Archive for December, 2008

7 Common Household Pest Invasion Problems and How to Solve Them

1. Termites: Each year termites are responsible for billions of dollars worth of damage to homes in and around Sydney alone.

If you suspect your home may have been invaded by termites, it’s vitally important to book a qualified pest inspection company to inspect your home. If you’re considering buying or selling a home in the Sydney area, then termite inspection verification is often a condition of sale.

A simple treatment can not only help prevent the infestation spreading further, but also protect against the threat of future infestations.

2. Mice: Mice breed very rapidly in the tiniest of spaces. Not only do they spread disease and bacteria, they’re also capable of gnawing through even the toughest plastics to gain access to food.

A simple mousetrap, bait or poison is often effective to get rid of one or two mice but may pose a risk to children and pets. More serious measures might be needed if the mice have bred to infestation levels somewhere near your home.

3. Fleas: It only takes one flea to lay eggs on your pet or in your carpet and suddenly you have an infestation that is almost impossible to get rid of. They are capable of breeding at an incredible rate, so as quickly as you can kill them, there are thousands more in their place.

Fleas can spread diseases to your pets and cause severe allergic reactions, skin problems, rashes, and in severe cases even anaemia in people and pets alike.

Treating your pet and its bedding is a great start, but if the fleas return a professional treatment may be the simplest, most effective option.

4. Spiders: Spiders are unpopular whenever they pop up unexpectedly in your home.
There are several insecticide sprays available however care needs to be taken when using these.

5. Cockroaches: Nobody likes cockroaches. Not only are they notoriously difficult to kill, they love to breed in warm conditions, such as in your home. They communicate with each other by emitting pheromones, so if one cockroach finds a nice food source they can ‘call’ thousands of other cockroaches, leaving you with a swarm in your home.

Spraying or leaving cockroach traps can be effective but again, if their numbers get out of control, these methods won’t be enough.

6. Ants: Not only are ants annoying, but they’re persistent. When they’ve found a potential food source, they’ll persist and keep coming back even after you’ve sprayed.

Baiting is usually an effective way to handle an ant problem as the bait is taken back to the nest by the worker ants where it may be eaten by the queen ant.

7. Bees: Many people have severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to bee stings, so disturbing a nest of bees yourself or trying to relocate them could cause them to swarm in self-defence.

Whilst some insect sprays may also work on bees this is not recommended as it may be difficult to ensure that the spray affects the entire hive. The safest option here is to contact a professional. If you have a honey bee infestation a local beekeeper may be willing to remove your bees for free.

Each of these pests is present in or near your home most of the time and normally they live harmoniously with humans. Many options are available to deal with these insects on a small scale, but when nothing you try works to get rid of them, it’s time to call in the professionals to get the job done quickly and safely.

If you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for assistance with professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.

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How to have a Termite and Pest Free Home

IIt may surprise people to know that lowly little termites can wreak more havoc and destruction on homes than even fires can accomplish. These insects have been around for millions of years and there is no reason to think that they have any plans to retreat at this stage of the game.

Most termites invade old homes or those that have not had proper upkeep, but there are times when termites and other pests create problems with newer homes as well. This can occur whenever trees are cleared for the building of houses. If termites are already present in the area they find it jolly fun to move their nesting colonies from the destroyed mounds to the much nicer location that the new homes offer. Even having concrete or brick slabs or underpinnings can not guarantee safety from these invaders.

There are considered to be two basic types of termite, those that seek burrows in the earth and those that live in dry wood. Prevention is seen as the most effective method of protecting your home, so a proactive stance is essential. To protect your property against pest invasions the following measures may help:

- Keep standing water away from your home and away from the foundation as moisture is a lure for termites and other pests.

- Make sure that your rain gutters and spouts are clean and free of debris, always use splash guards to direct water away from your home

- Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces dry and assure that you have adequate ventilation. Plastic, moisture proof barriers placed on the ground in crawl space areas will help prevent termite invasions.

- Always deal with leaky pipes and plumbing problems immediately

- Keep any foundation cracks repaired to thwart the invading hordes of termites that may have plotted a course for your home.

- Always keep wood free from contact with the soil, if you have wooden underpinnings you can have these areas treated to help prevent termites from setting up residence. Wooden steps or supports should always be on some type of concrete base.

- Never have firewood or lumber lying on the ground near the home structure.

- Do not allow any plants, shrubs or vines to make constant contact with your home and avoid having trees too near your house. Trees and stumps can offer shelter to termites that have your home in their sights.

- Keep your home as finely maintained as possible. Make sure that the paint on the exterior surfaces is kept in good condition. Keep vents screened to keep out the flying pests.

- A thorough home inspection before you purchase a home and once a year thereafter can keep your residence safe and sound. Catching termites before they can get a foothold on your property is one of the best preventive measures that you can find.

If you should find yourself with pest or termite invasions of any size, seeking the advice and help of professionals will be your best course of action. These pest exterminators are trained to identify the problem and can offer you options to help remedy the situation. Your home is a valuable asset and investment so it is in your best interest not to jeopardise its structural integrity.

f you have a termite problem that you want taken care of quickly and professionally, you can contact Pink Pest Services for assistance with professional termite control in Sydney.

We are only too happy to assist.

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