Termite reticulation system refills will have to be done every 3 to 5 years. And this time frame is variable depending on the active chemical used in the system. The environment around a house is another factor that determines the time between refills.
A termite reticulation system is a series of pipes around a structure. Once the system is installed it is filled with the Termiticide of choice.
As your local pest control professionals in the Philippines, we will give advice on the best termite barrier for your property.
There are many different types of termite barriers that can be installed to protect a home. They all are good if installed correctly and regularly monitored.
Remember there is no silver bullet where termites are concerned. All termite barriers can be breached, regardless of what your termite company tells you.
The termite reticulation system has been around for many years. A reticulation system is just one of many ways to help stop termites from causing damage. They can be installed for new homes and existing homes.
Choosing the right termite barrier system for your home is important. Your termite expert should give all options available. And explained the benefits of each.
PROS:
A termite reticulation system refill is easy to complete and there is no real maintenance necessary. Depending on the type of chemical in the system, They can also be relatively cheap to refill. A Termiticide such as Fipronil is expensive and this will push up the cost of refilling.
After a system has been installed there is no more digging required during the refill intervals.
CONS:
Once a termite reticulation system has been fully installed. There is no real way of checking it years down the track. When a refill is carried out there can be no guarantee that the chemical is where it’s meant to be.
There could be a blockage in the pipework or maybe a prior homeowner damaged it whilst gardening. There is just no real way of knowing, whether the system is working properly after it’s been installed.
One other problem with a termite reticulation system. Is that no other termite company can give a warranty when refilling the system. No termite professional can give a full warranty on a system they didn’t install.
Are There Any Warranty/Guarantee?
The only guarantee that can be applied is that the chemical used is the correct one for the system and that it’s been applied at the right pressures. Each system will have a certain pressure requirement that the chemical has to be applied at. If the pressures are over-done there is a chance that the system will rupture somewhere. If the system ruptures the chemical will not get through to all of the pipes leaving areas exposed to termites.
It is very important that the company refilling a reticulation system knows the make and the pressures before a refill is carried out. This is why a full termite inspection of the property has to be completed before a refill can take place.
A form has to be signed by the homeowner giving the authorisation to refill another companies system. The form clearly states that NO GUARANTEE can be given on the system itself, ONLY the chemical being reapplied and the pressure it’s applied at. This is a very grey area that not many termite companies will fully disclose to their customers.
When a company that initially installed the barrier system goes broke or closes down. A new termite barrier system will have to be installed for a FULL warranty to commence with a new pest control company.
CONCLUSION
Well by now you should be a bit better informed about termite reticulation systems. And also the pros and cons of them. These systems are not for everyone. And as mentioned at the start of this blog there is no silver bullet for termites. No matter which termite barrier gets installed around a home. It will always need regular inspections.
Don’t be fooled into thinking your place is safe just because it’s now protected by a barrier system.
To get an accurate quote on the installation of a termite barrier. You will first have to have a termite inspection carried out. During the inspection, the termite technician will be able to work out a total cost. The quote is then emailed to the customer along with the termite inspection report.
Always read the report and the quote thoroughly if there is anything you don’t understand call the company and ask. Don’t leave it until it’s too late. Get a termite barrier system installed around your home. Termites cause damage to ALMOST EVERY HOMES IN THE PHILIPPINES. When in doubt call us at 0927.365.2847
Technologist Pest Control * Call Now! 0927-365-BUGS (2847) Anywhere in the Philippines * email to info@tekpest.com * website: https://www.tekkpest.com/ * Pasay (02) 359-2591 * Bacolod (034) 213-9923 * Iloilo (033) 393-3668 * Cebu (032) 516-3707
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
TERMITE CONTROL: HOW WE DO IT?
When inspecting for a termite infestation there are a few indicators to look upon for such as mud tubes, damaged wood and/or live termites.
1.) Mud tubes. Subterranean termites will often make their nest in the soil (moisture source) and then build highways called "mud tubes" that run vertically or otherwise to connect the nest to a wooden food source. Mud tubes are a definite manifestetation of active termite infestation, but the absence of mud tubes does not mean that no infestations exist, since there are other ways that termites reach food sources.
2.) Damaged wood. Wood with sustained termite damage might look "crushed" at structural joints. If you tap the damaged wood with the end of the screwdriver or knife, you will hear a dull thud. Wood with termite damage can be further inspected by probing the surface with the screwdriver or pocket knife to expose tunnels. Subterranean termites excavate tunnels that run parallel to the grain.
3.) Piles of wings. Before swarmers enter the next stage of development, they will shed their wings which are often left in scattered piles near windows or light sources.
When the surrounding perimeter has soil, the soil injector is directly inserted into the earth to inject the termiticide solution. Soil injection is used in lieu of a trench.
For more information please call us at 0927-365-2847 anytime and anywhere in the Philippines.
