Archive for the 'Commercial Pest Control' Category

Termites: The Invisible Threat to Your Property

Published on October 3, 2008 in Commercial Pest Control, Termite Control, Termite Inspections and Termites. 0 Comments

Shhh!!  Did you hear something?  No, it is not a burglary going down but there is danger afoot in your home. Termites [aka white ants] are busy chipping away at your financial investment. It is time to turn the light on these freeloading bugs, and kick them to the curb. Do not wait until they move in permanently and eat you completely out of house.

Termites need food and water, just like any other animal. However, the favourite food of the termite is wood - which makes your home look like a 24 hour buffet to them! Termites feed on the cellulose in wood, which they convert to sugar in their digestive process. Termites get water from leaky faucets and standing water in or outdoors. Don’t give termites a free meal!

About twenty percent of homes in Sydney are already infested with termites. You can keep these destructive insects out of your home by taking preventative measures to protect yourself. First, make sure that you have no faulty parts in your ventilation system which allow for the build-up of water, which will attract these pests. Giving termites a drinking fountain is like inviting them into your home. Also check your foundation for any cracks which will make it easy for termites to get in.

Termites build their colonies and live their lives mostly underground. They build a labyrinth of tunnels which may go as deep as three feet underground. These tunnels often lead right into your home! When termites invade, they can undermine your home with their tunnels. To prevent termite incursions, you must be vigilant. Remember, these creatures can destroy your biggest and most important investment - your home.

You may not encounter a swarm of termites outside your door, or see any outward signs they are lurking in the shadows. To be on the safe side, it is in your best interest to terminate their existence before they take a big bite out of yours. The price you pay for termite protection now is well worth the expense, compared to costly repairs in the future.

Annual termite inspections protect your home and its value. When selling your property prospective buyers will expect proof of the house being termite free. If there are any indications of a previous termite infiltration, even if termites no longer exist, it can cost you losing valuable equity, just the fact that termites were once present. In high-risk areas, experts recommend timely termite inspections at least twice a year. This damage control stops termites dead in their tracks before you have to say”there goes the neighborhood.”  Termite infestation is a serious threat in Sydney. We cannot just sit back and hope the problem will disappear.

To win the war against termites, you need to call in the professionals. A thorough termite inspection helps prevent, detect, and treat termite attacks. Reinforcements are needed to fight the invisible bugger who strikes without warning. Make a move toward a successful termite extermination plan.

For more information or to arrange an inspection contact Pink Inspections on (02) 9529 2111 or contact us online.

No Tags

Ten Facts You Must Know About Termites

Published on September 3, 2008 in Commercial Pest Control, General, Pest Control, Termite Control, Termite Inspections and Termites. 0 Comments

Termites are a problem in Australia, more so in Sydney. You may not know this, but there are termite-prone residential zones in Sydney, and if your house is located in such a zone, then you should be getting regular inspections. Also, if you are buying a new home in Sydney, then you have to run a check to ensure the previous owner has combated any termite problems; otherwise it will become your even bigger problem.

The fact of the matter is if you live in the Sydney area, you must be aware of the potential problems associated with termites, no matter whether you rent or own your home. Some people think they can save money by avoiding inspections. Well here are 10 facts that may just let you know what you are up against.

1. Termites are a major problem in Australia. If you have a home that is termite infested then the damage they can cause can be financially crippling. It is proven that there are millions of dollars in losses ever year in Australia due to termite damage.

2. An average 20% of homes in Australia received damage due to termites. There are an estimated 130,000 new termite attacks on an annual basis.

3. The losses reported from termites are five times more that the losses seen from a combination of flood, fire and storms.

4. The termites that are the most well known in the Sydney area are the Kalotermes, which are dry wood termites and the Coptotermes Acinaciformis, which are subterranean termites. These termites are very hearty and have been known to damage wood-framed homes as well as brick and steel with the same energy.

5. Termites are known to adapt and they tend to develop a taste for materials that are commonly used in the construction of homes.

6. One averaged sized termite colony can chew up a room’s floor in just 3 months - yes, termites have quite an irrepressible appetite.

7. Termites do not stop once they have entered your home. Instead they begin to eat things like shoes, clothing, electrical wiring and furniture.

8. If you discover a colony of termites in your home, you should not try to destroy them on your own as the will only come back stronger than before. The reason is that they can burrow into the soil to live and then return because they know where their food source is in your home. You should make sure to let a professional take care of it for you.

9. You may know that you can detect termites yourself by tapping on wood with a screwdriver handle. But you sure don’t know that even a mere tapping by a screwdriver handle on infested wood can break the wood. This also disturbs the termites, thus limiting your treatment options.

10. Only experienced and specialised termite inspectors, and no one else, are qualified to treat termite related issues.

Well, the fact is if you have a home or are planning to buy one in Sydney, you need to hire an experienced pest control agency that knows termites like the back of its hands. If you don’t, you will compromise on your health and wealth by ignoring or avoiding the problem.

For more information or to arrange an inspection contact Pink Inspections on (02) 9529 2111 or contact us online.

No Tags

Bedbug Treatment Checklist

Published on February 27, 2008 in Bedbug Control, Commercial Pest Control, General and Pest Control. 0 Comments

So you have bedbugs…

We know they are one of the most annoying little pests that not only cause a lot of itching and discomfort but can destroy a good night’s sleep.

Let’s assume that you have completed the Bedbug pre-treatment checklist and have booked an appointment with a Sydney bedbug eradication specialist.

The next step is the treatment itself. Here is a summary of what will happen if the treatment is compliant with the Bed Bug Code Of Practice.

