Presto-X

Updated for 2024
Overall Rating
Reliability
Customer Service
Features & Services
Cost
Conclusion
Presto-X offers a comprehensive list of services and state-of-the-art pest management technologies in the regions it serves. Unfortunately, the downside of contracting with this company could be fighting through their customer service in order to schedule those services.

Our Presto-X Review

Affiliation with Rentokil gives Presto-X access to some of the pest control industry’s highest-rated treatment methods. This makes the company a great option for a severe infestation or if you are dealing with multiple pest issues around your home or business.

Reliability

Our Rating:

Presto-X has served the central United States since 1932. Founded in Omaha, the company currently services 18 states and is part of the Rentokil family and the sister company of Ehrlich. Its employees and technicians are held to some of the highest industry standards in training. Its annual Pestfree365 contract gives homeowners broad protection and ongoing prevention support for the most common and challenging pest issues like termites and bed bugs.

Pro

Presto-X offers some of the most comprehensive treatment solutions as part of its annual contract.

Con

The company’s customer reach is limited to the central U.S.

Features & Services Provided

Our Rating:

Presto-X treats one of the widest varieties of pests in the industry, including:

  • Insects and spiders
  • Birds
  • Mice, rats, and other rodents
  • Snakes and lizards
  • Wildlife
  • Termites
  • Bedbugs
  • Bees

In addition to a comprehensive pest library, the company is very transparent about the types of services they provide for customers. These include Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, which target pests at their source and implement practices that protect against them in the long term. IPM generally uses pesticides only as a last resort and otherwise focuses on habitat modification and biological control. Presto-X also specializes in fumigation, bioremediation, organic options, green pest management, and sanitation audits.

Guarantee

An annual contract offers unlimited service calls for problems that occur in between customers’ quarterly treatments. However, they do not offer a guarantee that pests will not return.

Technician Training

The company employs trained technicians, registered sanitarians, and entomologists who are thoroughly educated and licensed in the states where they work. All technicians are licensed applicators and specifically trained in advanced techniques that don’t harm families, pets or households. They undergo an initial training program along with continued education that requires monthly and annual objectives. All Presto-X employees also undergo background checks and random drug testing.

Eco-Friendly Pest Control

Presto-X offers bioremediation as an eco-friendly pest management option for both homes and businesses. The formula they use is said to be specially designed for the food service industry. Bioremediation utilizes live microorganisms in pipes and drainage to digest waste and residue. This eliminates food sources for pests like fruit and drain flies.

Specialized Termite Control

Termites are one of the most costly and difficult pest problems to eradicate. Presto-X technicians are specifically trained to handle termite damage with liquid pesticide perimeters. Their special monitoring and baiting system uses Sentricon bait stations. As with other pests the company covers, customers with termite issues are also eligible for a free initial inspection.

Additional Services

Presto-X also offers specialized treatments for mosquitoes and bed bugs. Technicians are trained to use a variety of fumigation technologies for the most severe infestations, which also include organic and eco-friendly options.

Pro

Presto-X is fully transparent about the services they offer and the wide variety of technologies they are trained to use for the most severe problems.

Con

Presto-X explicitly states that they can’t guarantee a pest problem won’t return after treatment.

Customer Support & Reviews

Our Rating:

A Word About Reviews

It can be difficult to judge pest control companies using online reviews: negative reviews tend to outnumber positive reviews for all companies. But looking at negative and positive reviews can give consumers some idea of the trends in a company’s performance.

The Presto-X brand is under the larger Rentokil corporation. Rentokil has acquired many smaller, local pest control providers throughout its service regions, grandfathering their customers into Presto-X. Many of those customers are no longer happy with the service they’re receiving – in particular, with costs and scheduling. Some dissatisfaction could stem from unhappiness with change they could not control or a short period of difficulty in transitioning from their original vendors to Presto-X policies and procedures. Positive reviews mention the effectiveness of Presto-X’s many treatment options.

Punctuality & Professionalism

Unfortunately, Presto-X’s punctuality and professionalism with technicians seem like a sore spot within online reviews. No-call, no-shows are a common complaint, as are administrative staff scheduling services without communicating appropriately with customers.

Numerous times we have scheduled service and then they either never come at all, come on a different day than we scheduled, or come at a different time than we requested when we are not at home.

Josh G., Denver, CO

Persistence

Some reviews note difficulty in scheduling appointments, which reflects on the company’s dedication in persisting with a pest problem. Customers have encountered trouble scheduling appointments in a timely manner, and some technician appointments were set outside of their available hours.

Effectiveness

Because of Presto-X’s wide variety of treatment options, reviews do mention a high level of effectiveness. Happy customers report that the company has successfully rid their home from a pest problem and has done so at a great price point.

If we find bugs inside, they are dead ones, so it definitely works. And I really like that I don’t have to worry about the safety of my pets, since the product used is environmentally friendly and pet-safe.

Mascha F., Wheat Ridge, CO
Pro

Presto-X makes a point to respond to negative reviews in an effort to rectify bad customer experiences.

Con

The company is roundly criticized for issues related to appointment scheduling.

Cost

Our Rating:

Prices in the pest control industry can vary greatly depending on a customer’s location, type of pest problem, and the severity of the problem. To help customers make the most cost-effective choice, we’ve isolated several factors that could help keep overall costs down and lead to the best-informed purchase decision.

Inspections

Presto-X offers customers free inspections regardless of whether the pest problem has already been identified. Free inspections can help lower overall costs since technicians will have a better idea of what needs to be done and can recommend the best option for each customer’s individual budget.

Annual Contract

Presto-X does offer an annual contract in the form of their pestfree365 offering. It is unclear if any of the company’s services can be purchased outside of a contract. Through pestfree365, customers receive quarterly services from technicians as well as the option of scheduling free additional treatments between visits as necessary.

Pro

Free inspections will help bring overall costs down for customers.

Con

Individual treatments may not be available to customers outside of an annual contract, which can be binding for certain needs.

Conclusion
Presto-X offers a comprehensive list of services and state-of-the-art pest management technologies in the regions it serves. Unfortunately, the downside of contracting with this company could be fighting through their customer service in order to schedule those services.
More Things to Know:
  • Presto-X offers customized solutions for customers who may be dealing with a unique pest problem.
  • Along with acquiring small, local pest control companies, Presto-X also owns the brands Amity, Dunagin, and Gold Seal.
  • Presto-X also offers lawn care in the form of vegetation management, through which their technicians will remove unwanted vegetation that can pose a hazard to your home by encouraging pest habitats.