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Service Questions
If it rains, will outside treatment materials wash away?
Once the product has dried following application, the carriers (water and other inert ingredients) will evaporate leaving a durable residual that adheres to surfaces and is resistant to being washed away by rain. Some residual granules that we use are actually activated by water, so a rainfall up to approximately ¼ inch of rain is needed to activate the residual in the granules. Many bait type granules are manufactured to withstand some level of rainfall and still be effective while others need to be applied in areas protected from water.
Will I still see pests after treatment?
Following an initial service, some pests will still be present for a period of time, however the product will still be working and reducing this number. Pests outside of the treated zone will not be effected by the product applied unless or until they enter the treated area. This residual treated zone acts as a barrier to help keep pests away from your home. Pests will continually be attempting to gain access to your home, this is why for the best results, an ongoing service, like our Perimeter Protection Plan is recommended. If you have more than an occasional sighting of pests inside, please call us. We'll be happy to schedule a service call at no additional cost to you.
How effective are electrical pest control systems that are on the market?
Ultrasonic devices have been tested by entomologists at major universities and have been found to have little to no effect on insects and other pests. Some devices may be beneficial in some situations for rats and birds, but even these have their limits and usually do not produce the desired results. While they won’t make the problem worse, We don’t feel they will be of much benefit either. We don’t recommend their use.
Why should the outside rather than the inside of my home be treated for pests?
By treating the exterior of your home, we reduce the population of the insects that are just outside your home, waiting for an opportunity to get in. This provides a much greater chance of preventing access to the inside of your home, where they can potentially cause problems and even damage.
How long does a perimeter pest treatment last?
It's difficult to give an exact length of time on how long a treatment will last because it often depends on your specific pest problem weather conditions. However the effective life (the amount of time the product application will likely still be able to kill the target insect) appears to be close to if not up to 90 days. This is why we generally suggest a quarterly program for most people. Most customers are quite satisfied with the results achieved with a quarterly service. However, if your pest tolerance is especially low, you might be happier with a monthly application. We sell both and will be happy to perform either for you.
What should I do to prepare for a perimeter treatment?
One of the best things about perimeter pest control is how easy it is on you. Unlike an indoor treatment where you're sometimes required to cover and move certain items, there is little preparation needed prior to the technician making the treatment. Your help keeping any toys, tools, or garden hoses lying next to your house picked up will be appreciated. If these items are in an area that we need to treat, and have not been removed prior to our arrival, we will remove them from the area we need to treat prior to our treatment or if removal is not feasible we will not treat that particular area. Another plus: Since the exterior of your home is being treated, you don't have to be home for the technician to make the treatment. Our customers say this is one of their favorite parts about our service.
Will the treatment harm the grass, shrubberies or flowers around my home?
No. Even with direct contact, you never have to worry about the product we use harming the soil or lawn.
Should children and pets be kept away from the treated area?
Children and pets as well as everyone else should stay off the treated area until surfaces are dry. Once the surfaces are dry, use the treated area as you would normally and take comfort that they are not likely to contain bugs.
Is there any odor with the treatment?
Generally, the answer here is no. Some people are more sensitive to smells and odors than others, for this reason we are reluctant to say there will be NO ODOR. With that being said, for the most part customers tell us they cannot smell the application at all.
Usually the Pest Technician sprays all around my home, this time he put out granules. Why didn‘t he spray like before?
Many times the treatment will involve pulling a treatment hose from truck mounted equipment and power spraying the perimeter areas of your home. Other times the technician may be seen broadcasting granules around the perimeter, dusting cracks In the foundation, removing spider webs with a Webster removal tool, placing baits in selected areas, or other treatment methods. Regardless of which method employed on a particular service trip, you can rest assured that we are providing the most advanced yet most responsible pest treatment for you and your family’s protection and the method that we feel will help you the most at this particular time. Please remember that we are here to please you by keeping you as pest free as possible. If you feel that you need an additional service inside or outside please give us a call at 424-9154 or click here to schedule a follow up service. Your complete satisfaction is our goal.
Frequently Asked Flea Control Questions
Q: My wife gets bitten by fleas but they don't bite me. Why?
A: Fleas, mosquitos, and some other insects that feed on blood are attracted to chemicals emitted from the body (sweat, exhalation, etc.). Some people put off chemicals that are more attractive to these insects than others do.
Q: What are sand fleas?
A: "Sand flea" is a common name for a small orange amphipod found along the beach. But generally when you hear people speak of "sand fleas",
they are really talking about cat fleas. Sometimes people find fleas in a sandbox or other sandy area and assume they must be "sand fleas" because of where they were found. If you're in the USA, they are most likely just regular old fleas,(cat fleas).
Q: I have set off foggers in my house several times and the fleas keep coming back. What am I doing wrong?
A: Usually unless a quality product is used containing an insect growth regulator (IGR), the fleas will continue to return. The fogging is killing the adult fleas and this gives you temporarily relief. Many times store bought products do not contain these IGR's. If an effective Igr is used in conjunction with an adult killing product, The adult fleas will die and the resulting newly hatched fleas should not be able to develop a biting mouthpart, and thus will die as well.
Q: Everytime we go on vacation, we always come home to fleas. Are we bringing them from our condo while on vacation? We have a dog but always take him with us.
A: Some fleas were likely present in the home before you ever left. Because your pet was present before you left, most of the fleas probably stayed on him and weren't bothering you. When you left and took the dog with you, the fleas that made it to the pupa stage were primed and waiting for a host. When you re-entered the home, they found one. To prevent this, we recommend keeping your pet treated with Frontline Plus monthly. This product will keep fleas to a minimum on your pet and it also contains a growth regulator which will inhibit the production of these new fleas.
Ant Questions
I am seeing ants in my dishwasher and all over my kitchen cabinets. What will get rid of them?
While ants are all similar in that they are social insects and have a nest. All ants are not created equal. It can be important to know what species of ant you are trying to control to keep from making the problem worse. Some ants respond well to sprays and others respond better to baits. Some species may be coming from outside the home and can be controlled there, others may be living in the walls and efforts to control from the outside will be fruitless. Generally the best control can be had by locating the source and eliminating the ants there. Sometimes that location can be difficult to find. We have had great success in controlling ant problems for our customers on a variety of levels. Feel free to contact us for a free analysis of your ant situation.
What's the best way to get rid of pharaoh ants?
Any repellent pesticide products applied to control pharaoh ants will only serve to make the problem worse. Such treatments cause colonies to split into two or more colonies(called budding). Sometimes even using harsh cleaners or just extreme vibrations in their vicinity can cause this budding to occur. Only a baiting program needs to be used to attempt to eliminate this pest. You definitely don’t want to tackle this one by yourself. It normally takes the experience of a professional to achieve elimination of this ant due to its cryptic habits and potential to split(bud). This ant commonly uses the electrical wiring and plumbing pipes inside walls as "highways" to travel from room to room.
How do I get rid of Fire Ants?
Fire ants can be difficult to eliminate totally because they can reinvade from neighboring properties. While we do not currently offer a lawn treatment for fire ants, we can recommend a few products to assist with their control. Currently what appears to be the best product on the market for long lasting control is Over-N-Out. This product claims to offer control for a complete year and from reports this claim is fairly accurate. This product can be purchased at select local box stores (Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Etc.) as well as possibly TSC, and other local farm and garden stores like Giles Farmer’s CO-OP. It generally doesn’t come cheap, but is a good product for the money. Be sure to always follow label directions an don’t be tempted to over apply or under apply. (Label) (MSDS)
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