During the treatment your pest control technician will:

  • Conduct a detailed inspection of the infested areas.
  • Vacuum to remove bed bugs and their eggs.
  • Conduct a treatment using a steam cleaner.
  • Apply an approved pesticide as necessary, to cracks, crevices and other harbourage points.
  • Conduct a gas treatment (where applicable). After the gas treatment, the property will need to be vacated for at least 4 hours.

After the treatment, we recommend that you:

  • Open all doors and windows and allow the property to ventilate.
  • In the case of Pink Pest Services, we conduct a follow up inspection in approximately 14-21 days. Where further activity is located, an additional treatment will be carried out as required. It is not uncommon to locate further activity during this follow up visit.

In some cases, it can take up to a month to achieve full control of an infestation, as the bed bugs come into contact with the treatment agents applied.

Where a Free Service Period has been offered, we return and retreat, as required, any area covered by the initial treatment, at no expense to the client, for the period as indicated on the initial quotation.

Before engaging any pest controller, we recommend that you check to see that a Free Service Period has been specified because bedbug treatment most often requires multiple visits.

For more information or to arrange a treatment contact Pink Pest Services on (02) 9529 5222 or contact us online.

No Tags

Bedbug Control Pre-Treatment Checklist

Published on February 27, 2008 in Bedbug Control, Commercial Pest Control and Pest Control. 0 Comments

Bedbug infestations have increased by more than 5000% in the Sydney area since 1999. They have now become very common in all areas of Sydney.

Many people assume that getting rid of bedbugs is as easy as a quick pest treatment. Actually, the process is rather more involved and successful eradication of bed bugs depends on significant preparation on the part of you, the bedbug “victim”.

The following “pre-treatment checklist” will help you ensure that the bedbugs are eradicated as quickly as possible and you can enjoy an uninterrupted night’s sleep once again.

Bedbug Pre-treatment checklist

Prior to the treatment you will need to:

  • Remove all bedding from beds and ensemble bases. This should be washed at temperatures of more than 60 degrees C and dried in a clothes drier on the hot setting for a minimum of 30 minutes. Place clean bedding in a NEW plastic bag for storage. Return bedding to infested room/s only AFTER treatment.
  • Remove clothes from cupboards/wardrobe and wash, dry and store in the same manner as described above.
  • Items that can not be washed and dried may be placed in the freezer overnight or be professionally dry cleaned.
  • Carry out any specific recommendations that your Pink Pest Services technician makes during the quotation.
  • Remove all pets from the property during the treatment and for 4 hours after. (Fish tanks inside the house will need to be covered with cling wrap and the filter turned off during the treatment).
  • Children under 4 will need to be removed from the property during the treatment and for 4 hours after.
  • We recommend that pregnant women and people with asthma and/or allergies stay away from the property overnight.
  • IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO MOVE ITEMS BETWEEN ROOMS OR TREAT AREAS WITH FLY SPRAY OR THE LIKE. THIS WILL MAKE THE TREATMENT MORE DIFFICULT, SPREAD THE INFESTATION AND REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SUCCESSFUL CONTROL.

Where all of the above measures have been completed, Pink Pest Services provides a Free Service Period guarantee in writing.

By combining your efforts with professional bedbug control, your chances of eradicating any bedbug problem increase dramatically.

For more information on bed bugs and their control we recommend that you look at a copy of the Bed Bug Code of Practice at www.bedbug.org.au

No Tags

Is Your Commercial Pest Control Company HACCP Compliant?

Published on December 19, 2007 in Commercial Pest Control, General and Pest Control. 0 Comments

When hiring a commercial pest control company, be sure to choose one that is HACCP compliant. This adds an extra level of safety and expertise to the work you need done in your home or business. There are many licenses, certifications, and qualifications that a technician and his or her pest control company can earn; and being HACCP compliant is one of the areas that should be taken into consideration when making your choice.

HACCP stands for “Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point”, and becoming HACCP compliant means understanding and demonstrating the seven principles of specific guidelines that have been created to keep food safe for human consumption. When working with pest control agents of different kinds, it is important for a pest control company to have a clear understanding of how to keep people and their food safe. Businesses do this by creating a HACCP plan that includes the seven principles:

  1. Conducting a hazard analysis before the project begins.
  2. Determining “control points”, or the steps during which chemical factors can be controlled.
  3. Establishing a maximum and minimum value at which the pest control agents need to be maintained to avoid food safety hazards.
  4. Establishing monitoring procedures.
  5. Being prepared to take corrective action if needed.
  6. Creating and following procedures that show the validity of the plan that is in place.
  7. Keeping accurate and appropriate records and documentation.

The focus of these principles is to have procedures in place to keep food safe at every step of the process. It is not just enough to test when the work is finished and discover that a mistake has been made. Each step in the plan involves predicting or testing outcomes. The processes and procedures needed for a pest control company to be HACCP compliant are incredibly complex, and this is why you should investigate any company you hire and ensure that they have the proper training in this area.

The principles become especially important in treating businesses or facilities that are directly a part of the food industry. Pest control companies must be well-trained and prepared to work in these environments in a way that protects the public’s food supply.

Factories, warehouses, and restaurants in the Sydney area, for example, would need to be especially aware of the need for a pest control company that is HACCP compliant. In fact, hiring a commercial pest control company may well be part of that business’ own HACCP plan. The two work hand-in-hand to protect the integrity of the food being distributed to the people of Sydney.

With more than 30 years’ experience working with private sector and government clients, and a number of accreditations and qualifications, Pink Pest Service is a pest control company that can offer you the peace of mind of creating a HACCP compliant plan to meet your needs.  Read more about our commercial pest control services here.

, ,
Home | Services | Testimonials | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Site Map | External Resources

© 2005-7 Pink Pest Services