do it yourself Archives - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

DIY home repairs , do it right…

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DIY home repairs –

In DIY home repairs – don’t use chicken wire, spend the time and do it right with hardware cloth. Or better yet give ProBest Pest Management a call and have us do the the job correctly. The nice thing about hardware cloth is that it can be bent into angles which looks 100% better than chicken wire. Also I suggest the metal bird spikes, the plastic fades and weathers. Just a few tips to point you in the right direction.

Also just think about the height of the job, should you really be up there? I don’t do roofs… anymore.

Are bed bugs continuing to be a big problem?

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Bed Bugs are continuing their rise to a real pest in the U.S. and according to Orkin it doesn’t look like they are slowing down. Orkin has been keeping track of bed bugs calls within their company and provide data to keep officials and the public informed. “Chicago tops bed bug cities list for second year in a row“.

Phoenix is up seven from 35 to 28, so here are a few tips from me to keep you informed as well.

Just be aware of the issue, don’t panic. Many people are bitten by various bugs like mites, mosquitoes and think they have bed bugs. If you are being bitten isolate the area (by that I mean the area in the home) see what you can see. Check beds for fecal spotting (when bed bugs bite they eject old blood feces etc), if you see something moving catch it and keep it handy for an expert.
If you travel take precautions, I hand my clothes from the shower rod and put my luggage on the bathroom vanity and that is where it stays. Check the bed and close furniture and if you see something inform management and move to another room.
Remember bed bugs just don’t hang out on beds.
When returning home, unpack in garage or outside and check luggage. Wash everything and high heat, wrap luggage in black garbage bag and if you’re AZ put it in sun especially during summer 113 – 120 degrees in ideal to bake them.
Keep an eye out if you have guests or frequent visitors, they can travel in backpacks.
I’ll repeat “Don’t Panic!” call a Pest Management Professional, as I think this is not a “Do It Yourself” (DIY) program.

Have you ever really read the can or label, before you sprayed?

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I think that most people just grab the can and spray and since I’m in the biz, I just wanted to make sure everyone is aware of how dangerous that is. Look at all the stories about people that Do It Yourself (DIY) and almost blow themselves or their family/neighbors into the next world. For example what if the product contained a petroleum solvent which could explode or cause damage to other products or surfaces.

Story time – I remember sometime ago when I first learned how to use my favorite pest control tool, the bellows duster. I was dusting a wall outlet and in those days, the duster was made out of metal – apparently I got to close to the terminals and almost electrocuted myself. I learned a valuable lesson – I installed a plastic small hose to the end – that won’t happen again. The lesson here is that I was able to learn from that experience, what would have happened if I had inserted a spray into a void and there was flame – boom. I could have killed myself, so I’m thankful it was just sparks and a jolt.

So please read and understand the product you are using, I want you to be safe and grow old.

What’s happening in your neighborhood?

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This story scared me and I wanted to bee sure everyone paid attention to issues in your neighborhood. This story takes place in Florida but could easily be Arizona, Texas or any place where bees can make a home. This home in Port Orange, Florida had been plagued in the past but now that it is vacant it continues to be a problem in their neighborhood. I suggest that we all have something at stake in a neighborhood where there might be a foreclosed or vacant home. Here are my tips to stay safe when it comes to bees:

Check your home monthly especially in the Spring and Fall for unwanted guests.
Check the roof line and if you have a crawlspace make sure all doors are sealed.
Home seal your home.
Check the door thresholds, make sure they are sealed.
Check screens, repair or adjust if needed.
Check out building as well, sheds, cottages etc.
Bee work may not be a Do It Yourself (DIY) project, use caution or call a Pest Management Professional.

or maybe NOT!

When bee’s attack – true story…

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When bee’s attack – true story…

Africanized bee’s are not the friendliest and nicest of the bees we have in Arizona, but this story raised my antenna.

Read this story from the International Business Times Africanized Bees: Aggressive Insects Attack Beekeeper in Tennessee.

