Bed Bugs and Back to School

So long are the days of only having to worry that your kids may get head lice in school…you can now add bed bugs to that list.  You’ve heard about the risk of bed bugs when returning back to college but now bed bugs are popping up in elementary, middle, and high schools.

Bed bugs are making their way into schools through back packs.  And while they can’t be transferred from person to person, they can be transferred from back pack to back pack.

The good news is that bed bugs are NOT a sanitation issue and they do not carry diseases.  Bed bugs are not a sign of a dirty home but they are very difficult to get rid of.

If you are notified that there may be a chance that your child’s back pack has been infested do not panic…there are things you can do to ensure that they are not brought into your home.

  • Do not bring the back pack, or other items brought from school,  inside your home.
  • Immediately wash and dry your child’s clothing.
  • Empty out the back pack and run it in the dryer on high heat for 45 minutes to kill any bugs.
  • Check your child’s skin for bites.  If you notice bites, call a professional exterminator.  A professional can inspect your home for bed bugs.  If you do have bed bugs in your home they will be able to treat in an effective and efficient manner.

For more information on bed bugs visit the Georgia Department of Public Heath: http://www.health.state.ga.us/epi/zvbd/infest/index.asp

 

 

Ants, Ants, and More Ants

Ants are one of the pests that can be an issue year around.  Although controlling ants can be difficult…it is possible.

Size is a big advantage to the small ants.  Because they are so small, they can enter a structure through even the tiniest of entryways.  When ants enter your home, they are looking for food and water.  Sweets and greasy foods are amongst some of their favorite foods.  To lead other ants to food, they leave behind a pheromone that allows the other ants to follow to the source of food.

Ants are social insects, meaning they live in large colonies.  You can find 300,000-500,000 ants in a single colony.   Ants can uproot and move their whole colony rather quickly.  Worker ants can live up to 7 years while queens can live up to 15 years.

Although size and quantity are on the side of ants, there are ways to keep ants out of your home:

  • Eliminate standing water.  This will help keep away ants, as well as other pests such as mosquitoes and termites.
  • Keep foliage away from the structure.  Ants and other pests can use branches, leaves, etc as a way to enter your home.
  • Seal your home.  Cracks and crevices around your home are used as entrances to your home by pests.
  • DIY methods.  Although some DIY methods can be helpful in getting rid of ants, you are not getting to the real source of the problem.  A professional pest control company can inspect your home and help you come up with a customized plan to get rid of and control future ants from coming in your home.

Call Northwest Exterminating at 888.466.7849 if you are having ant problems in your home or business. Visit us online to find out more information about ants and how to control them.

Adam Vannest: The New Director of Pest Services

Northwest Exterminating is proud to introduce Adam Vannest as our new Director of Pest Services.  As Director of Pest Services, Adam will be responsible for all of the ongoing pest control training and development at Northwest.  Adam has a strong commitment to excellence and continuing education; this passion will help Northwest to further their commitment to creating healthier living and working environments.

Adam is a graduate of Kennesaw State University where he studied Music Education.  Adam grew up surrounded by family members in the pest control industry.  So it was no surprise that after graduation Adam decided to follow in their footsteps.   Adam joined the Northwest family in 2007 and most recently served as the Monroe Service Center Manager.  He soon became a Georgia Certified Operator in both WDO and HPC categories.  Through his hard work, dedication, and involvement in civic organization, community events, and associations, Adam has helped Northwest to be the leader in pest and termite control.

Adam currently resides in Monroe with his wife, Elica, his son, Leo, and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a daughter in October!

Northwest is excited to have Adam on board in his new role!

You can contact Adam at [email protected]

Blogs by Adam:

How to Rid Yellow Jackets Using Glue Boards
10 Ways to Make Sure Your Home is Not Attractive to Rodents

Energy Savings from the Bottom Up

If your home is anything like mine you have a high electric bill in the summer and a high gas bill in the winter.  When one goes down, the other one goes up.  Luckily, Northwest Exterminating offers services that can relieve some of those painful energy bills from the bottom of your house up.

Northwest’s Complete CrawlSpace system will not only soften those energy bills but it will improve the overall health of your home.  Crawl spaces are often filled with moisture.  Moisture leads to high levels of humidity which cause mold growth, pests, and energy loss.  Energy loss may sound like a good thing but it actually causes your system to work harder leading to higher energy bills.  Closing in your crawl space can control the amount of moisture, correcting the issues listed above and preventing them from happening in the future.  This would give you a healthier, more energy efficient living environment that could save you up to 18% on utility bills.

Another way to save on energy bills is to properly insulate your atticTAP attic insulation can reduce both your heating and cooling bills.  When you have the recommended r-value (insulation’s resistance to heat flow) your insulation works more efficiently, meaning your heating and air isn’t working overtime to compensate.  TAP attic insulation can save you up to 30% or more on your utility bills.  Other benefits include:

Northwest can provide you with energy savings from the ground…up!  Call now or complete a Free Inspection Form.

Northwest Exterminating Acquires Jody Millard Pest Control of Hixon, TN

Northwest Exterminating is proud to announce that it has recently acquired Jody Millard Pest Control of Hixon, TN.  Jody Millard Pest Control has been servicing the Chattanooga area for over 17 years.    We’d like  welcome Jody Millard and his team to the Northwest Exterminating family!

—Press Release—


NORTHWEST EXTERMINATING ACQUIRES JODY MILLARD PEST CONTROL
Jody Millard Pest Control has been servicing Chattanooga, TN for over 17 years

Marietta, GA-Northwest Exterminating, the Southeast’s leader in GREEN Pest Control, recently expanded its reach by acquiring Jody Millard Pest Control. Based in Chattanooga, TN, Jody Millard Pest Control has been servicing the Tennessee area for more than 17 years. The acquisition will allow Northwest to extend its footprint and permit Jody Millard Pest Control to continue operating as a division of Northwest Exterminating.

In 2011, Northwest opened its first Tennessee service center in Murfreesboro, TN and now, with Jody Millard Pest Control added to the roster, eco-friendly pest control will take Tennessee by storm.  “At Northwest, our goal is to provide superior services that will enhance the health of homes and businesses, as we strive to make our communities better.  We are happy to add Jody Millard Pest Control to our team, as it will help us further our mission”, said Scott Eubanks, Leader of Technical Services and Industry Relations at Northwest Exterminating.

Jody Millard Pest Control provides more than 30 years of experience. With an excellent reputation and a strong force in the Chattanooga Community, Jody Millard Pest Control has knowledgeable employees and offers increased benefits for Northwest to provide excellent customer service in Tennessee.

About Northwest Exterminating                                    

Northwest Exterminating is a family owned and operated exterminating company that was established in 1951 by L.A. Phillips and his wife, Emma Lene Phillips. The company was founded on the values of honesty, integrity, and excellence. Today these values still remain the core of Northwest Exterminating as we have grown from a family of 2 to a family of over 300 team members and multiple service centers throughout Georgia and in Nashville, Tennessee. We specialize in residential and commercial termite control, pest control, mosquito control, wildlife services, lawn care, and insulation.

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