seal Archives - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

All posts in “seal”

Seal it up

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Seal it up, your house that is.

Do you know what the biggest thing you can do to stop pests from getting into your house – seal it up. We have a lot of pests in Arizona that can get into our homes, from scorpions to rodents. So it is absolutely essential to seal up your home or business. Now I don’t suggest you do it now, it’s to hot but is can be a great winter project or better yet call ProBest Pest Management at 602-249-7378.

We have tried several caulks to see what works best, the more silicone the better. The only issue you will use all your muscles to squeeze it out, so pick a section of house and take your time. Also use a hose to maneuver the caulk where you want it. Scorpions are the biggest headache we have in Arizona. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has some suggestions and useful information at their site, check them out.

Entry points

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Entry points

This entry point – I couldn’t see this opening really well, but was sure something could gain entry. Could it be a bird or a rodent? This opening in the attic is important to annual checks. I would be concerned just looking at it but still needs to be sealed tighter to not allow unwanted guest. At least the door was closed but what if it was open, who would check and who might be able to close or lock it?

My opinion is that this is a perfect opportunity for rodent activity. The minute that mice or rats get into this space opens the chance for bacteria, urine and feces to become part of this home or business. Mice urinate while on the run and feces may be spread throughout the space.

Annual checks is what I’m saying, top on my list.

Sneaky Pests?

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Sneaky pests

Sneaky and surprised to see this fellow out and about during the day, but surprise was right! I guess when pushed they will do what they have to do.

Rodents can be difficult to keep out of structures. Mice can squeeze through spaces as small as a dime and rats can fit through holes the size of a quarter. For proper rodent pest control, seal any cracks and voids. Ensure there is proper drainage at the foundation and always install gutters or diverts which will channel water away from the building.

If you do find signs of a rodent infestation, contact a pest professional promptly. They will be able to inspect your home, confirm the species and recommend a course of rodent control treatment. Recommendations from the National Pest Management Association and ProBest Pest Management, 602-249-7378.

sneaky

Seal to keep out the bugs?

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SEAL – You have to think like a bug

Seal – One of those things that can be done to prevent bugs from hiding on your property is to seal as many of those hiding places that you can. This includes those block walls around your property, I once found about 50 cockroaches living in a crack along side a home with a block wall. I used a little dust and they came running, it was a sight to see and of course I had to show the homeowner.

We often get into a debate over inside and/or outside, I try to think like this – where do the bugs generally come from? Outside most of the time, so let’s prevent them from getting in and cut down on the pesticide in the home. Now doesn’t this just make more sense? Now if they come in a bag of food, then you have to decide on the best option inside. Many times it might be ants and the use of a bait is right up the alley to get to the Queen ant and no harm no foul with having to spray the whole house.

Seal

Who is eating my fruit?

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Don’t leave fruit on the ground

Well its that time of year when the critters might be trying to get in to stay warm. With the rains, the termites might be active as well. Are birds or rodents eating the fruit that has fallen from the trees. So keep an eye out for signs of activity, what do you need to look for:

Any new holes or scratching of any previous holes or opening in previously damaged wood or screens.
Remove any old firewood and only bring in what you expect to use immediately.
Pick up any fallen fruit and keep a watch for activity within the tree area.

Is this Orange being eaten by birds or rodents? Looks like teeth marks to me but its a tough decision…

Save money home-seal and keep the bugs out

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Save money

Do you want to save money? Home sealing is a critical and often overlooked piece of pest control! Sealing can save you money in the long run by saving on electricity and seeing fewer insects within the home or business. If you do a few things you can help yourself, blacklight to reduce numbers on your property. Pest control will help to reduce the food prey, which means that the scorpions may move on. Keeping clutter away from or reduced prevents hiding areas. Home-sealing prevents them from getting in.

We require an estimate, where we will look for entry points & propose a fix. For a typical home of 150 lineal feet (outside perimeter) your price would be $600 instead of $900 = a savings of $300! This includes a return visit to check caulking. Enter your contact information on the form to claim your coupon for $2 off per lineal foot!

Home Sealing Special

Rats, they will do whatever to get in…

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Any hole may be BIG enough to let them in

Probably no single pest creates fear as much as rats or rodents, so why the fear? My first thought is due to the fact they live in some nasty places, like sewers. They also have been named the culprit in the Plague which killed 2/3 of Europe back in 1358 or so. I have people say “I can live with with a mouse in my house”. They can and do spread disease, so I recommend keeping them out of your home. So what can you do?

Seal any holes in your home.
Check weep screens and those louvers in the attic.
Keep the clutter down in your yard.
Keep the grass mowed and keep the weeds from taking over the yard.
Don’t allow trees to touch the house.

Here are a few facts about rodents:

Mice don’t drink, they get all the moisture from their food.
Consume or contaminate about 20% of the world’s food supply.
They actually gnaw wires and are known to cause fires.
Rats are omnivorous, they feed on grains, seeds meats and just about anything they can get to.

As always if you have any concerns give ProBest Pest Management a call 602-249-7378

How do those scorpions get into your home?

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One of my favorite calls relates to how scorpions get into bathrooms or showers. People tell me they come up drains and that is incorrect. Arizona Bark Scorpions enter your home by crawling up stucco and gaining access into your attic. They then crawl around and under the insulation and finally they come to a recess light or something that was cut through the ceiling drywall. See all those cracks and if your home isn’t sealed well enough they will fall right into your house. Sometimes there are lights or fans right above the bath or shower and they just fall in. So here is my advice, pull down the plate that covers these holes and caulk the hole. This should be done on the top floor ceiling or if you live in a single story house the ceiling. On our website is a list of things we attempt to seal when we perform a Home-Sealing.

Have you done whatever it takes to keep out rodents?

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Nothing is probably worse than seeing a mouse inside your house, everything goes through your mind. How do I capture it, what do I do with it, can I do it myself and its goes on and on? The best thing to do, is to never have one get into your home. So what can you do:

Repair all holes and cracks in your home.
Don’t take in boxes which might have room enough for a mouse.
Repair screens.
Repair door seals and thresholds.
Repair garage door seals.
Don’t leave doors open.
Don’t leave pet food out.

If they are already in the home, glue boards do work but be careful if you have pets or children. Never, never use baits inside a home. Never, never use baits inside a home, yes I said that twice.

Home seals, are they worth the money?

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Based on these pictures I would have to say – YES!

If your dealing with scorpions or crickets, you can see how they get in. So what do you do about it, seal it. Or pay somebody else to do it, by the way do it in the winter when its cooler. We use clear caulking, it goes on white and dries clear. It is very difficult because you are only working in an area of maybe 4 inches, don’t seal the round holes as they allow the house to breath and let water escape.

Even small Smith’s Black Headed Snakes might be able to get in….