CallNorthwest

Go GREEN for the Big Game!

acain — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:00:31 +0000

It’s the biggest day of the year for football fans…the SUPER BOWL!!! What better way to cheer on your team than throwing a Super Bowl party? Regardless of what team you’re cheering for you can still make sure to GO GREEN for the big game!

Check out these tips from Northwest Exterminating to make your Super Bowl party an environmentally friendly party!

Bite sized or finger foods eliminate the need for plastic ware.
If plastic ware is used, make sure it, along with any other recyclable goods, are put in separate containers to be recycled.
Using real dishes may take a little more clean-up than disposable items but it will save you money and keep disposable items out of landfills.
Buy in bulk. Items bought in bulk use less material than items bought individually.
Have options for trash and recyclables. Clearly label these for your guests.

These are just a few Green tips on how to keep your Super Bowl party a GREEN party!!

So who are you rooting for this Sunday?

Northwest Exterminating 2011 Award Winners

acain — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:00:32 +0000

The annual Northwest Exterminating Awards Celebration is held to recognize those employees who have gone above and beyond. The recipients of these awards are team members who show a true “Customers for Life” attitude. We are so pleased with our Northwest Exterminating family and we’d like to say a special congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Northwest Exterminating Awards!

2011 L.A. and Emma Lene Phillips Awards
The LA and Emma Lene Phillips awards are the most prestigious awards given each year to persons that have character and strive to be successful in all areas inside and outside of the workplace. The awards go to individuals who are not only difference makers but also moral and upstanding individuals who are determined and strive to better themselves and those around them.

L.A. Phillips Award – Jimmy Cook

Emma Lene Phillips – Linda Fleming

2011 Team Members of the Year
Alpharetta – Ross Adams

Buford – Patrick Cash

Canton – Bryan Haines

Carrollton – Bruce Nellis

Columbus – Linda Goodson

Commercial Pest – Eric Bussey

Dallas – Brian Butler

Lawn Care – Corey Fuller

LaGrange – Joe Lamb

Lanier – Courtney Brooks

Lawrenceville – Deborah Givens

Monroe – Brannon Sockwell

Newnan – Patti Kinlein

Savannah – Barry Teubert

Smyrna – Aldaberto Guerrero

Stockbridge – Bonnie Morgan

Wildlife – Wes Curtis

Corporate – Casey Poe

Additional Awards
Customer for Life Team Member of the Year – Sandy Oakley

Customer for Life Team of the Year – Monroe

Service Center of the Year – Alpharetta

Sales Service Representative of the Year – Bryan Haines

Administrative Salesperson of the Year – Tina Prevatt

Service Center Administrative Salesperson of the Year – Eric Ramirez

Salesperson of the Year – John Carlson

Residential Salesperson of the Year – Jonathan Bolser

Attic Insulation – When More Is Better

acain — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:15 +0000

The temperature is dropping in Georgia and your energy bills are raising. Do you know the r-value of the insulation in your attic? Probably not. The Department of Energy recommends an r-value of 49 with a minimum of 30 in your home insulation. By adding the recommended r-value to your home, you can ensure that your home is working efficiently while lowering your energy bills.

By adequately insulating your attic you will keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This will make your HVAC system use less energy and save you money on your bills.

Northwest Exterminating offers attic insulation that offers many benefits besides just saving energy and putting more money in your pocket.

Immediate Return on Your Investment – Typical to see anywhere from 20-38% savings on your energy bills!
10% Tax Credit in 2011 – Homeowners can claim a 10% tax credit (or up to $500) on the installation investment, if TAP is installed in 2011.
Permanent Pest Protection in Attic – Roaches, ants, and other pests like to nest in attics. TAP Insulation controls these unwanted invaders.
Fire Safety – TAP is treated with a fire retardant that forms a charred surface which, when burned, limits the spread of fire.
Year-round comfort – TAP allows you to keep more consistent temperatures throughout the seasons.
A Break for Your HVAC System – With proper insulation, your heating and cooling systems will not have to work as hard.
A GREEN Solution – Insulating your home with TAP saves landfill space and conserves energy used in your home.

Call Northwest Exterminating today for a FREE inspection of your attic insulation by one of our highly trained professionals.

Steps to Identifying Ants

acain — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:02 +0000

The southern part of the United States is home to more than 100 ant species. Georgia is among the states that has a particularly tough time with ants due to the many species that dwell in our region. Our diverse climate aids in the relocation of many invasive ant species because we have both tropical and temperate northern climates available.

When you call your exterminator to get rid of ants, you want to know that they are really researching the issue and not just spraying. Northwest takes a IPM approach to managing pest programs. The first step is identifying the issue, in the case, ants.

Steps to identifying ants:

Analyze the coloration of the ant. For example: house ants range in colors from yellow to black; black ants are dark brown to black; thief ants are yellow to light brown; pharaoh ants are light yellow to a reddish brown with black markings on the abdomen; and carpenter ants are red or black.
Look at the size of the ant body. Many ants we commonly see range in size from 1/16″ to 1/2″ or larger. Many species will have several different sizes within the nest.
Take notice to where the ants build their nest. In damaged wood, in oil, in a wall void, etc.
Examine the type of food the ant eats. Most house ants are attracted to sweet foods left behind in trash, on counters, etc.
Analyze the ants’ behavior. Some house ants, such as Argentine and carpenter ants, are more aggressive than others. Do the ants travel in a line or are they more separate in their trails?

Are you having a problem with ants? If so, call Northwest Exterminating today or go online to fill out your FREE inspection form.

The Stuff Sci-Fis are Made Out Of

acain — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:29:34 +0000

This sounds like the kind of stuff that sci-fi movies are made out of. Researchers have been working to outfit insects with tiny electronic sensors in hopes of creating insects that can be used in applications ranging from search and rescue to espionage, reports John Roach for MSNBC.

