Pest Control Charlotte NC

Termites (Photo credit: Gnilenkov Aleksey)

There will be a multitude of things on your mind when purchasing a new home, and although a termite inspection may not be at the top of your list, you certainly don’t want to brush it off and find out later that you are being invaded by the wood-eating tiny creatures. Becoming a responsible homeowner from the beginning will only help prevent what could cost you dearly in the end. While most insects that find their way into your home are just considered a nuisance, termites can cause serious damage and leave your home in shambles. Termites can go undetected for years, not only eating away at the wood-framed structure you’re living in, but also feeding on books, papers, furniture, carpet, cloth and insulation. This is why professional termite inspections are recommended at least once a year to prevent infestations or detect an already existing problem. Areas determined to be high risk should be inspected more frequently.

What To Expect During A Termite Inspection

Termite Visual Inspection Zone (Photo credit: Kaptain Kobold)

An inspector should begin by going over any areas of concern the homeowner may have to get a better understanding of any signs of termites already recognized. From that point, the inspector will continue their interior and exterior search for three things: current activity, past activity and potential access. Current activity would show evidence of the actual insects, either in the damage they are causing or in the mud tubes they create to travel from soil to structure.

Inspectors are also trained to look for exit holes and droppings, which are strong indicators your home has been violated by the pests. Past activity is determining old wood damage by termites in particular without an indication that they are still present. Potential access allows the proprietor to know of any places in their home that could prove easy entry to termites and cause future infestations, such as cracks in the foundation, wood-to-ground contact, exposed and untreated wood and moisture sources.

A complete list of the inspected areas will be provided, and if it is determined treatment is needed, discussing options and pricing will conclude the inspection, which typically takes 45 minutes to an hour.

What About Do-It-Yourself Inspections?

Termite mud tube found in pest inspection (Photo credit: danielmoyle)

Doing a termite inspection yourself is not recommended in most cases. For an accurate report of damage or potential damage to your home enlisting the service of a properly trained and licensed professional is the way to go, and in most states any real estate transaction involving a wood-destroying insect inspection requires the appropriate training on biology, construction and control of termites. Experienced inspectors use tools when searching homes that a typical homeowner doesn’t have access to, like probing tools, moisture meters, infrared camera technology that can reveal termite tubes and moisture infiltration in hidden areas.

Making termite inspections part of your home maintenance routine will prevent or minimize damage and save you the headache of a much bigger problem down the road. Your home is arguably the biggest investment you’ll ever make, and putting that in jeopardy to save a couple extra bucks just isn’t worth it.

Tiffany Olson works a small firm in California where her primary duty is to educate the public by blogging on many topics including termite inspection in Union City. On her off time you’ll most likely find her enjoying outdoor activities or hanging out with good friends.

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Guest Post Published by Bulwark

The garden is an extension of the home, and in the right weather conditions it can be the best part of a home. Whether you like to work, study, exercise or relax in the garden, it seems that being surrounded by nature is good for the soul. Gardens are also great places to socialize and eat, and what could be better than a barbecue on a fine summer day with family and friends?

When we’re trying to make the most of our garden it’s very unfortunate when tiny insects ruin our fun, and while flies and other insects might be undesirable and unhygienic, wasps strike the most fear into our heart.

The Sting

Bees have a sting, but they have a good reputation, as happy bumbling insects carefully making honey for our toast. Their sting can make you very uncomfortable, but it’s hard to be angry with a bee when you realize it took its own life, kamikaze style, in order to dispatch that tiny sting.

Wasps, on the other hand, can dispatch as many stings as they like without feeling any consequences, like a fighter jet with an endless supply of fuel and ammo. This is why we’re scared of wasps, and why we dance around, ducking and diving when they are present.

Eliminating Wasps From Your Garden

Before you use harmful chemicals to tackle the wasp problem, consider the repercussions. Wasps are part of the natural balance, so if you wipe out every wasp in the area you may find that other insect populations will grow without them. This could mean your flowers or vegetables get chomped by a growing caterpillar or aphid population. You should also consider the impact of poisons and pesticides on wildlife and plant life in the garden, as well as any pets or children who spend time in the garden.

There are a number of ways to stop wasps from ruining your barbecue without massacring them with pesticides. One of the easiest and most efficient solutions is to simply draw any wasps to another area of the garden.  Jars of jam or other sweet, sticky food will attract wasps and keep them off your dinner.

There are a few insectivorous plants which can solve a wasp problem, including Sarracenias. They attract wasps and other insects, before trapping them, smothering them and consuming them. The Venus Fly trap is one of the better-known insectivorous plants, but it can’t eat wasps.

Think twice before using traps and other devices to hold wasps prisoner – when they are trapped they can emit a pheromone which will alert other wasps in the area to their plight. It can lead to more wasps descending on the area and the problem getting worse rather than better.

Of course, you should take hygiene precautions to ensure that flies and other insects cannot get to meat, salad, and any other food at your barbecue. Don’t let wasps ruin your barbecue. Don’t be scared, just grab a jam jar and position it at the other end of the garden and get back to flipping those burgers!

Alan Derry is a pest control writer and a wasp enthusiast writing on numerous topics to do with them for more information see Sankeys pest control in Brighton 

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Guest Post Published by Bulwark

Garden Pests

There is nothing quite as disgustingly irritating as seeing pests of any shapes or sizes scurry across your beautifully pruned lawn. Whilst rodents, insects, moles, squirrels and other pests can invade your garden at any time of the year, there are certain steps we can take to make life harder for a pesky pest in its quest to wreak havoc in our beloved gardens.

Take a look at some of the ways you can help prevent pests from invading your garden.

Keep Rubbish At Bay

There is nothing that rodents, such as rats and pests such as cockroaches, love more than rummaging round for decaying rubbish that has been left outside in the garden. The smell of food, whatever it may be, will attract rodents and pests, which will rapidly multiply in numbers unless the rubbish is dealt with accordingly and taken away.

This potential problem is easy to rectify or avoid by simply ensuring that all rubbish left outside your home is securely inside a sealed container that is impossible for any unwanted pests to enter.

Cover Up Compost

Similar to the irresistible odor of rotting food in unsealed bins floating into the air, the smells generated from unsealed compost heaps will inevitably attract pests and rodents. To avoid the likes of rats, mice, foxes and cockroaches congregating in your compost heap, take the sensible precaution of covering all compost up with a tightly sealed cover.

Trim Back Branches and Trees

Many insects live in the boughs and branches of trees and bushes and whilst this is not usually a problem if these insects are confined to our gardens, if they manage to make their way into our homes, it may become problematic.

You can limit the chances of tree-born insects making their way indoors by trimming back trees and bushes so that they are well away from the house, as overhanging branches that are in contact with the walls of houses is an open invitation for bugs galore.

Place Bird Feed in a Suitable Bird Feeder

Throwing the crusts of the children’s sandwiches and other unwanted food onto the lawn to feed the birds is just crying out to invite the likes of rats, foxes and pests into your garden. Instead of throwing food into the garden willy-nilly, place bird feed in a controlled feeder will ensure that only the birds reap your generosity and not every fox, squirrel, rat and mouse in the neighborhood!

Jessica Jones works as a pest controller and often uses supplies from turfland.co.uk to keep her garden pest free.

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Guest Post Published by Bulwark