Apr 23, 2012 | Termite Control
If you think that you work hard, think again, you have nothing on THE TERMITE! Termites are working hard, 24/7, to find food. Unfortunately for us, their food is the very wood that we use to build homes. Your home is your biggest asset and you shouldn’t compromise the structural integrity of your home by allowing termites to feed and cause damage. Termites cause up to $5 billion in damage each year and their damage is typically not covered under homeowners’ insurance. This can be an expensive out-of-pocket cost.
Termites show up around your home in early March and hang around until June. A lot of termite damage can be done in this time. It is best to have a professional exterminating company provide you with termite control that will get rid of termites that are in your home and prevent new termites from coming in. Northwest Exterminating is one of the few termite control companies that offer warranties along with our termite treatments. Retreatment & Repair warranties or a Lifetime Termite Warranty are both offered by Northwest Exterminating. Our highly trained representatives will conduct a FREE termite inspection on your home and create a customized treatment plan that is best suited for the needs of you and your home.
Termite damage
Keep an eye out for signs that termites may be invading your home. Look for rotting wood, mud tunnels, or shed wings on both the inside and outside of your home, paying close attention to doors and windowsills. Ensure that there is no water gathering near the foundation of your home. Not only will it serve as an invite to termites but other pests such as silverfish, mosquitoes, and many others. Inspect all raw lumber or firewood before you bring it into your home for signs of termites.
For a FREE inspection of your home visit our website or call us at 888.466.7849. Make sure that your home is protected from termites.
Apr 2, 2012 | Mosquito, Pest Control
Spring is here and so are the pests. We’ve talked a lot about the unusually warm weather leading to higher numbers of pest sightings and our Ask the Mouse section on our website has been a great place for readers to ask questions about pests they are seeing. Mosquitoes, bed bugs, and carpenter bees are among some of the common household pests that are being seen this spring. Take a look below at some of our most common recent questions.
Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?
Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and can sense it from up to 30 yards away. Researchers are still trying to find out exactly what it is that makes some people more attractive than others. Research has indicated that the amount of carbon dioxide in the breath, pregnancy, body temperature, alcohol and odorant markers based on blood type are the top attractants. Pregnant women are preferable because they exhale more carbon dioxide and tend to run a little warmer than the average person. It is also thought that alcohol increases body heat making a person more appealing. So be careful who you hang around at the next cook out.
My son’s coming home from college. What do I need to do to make sure he doesn’t bring home bed bugs?
Bed bugs are evasive and hard to detect. When your son brings home his clothes, make sure to leave them outside, in a detached building or in the garage. Immediately place the dirty clothes in the washing machine and dry them on high for at least 10 minutes. It is best to keep the luggage out of the house if possible. If you don’t have that option you can place the luggage in black plastic bags and leave them outside in the sun on a hot day. You can also do this with furniture. Bed bugs won’t tolerate temperatures greater than 120 degrees. Since bed bugs are tiny and can get into the smallest cracks, it is best to have a professional to inspect furniture and other items before you bring them into your house.
I found sawdust on my back porch. Does that mean I have termites?
Termites eat the cellulose part of the wood and don’t leave behind sawdust. Chances are you have a different pest, one of the most common is the carpenter bees. Carpenter bees get their name because they excavate clean round entrance holes, close to ½ inch wide, into soft wood such as pine, cedar, cypress and fir. The prefer to attack structural timbers and other wood products such as fascia boards, porch ceilings, decks, railings, siding, shutters, firewood, and other weathered wood. They tend to avoid wood that is well painted or covered in bark. They do not eat the wood therefore they leave behind the sawdust. They bore into wood to make galleries for nesting. If left untreated, they can cause extensive damage.
What other questions do you have for Northwest Exterminating’s Ask The Mouse section?
Have you seen mosquitoes, bed bugs, carpenter bees, or other pests in or around your home?
Feb 15, 2012 | Pest Control
Q:Why am I seeing pests like ants in my home in the middle of winter?
A: It has been a strange year. From a personal perspective, no snow and warmer than usual temperatures, have been very nice. From a pest perspective, I fear we will be seeing some unusual pest movements this year. Recently we have had several wasp and bee complaints, ants are running wild and termite swarms have occurred. Setting us up for a very unusual spring and summer. Ants have been especially problematic because they usually are not around for awhile, but they’re back.
What do you do? First, keep areas clean, spills and dropped food can attract the ants from a distance. Pick up pet food and water, this can also act as an attractant. Watch for leaking hoses and garden or yard tools that are left wet after work, this attracts pests to the structure and could lead them inside. The best way to protect yourself is to have a professional exterminator your structure for entrances and give recommendations to reduce the potential hiding areas around your place.
Jerry Hatch
Technical Director
BCE CEHT CP-FS
LEED Green Associate
If you have a question about your pest control, ASK THE MOUSE!