Researchers recently published findings in the Journal of the American Chemical Society which suggests that they are close to solving the problem of finding a reliable power source for the bug-borne sensors.

Batteries alone installed on insects’ backs fail to deliver proper long-term power to support reconnaissance and first-response missions, Huffington Post reports. So researchers at the University of Michigan are developing techniques to harness the movement, body heat and the insects’ body chemistry.

The technique, basically a fuel cell, works by introducing a series of enzymes to break down complex molecules that the cockroach produces when it eats, and oxidizing the resulting sugars to release electrons; these are then run through the fuel cell to create electricity.

This means that power can be produced without the insect needing to be in motion, and researchers are optimistic about the applications for such a technology.

Jerry Hatch

Northwest Exterminating
Technical Director
BCE CEHT CP-FS
LEED Green Associate

The Weird and Wonderful World of Pests 1/23/12 Edition

acain — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:09:35 +0000

The Weird and Wonderful World of Pests

Based on various sampling, the total number of insect species is between 15 and 30 million.

Some female cockroaches are devoted mothers, carrying their offspring in little pouches like kangaroos. One species even nourishes her young in the uterus with a milk rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

Out of the 4000 known species of cockroaches only 20 types are classified as pests.

Mother Dung Beetles tenderly care for their young by cleaning away toxic molds and fungi off the dung balls where her larva lives and feasts.

The exoskeleton of a scorpion, made of chitin, reflects back ultraviolet rays and will glow pink or green under the moonlight or a black light. Fossilized scorpions still glow under ultraviolet after 300 million years.

If you have a question, Ask Our Mouse!! Or call us at 888.466.7849

Importance of a WDO

acain — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:08:02 +0000

Having a home inspected for Wood Destroying Organisms is critical. Many homes in Georgia have a termite warranty, however this may or may not cover any damages caused by termites. A termite warranty does not protect you from the other wood destroying organisms such as Powder Post Beetles, Wood Boring Beetles, Drywood Termites, and Wood Decaying Fungi. Even if a home has a termite warranty, it may not have been inspected for years. Yearly inspections are not required by Georgia law. So protect yourself and your investment by demanding an Official Georgia Wood Infestation Report from a licensed Georgia pest control operator. This will help you make an informed decision including the history of evidence of both past and present infestations of Wood Destroying Organisms.

What is IPM?

acain — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:14:32 +0000

Northwest Exterminating uses an Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, approach to our pest control program, NorPest Green. IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive way of treating pests using a common sense approach. Using non-chemicals is the primary means of treating pests in an IPM program which coincides with Northwest’s goal of creating healthier living and working environments.

The common sense approach that IPM is based on consists of many different elements such as habitat modification that reduces or eliminates sources of food, water, shelter, entryways for pests, and maintaining healthy lawns. Preventative measures like thorough and frequent cleaning of food storage areas, caulking cracks, daily trash removal, properly spreading mulch, and proper landscaping techniques all play an important role in reducing pest problems.

Pest Prevention Tips:

● Caulk any cracks or gaps in the structure to block pests from coming into your structure

● Use door sweeps and screens on windows and doors

● Grade away from the structure to prevent water from pooling which can lead to mold

● Landscape using indigenous vegetation that is naturally pest resistant

● Avoid indoor plantings that foster mold growth and can serve as attractants for pests

● Keep vegetation away from the structure to reduce mold and pests’ access into the structure

For help in these, or other areas around your structure, please contact Northwest Exterminating.

Jerry Hatch
Technical Director
BCE CEHT CP-FS
LEED Green Associate

Why Do I Have Moths?

acain — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:17:52 +0000

Moths are like the ugly step-sister of the butterfly. With over 160,000 species of moths, you are probably most familiar with the Indian Meal Moth or the Clothes Moth. The clothes moth effects only clothing and is a completely different pest topic than what we will be discussing today. Today, we’re going to talk about the Indian Meal Moth which is one of the most common food pests found in homes.

Moths are attracted to light for reasons unknown. They are known to hover around lights right outside of your home and can easily slip in when a door or window is opened. Moths are often found dead on window sills or along baseboards under windows because they are attracted to the light coming through the window. Adult moths have a very short lifespan which can be a good and bad thing. Good, because they don’t stick around for long, bad because that’s a lot of clean up.

So why does your home have moths? Not only are they coming into your home because they’re attracted to the light but they are also entering because your home provides food and shelter, a place to lay and hide their eggs, and a safe place from predators. You may find moths in your cabinets or pantry where you store grains, cereal, or flour. If there are pet foods or arts in crafts made out of food, these can also attract moths. Be assured that it is fairly simple to prevent and get rid of Indian Meal Moths that may be in your home.

Throw out any old or moth contaminated foods
Make sure all food, cereal, flour, and grains especially, are tightly sealed
Place mothballs in areas that moths are found
Cedar is a good preventative because moths do not like the smell
Use LED lights on the outside of your home…bugs are less attracted to them than they are to other bulbs

If you need assistance with treating Indian Meal Moths, or any pest, call Northwest Exterminating at 888.466.7849 or visit us online.

Angie's List 2011 Super Service Award

acain — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:30:24 +0000

Northwest Exterminating is extremely proud to announce that THREE of our service centers received the Angie’s List 2011 Super Service Award. The Super Service Award is given to only 5% of the companies on Angie’s List. These companies have exemplified superior service throughout the year.

We are so proud that our customers think so much of us that they go online to give reviews about the service they are receiving.

Congratulations to our Alpharetta, Lawrenceville, and Stockbridge service centers. We are so proud!