All posts in “home-seal”

Rodents in attic

Rodents and your attic

The attic and mice or rodents can be a real issue for homeowners. By now you should know that flies are my evil #1 pests and rodents rank as #2. That whole thing of flies landing in your backyard and then getting in and laying on your food just grosses me out. But anyway back to rodents, mice urinate as they walk and rats and mice will defecate almost anyplace. They can track over the ground and then scurry across your food, they can spread salmonellae and other parasitic diseases.  They also are known for the carry of Black Death or Bubonic Plague.

Just one mouse or rodent in the house, is one too many. So what do you do to prevent rodents from getting?

attic

  1. Check your property for holes and entry points.
  2. Fix screen, windows and doors. Use thresholds and door guards.
  3. Check weep holes and replace, they do wear out.
  4. Don’t allow clutter around the house.
  5. Trim trees and bushes from the home.
  6. Don’t allow sprinklers to hit the home.
  7. Call ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378 for help in any matter related to pests.

Pest Control Services

Pest Control Services

Pest Control Services -One stop service for all your pest needs. ProBest Pest Management has been in the Valley since 1981

Our services include:

Residential and Commercial, Rodents, Scorpions, Cockroaches, Bed bugs, Termites, Termite Inspections and treatments, birds including pigeons, home-sealing including StormShield, One time and Monthly, Every other month and Quarterly services available. Everybody wants a clean and pest free home, and those bugs can slip right on in. Home-sealing is the best preventive measure that can be done to prevent them from getting in.

ProBest services include phoenix home pest control and  commercial pest control.   We are in the Phoenix and surrounding cities.  Gilbert. Mesa.  Chandler. Queen Creek.  Apache Junction.  Gold Canyon. Johnson Ranch. Buckeye.  Avondale.  Surprise.  Sun City.  Glendale.  Peoria.  Deer Valley.  Scottsdale.  Tempe. Maricopa. Casa Grande.  Goodyear.  El Mirage.  Litchfield park.  Tolleson.  Laveen. Carefree. Cave Creek.  Fountain Hills. Gila Bend. Paradise Valley.  Youngtown. New River. Sun Lakes. We will also travel to Tucson and Prescott.

pest control services

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thk3ND217aQ[/embedyt]

Scorps how do they get in?

How do the scorps get in?

Scorps in the Phoenix Valley. Is this is typical for construction here in Arizona? Not only do you have to check outside but you must also check inside your family home?

So this little Scorpion (let’s call him Fred) one night was out lurking about for food. He came down the block wall where he was living because he had learned about this nice cool spot. He had heard about the crickets singing and chirping all night long.

Fred crossed the endless chasm of rocks and finally made it to the house. He started up the foundation where he found a crack. Now he was inside the wall, he started climbing the 2×4 wall studs, making his way to the attic of the house. Fred made his way under the insulation, he couldn’t really see anything. It was dark under all that insulation and it seemed to be everywhere. All of a sudden he fell, he had made it to a light. There was plenty of room around that light because no one had sealed it properly. Now he was in even bigger trouble, he had fallen into the bathtub and he couldn’t get out since it was very slippery porcelain.

The little child Kylea was running around the house and saw something in the bathtub, she leaned over to touch it and Fred stung her. Fred was just doing what he was born to do, survive an attack by something bigger.

Is it to late?

Well it’s to late for Fred the scorpion, the owners didn’t put up with him and gave him a sea burial. Better yet, they called ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378 who did a home seal, specialized foam treatment and continuous monthly pest control. They also taught their child to learn the different bad bugs in the Valley.

The moral of the story, hire a pest professional to combat the bugs. Don’t wait until you, your family or pet is stung.

Scorps

Scorps

IPM?

The success is IPM – Integrated Pest Management

We have often talked about IPM, and just to be clear it is Pest Control. Using all the tools at hand before you have to use pesticides. Technicians don’t prohibit the use, we just leave it for the end if the other techniques don’t work.

Here is an example – you have ants in the kitchen, you have sealed and caulked every possible opening along the entire wall and somehow they continue to get in. Furthermore you tried a pesticide outside (I suggest Termidor outside only) and that didn’t work either (you must understand the bug). So now the only option is to bait within the house, hide it in an area they frequent and bingo they are now gone. Use the tools and success, with minimal intrusion and pesticides. As a result most pesticides are useful, use them with caution and use as directed. Always play it safe read and understand the label.

Home-seal and prevention.
  • Do a monthly check of your property.
  • Seal any cracks or holes on the home, use caulking or steel wool if rodents are involved. Remember mice need a hole the size of a dime. Rats require something in the area of a quarter to gain entry. Seal it with steel or copper wool and calking or cement.
  • Remove, replace any wood rot and seal it if possible.
  • Keep trash receptacle closed and clean and away from house.
  • Keep bushes, trees and vines away from the house.
  • Keep wood trim painted or sealed to keep away pests.
  • Keep water usage to a minimum, make sure you’re not collecting water in certain areas.
  • If you have a crawlspace keep it clean and dry, always good to keep it ventilated as well.
  • Once a year have a termite inspection done, they can also perform a pest inspection.
  • When in doubt, or maybe you don’t understand the pest – time to hire a Professional.
IPM

IPM

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJENY7zpsGc[/embedyt]

Rodents, who will win?