According to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, a horde of partially Africanized bees attacked one Tennessee beekeeper a few months ago. A cloud of about 100,000 streamed from a hive and surrounded the man, who ran and jumped into his car. It was five minutes before the swarm gave up its pursuit. The beekeeper, who was wearing protective gear, suffered about 30 stings.

This was an experienced veteran bee keeper, thank goodness he had a bee suit on, or he could have been a dead bee keeper. Bee work in Arizona is not – IS NOT a DIY or Do It Yourself job. Don’t kid yourself, because if you start a job and the bees become nasty there is no shut off switch. You cannot dial them back to nice, they may attack everything in the neighborhood including children, pets and anyone just out having a good time.

Friday 13th – Beware the bugs, really!

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Friday 13th – Beware the bugs, really!

Don’t panic bed bugs have nothing to do with Friday the 13th but it got me to thinking. So do work around furniture, clothing or anywhere where people meet. I’d probably say most of us fall into that category. But it got me to thinking about some things, the other day a few Fire Fighters came in and we got into discussing Bed Bugs. They told me that a fire station in Phoenix got them and that it freaked them out, so I thought I would put together a list of potential places where Bed Bugs might latch onto a unsuspecting host. Remember Bed Bugs are not like lice and that normally they don’t travel on people but consider that they are experts on hitchhiking.

Garbage or refuse haulers, do you pick up garbage and transport it to another dump site?
Self employed haulers.
Not for profit agencies that pick up clothes, or those box collection sites.
Moving van companies and employees.
Fire Fighters, Police, Medical Personnel, EMT’s & Paramedic’s or people that come into contact with people each day.
Clothing store employees.

So take care to do some random checking as you arrive back home or to your station. If you spot something crawling immediately go outside and get that thing off of you. Consider changing clothes in the garage and washing all clothes on hot and dry on hot for an hour – the book says 30-40 minutes but just a precaution, it takes 113° to kill adults and eggs. Don’t panic just use your common sense and you will be fine.

What nonsense? Just trying to be Patriotic!

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Yesterday was the 100th Centennial of Arizona and ProBest decided to offer FREE CAKE to our customers coming to our Contract U.S. Post Office, we also decided to purchase shirts with the logo and to decorate the front office and put balloons on our signs offering FREE CAKE.

This is the first time ever that we put up balloons and this just strikes me funny, in this economy you would think that the City would encourage business (we do sell stuff in our DIY store) and which we also include sales tax. Mr. Hall walked in and handed the note and said take the balloons down, he didn’t ask any questions just the note and a brochure on the law.

I don’t want to create any BIG issues here but PLEEEEEEEASE!

DIY Bed Bug treatment!

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Another article to justify my concern of DIY Bed Bug treatment!

I have written numerous times concerning the use of bug bombs, kerosene or even pesticides as a tool to eradicate pests. With all these tools we must take responsibility for the safe use and follow the use directions and labeling. It is very important to everyone for the safety of their families and neighbors. Often times problems may arise from the use of a pesticide and catastrophes may spiral out of control. Health risk can be associated with the improper use of pesticides no matter the good intentions.

You must follow all Label, SDS and directions of use with each pesticide. The failure to follow these simple recommendations may lead to your safety, those of your family, those of your pests and possibly neighbors. I constantly hear about fire, overuse of aerosols, mothballs just thrown throughout the house or DE (Diatomaceous earth). Most aerosols clearly talk about the size of the room and you just have to trust the chemical manufactures who produce this pesticide that it works at label recommendations.

One of my favorite stories is when I go to a house for the first time and I see white powder all around the home. Products like dust are to be applied into cracks and crevices, not spread everywhere were they may come into contact with children and or pets. Many products like mothballs are supposed to be in areas where you shouldn’t breath it in on a daily basis, hidden away in a closet properly sealed with door frame and bottom sweeps. All this with the intent of not breathing in pesticide fumes.

“Bedbug Treatments Can Be Hazardous” by Brian Mylar, KSAT 12 News Reporter

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DIY home repairs –