981-0666.