Have you seen any rodents?

Rodents including rats and mice and it seems like every once in awhile we get them in the Valley, back in 2011 and this last year 2016-2017. Roof rats mainly and they can be a real pain if you live in areas where they have become quite the nuisance. Sometimes we even get Pack Rats, I still have no idea how they survive the Jumping Cholla cactus. They will use that cactus to build their middens (their home) and no idea why they don’t get barbs everywhere. If you live in Arizona you know to stay way clear of this cactus, they don’t jump but they somehow manage to get to you and they hurt.

Also we should be concerned about cabins or sweeping up remains of the rats/mice etc, Histoplasmosis  is a major concern.

rodents

rodents bait station

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6YlSxaeJq0[/embedyt]

Home-seal 10 tips

Home-seal Top 10 Tips video

Home-seal is the best method to keep out the bugs, nothing works better. It seems that almost anything you do and the scorpions still get inside.  But I consider it whatever you can do to reduce the numbers. Sealing is  #1, then pest control to reduce population of feeder bugs.  Black-lighting to reduce population on your property. Then finally patching any holes, including weatherstripping on doors and windows. Often times we unknowingly do things that help the pests, planting trees and bushes to close to the home, over watering to close to the foundation and not repairing or replacing screens. Home repairs and upkeep is important to keeping the bugs out.

Home-Seal Storm Shield

Home-Seal Storm Shield

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suiWKtQ97zs[/embedyt]

The Ghost of Scorpions Past!

Is it a Ghost or to much Diatomaceous Earth?

Ghost or an imprint of a scorpion on a couch at a new clients home? Do you how it happened, not exactly sure how this happened but here is my 2 cents. The scorpion was either in the attic or the ceiling and fell and then deposited dust onto the furniture. So how do you scorpions get into the attic?

These pests crawl in under the stucco where that jtrim attaches to the foundation, they then crawl up the wall into the attic and fall out in any opening that is available. That is how in my opinion how you find them in toilets, bathtubs and showers, because that material makes it impossible for them to climb on. So a home seal is the best protection to keeping them out of your house.

ghost scorpions

ghost scorpions

 

What are My TOP 10 Tips for keeping bugs out of your home?

TOP 10 Tips

Watch the useful Tips video below to get useful, helpful techniques for preventing bugs from getting into your home or business. I have to think that most people dislike bugs getting into the home and frankly there is no reason to put up with them. Home-sealing is probably the most economical as it will help to lower electric bills both in Winter and Summer. Keeping the heat or cooling systems at peak efficiency and keeping $$$$ in your pocket.

Think outside your house, think about the roof and out buildings. You will have to think like that pests or at least think how they might enter the house or shed. While we might need a door, they can find access through a hole.

tips

tips

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suiWKtQ97zs[/embedyt]

Ideas on Home-sealing

My Top 5 home-sealing tips – remember its the knowledge that counts…

Ideas – but first you have to know a few things….

  1. The inspection is crucial and you need to know what you are looking for,
  2. What tools do you need – flashlight, probing tool, step ladder and are you up for the check – maybe easier to call a Professional.
    ideas

    ideas

  1. Caulking the j-trim
  2. Filling in the holes where pipes and wires go into the home.
  3. Using hardware cloth on roof/ceiling weep vent holes.
  4. Don’t just think down but think up, check the roof and lines coming in.
  5. Check the garage door, both the bottom and the sides – use StormShield.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ovgr7Zrvu8&feature=youtu.be

How is GreenPro adding value to our Pest Control Industry and consumers?

GREENPRO PRINCIPLES

GreenPro certified services minimize pesticide exposure to humans, non-target animals, and the environment by:

  • Focusing on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies such as habitat modification, exclusion, removal of food and water sources, sanitation, and making repairs.
  • Providing and documenting thorough pest inspection and monitoring services, as well as follow-up to ensure efficacy.
  • Regularly communicating with clients about pests infestations, conducive conditions, and ways to prevent pests.
  • Requiring specialized training for all company employees who sell or perform these services.

Services that include any of the following will not be certified as GreenPro:

  • Preventive pesticide applications that are based solely on the calendar.
  • Routine, high volume pesticide applications without justification.
  • Indoor pesticide applications without justification.
  • Rodenticides placed in a manner in which they are accessible to children and nontarget animals.

All information taken directly from the Guide to certification.

I’ve been pushing this for years, my regular service is an outside only, inside only on request and based on the problem or issue. We only use power spraying for weeds and ticks. In Arizona we have scorpions, so we recommend home sealing but it also requires monthly spraying, we do use a lot of DE.

greenpro

 

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