Homeowners Tips and advice
This is a boring page of reading. If you are looking for tips on getting rid of some insects please take the time to read on.
In some cases pest control can be completed by the homeowner. If you are thinking of doing this there are three main thing you need to do to be successful in your try, and they are
Read and follow the label
Read and follow the label
Read and follow the label
It is very important that the label directions are used for your safety and the safety of your family. When deciding how to mix the solution to use it is detailed on the label, there is an old way of thinking that if it says one (1) ounce then two (2) ounces will be better. That is not the truth. If you are thinking of doing that I want to warn you that you could be risking the health of yourself and your family. Do exactly as the instructions say.
Some tips for pest control listed by different pest.
German cockroach. German cockroaches are usually brought into the home in some manner. One of the most common is from the grocery store in bags or cases of items you have just purchased. When this happens all that needs to come into your home is one egg capsule and once it hatches you will be infested in a very short time. People think that they are dirty because they have cockroaches, this cannot be further from the truth, cockroaches breed cockroaches filth does not breed them. I have treated homes that had daily maid service that had cockroaches. To have cockroaches you have to be unlucky, to keep them can be dangerous and is considered filthy. When trying to rid yourself of this insect you need to address the areas they hide, which can be any crack they can get into. You need to buy a proper pesticide and use it according to the label. These are an insect that can carry disease, and effect allergies, you may want to have this handled by a professional. If so you can go to your local Department of Agriculture for a list of qualified professionals in your area.
Rodents. Depending on where you live in the country there are different rodents to deal with, there are Norway Rats, Roof Rats, and then there are mice. While treating for rodents you will need to do a couple basic things, first walk the entire house inside and out, if there is a crawl space go in it and find where the rodents are coming in. Once those locations are located then you will need to seal them. Do not use the expanding foam alone to seal openings. The rodents will only laugh at you if you do. You will need to use it in co-ordination with steel wool or you could search the Internet for other products to seal the opening with. Once the openings are sealed you will need to place traps inside the home to see if there are any left inside, and if there are you will need to use either baits, traps, glueboards, or any other way to capture them. Once your home is sealed and you catch no more inside the problem is eliminated. Let me warn you on a few things here. If you smoke do not touch the rodent control items, if you do they are no longer any good, either wash your hands or wear a pair of latex gloves to cover the nicotine. Second placement of the traps is essential, knowing where the rodents are traveling will help you in placement. Beware of baits if you have other pets in the home. This is a rodenticide that can and will kill household pets if left for them to eat. Again read the label and you should not have to worry. Professionals know the proper usage of these products and take your personal safety and that of others and pets living in your home into consideration when using them.
Spiders. I am ask many times "why can't anyone get rid of these spiders?" Spider control can be one of the hardest you every want to take on your self. Spider control may need to include such things as lighting arrangements on the outside of your home. A professional can tell you if the lighting is causing a problem. It can also require going under a home to kill the spiders that you never see until they come inside, then it is to late. It can include wiping away the spider webs on the outside and placing a material there that does not allow spiders to rebuild webs again. Once spiders are inside the home you need a direct kill method to get rid of them, the product used has to hit them directly or it will not kill them. Don't let anyone tell you there is a product that will kill spiders for a long period of time, it does not exist. Spiders walk on their long legs and keep their bodies out of the products used so they will never die. If it were to happen that a spider would come in contact with some products it will kill them, however they will very rarely come in contact with them. Be aware that all spiders bite to some extent, not all spiders are toxic to humans. One of the most feared spiders in the USA is the female black widow. She can produce a nasty bite and will usually only bite to protect her egg sac while it is waiting to hatch, to kill food, or to kill her mate after mating. If you put one in position where it feels threatened it may also bite in defense of itself.
Ants. Ants are a very hard subject to deal with, especially if you are not sure of the species of ant. There are baits that can be used, but it depends on which ant and what they feed on if the bait is effective. The most revolutionary treatment for ants today is not available to the homeowners, or on the open market. It is available only to trained professionals that know how to handle it and how to apply it. The product is called Termidor* used on the outside with another product called Phantom* used on the inside will eliminate most ant colonies and stop them from coming inside your home again. There is a species of ant called the carpenter ant that can cause structural damage to your home. I would highly suggest seeking the help of a professional to get rid of your ant problem.
Termites. WITHOUT A QUESTION CONTACT A PROFESSIONAL These insects can destroy your largest investment and cannot be treated for successfully by the homeowner. When you contact the professional in your area, ask for Termidor or you will not be asking for the best. It's your home expect the best and get the best, Termidor*.
Fleas. Fleas can easily be taken care of by the homeowner providing you still have a pet inside your home, if you made the pet go outside you have made the flea problem worse on yourself. Consider bringing the pet back inside and use Frontline* or Advantage* drops on them. Again read the label and understand how these work, if not applied by the directions they may not work as well as they truly can. I would do this before contacting a pest control professional. If you still have a problem after 2 weeks then you need to call a professional. Using Frontline* should rid your home and your pet of fleas within 48 to 72 hours. They only thing that will happen is the eggs will hatch and when they do the first thing the need is a blood meal and they will find your pet and they will soon die also.
Boxelder bugs these are an insect that are very difficult to deal with. The biggest problem with them is when you treat a house for them, it may kill every one of them there today, however tomorrow more can come back. They are generally attracted to houses that are lighter in color. The sides facing the south and the east are the sides that get the most attack. What we recommend is removal of the female boxelder tree when possible. If not then we recommend you take the time needed to seal up areas where you believe they are gaining entrance into your home. Pyrethrum sprays will kill these insects if the label allows the spraying of them. If you do not want to use a pesticide you can get a compressed air sprayer, add one gallon of water, and then add appx. 1 tablespoon of dishwashing detergent. Agitate this mixture and apply to the insects. It will kill many of them.
Various other insects can be treated for by the homeowner, e-mail us if you would like advice on any situation you may come across. We will tell you the truth, if you can treat for it or if you need to contact a professional.
Moisture, there is not enough that can be said about moisture control. Moisture is the root of almost all evil in the pest control industry. Insects need moisture to survive, we all know that. The question is do you know what all moisture can do to your home by itself? If not taken care of the windows in your home will freeze up in the winter. If you leave and are gone a couple days with the house closed up, you will notice a foul odor when you come back in due to the moisture. Moisture is the source of mold and mildew which will cause allergies to react. Moisture cannot be a problem in your home can it? If your home is a crawl space home everyday approximately 25 gallons of water hit the understructure of your home. Imagine taking five 5 gallon buckets of water and dumping them in your house and not moping it up. That is what is happening in your home daily if you have no moisture control. Contact All In One pest control for a free evaluation of your home today.
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IF YOU HAVE TRIED ALL OF THESE TIPS AND HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS IT IS TIME TO CALL A PROFESSIONAL LIKE ALL IN ONE PEST CONTROL
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