You can visit our website http://tekpest.com
1.) Mud tubes. Subterranean termites will often make their nest in the soil (moisture source) and then build highways called "mud tubes" that run vertically or otherwise to connect the nest to a wooden food source. Mud tubes are a definite manifestetation of active termite infestation, but the absence of mud tubes does not mean that no infestations exist, since there are other ways that termites reach food sources.
2.) Damaged wood. Wood with sustained termite damage might look "crushed" at structural joints. If you tap the damaged wood with the end of the screwdriver or knife, you will hear a dull thud. Wood with termite damage can be further inspected by probing the surface with the screwdriver or pocket knife to expose tunnels. Subterranean termites excavate tunnels that run parallel to the grain.
3.) Piles of wings. Before swarmers enter the next stage of development, they will shed their wings which are often left in scattered piles near windows or light sources.
INSPECTION PROCEDURES
If the house has an attic and basement, they are included in the inspection. Our inspector uses a flashlight to peer into dark corners and in between beams and studs. We also use a Borescope to see between suspected double walls. Every room of the house is examined for damaged wood, pinholes in drywall, wood paneling or wallpaper and other indications of termite infestation.
If you tap the damaged wood with the end of the screwdriver, you will hear a dull thud. Wood suspected of termite damage can be further inspected by probing the surface with the screwdriver or pocket knife to expose tunnels.
USING BORESCOPES OR INSPECTION CAMERA
Sometimes our inspectors are requested to carry out invasive inspections to determine the presence or extent of termite damage behind walls.
Using a borescope is less destructive than removing wall sheets but these inspections have their limitations. Borescopes will show termite activity and damage.
Photo of our technician inspecting termites in a wall.
During termite inspections, there are different methods for detecting infestation but borescope inspection is carried out in areas which cannot be reached the other way. The ability of the borescopes to reach and inspect deep in the materials is the main reason they are used for termite inspection.
Pests, especially the termites are hard to detect until they cause a visible damage to your property and in most of the cases, the homeowners get too late to get it repaired. So, in order to ensure that your property is safe and secure from the pests, you can go for the borescope inspection. It will let you detect the termite activity at its early stage and thus, you can go for the timely solutions to prevent the further damage.
If you are still thinking that why you should go for borescope inspection, let’s remind you that it will eliminate the need of demounting the walls for detecting pests and will also save much of your time. Also, when it comes to the inspection using a borescope, you should always rely on the professional experts for the proper inspection. As you may not be experienced with its working and right way of use, you would not be able to do the inspection yourself. As borescopes detect only the particular area, the professionals effectively know where they should make the hole and insert the borescope for accurate inspection.
Moreover, when you will get your property inspected by the professionals, they will also recommend you the relevant treatment. Depending on the extent of pest infestation, they will let you know whether you should go for the termiticide treatment, baiting systems, or any other. So, rather than letting your home get ruined by termites, you must seek the help of professionals to deal with the problem before it gets serious.
TREATMENT PROCEDURES
Active subterranean termite infestation in your house or structure usually requires a two-step process to eliminate the infestation. If possible you will directly treat the active infestation found, and follow that up with a soil treatment or bait system to eliminate the portion of the colony that remains outside.
DIRECT TREATMENT OF TERMITE COLONY
DRILLING- Sometimes drilling is done when the surrounding perimeter is concreted to facilitate the entry of the soil injector beneath the slab.
INJECTING THE TERMITICIDE SOLUTION INTO THE DRILLED HOLES
When the surrounding perimeter has soil, the soil injector is directly inserted into the earth to inject the termiticide solution. Soil injection is used in lieu of a trench.
For more information please call us at 0927-365-2847 anytime and anywhere in the Philippines.
You can visit our website http://tekpest.com
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Mosquito Borne "Zika Virus"
Zika virus is spreading fast across the Americas, and WHO expects 3-4 million people to be infected over the next year. Scientists are urgently looking into whether the virus causes birth defects.
It depends on where you live. Philippine residents, Zika is unlikely to be a problem. That's because it take two factors for the virus to spread: actively infected people and the right kind of mosquitoes to spread it.
Should you worry?
About 80 percent of people who get Zika don't even know it. The other 20 percent may get a rash, a fever or pinkeye, but Zika hardly ever causes serious illness.
But pregnant women planning to travel should worry. For pregnant women who to plan travel: Please take this very seriously.. Experts advise pregnant women to seriously consider postponing travel to any Zika-affected regions. That's because Zika is suspected of causing microcephaly, a serious birth defect in which the brain is underdeveloped.
Experts notes that many news outlets are publishing maps that show the known distribution of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and their cousins, Aedes albopictus. "Don't make the assumption that you are going to see outbreaks in that distribution of mosquitoes," experts said. "That's just where the mosquitoes are." Again, those mosquitoes would need a pool of infected humans to bite before they could spread the virus. Right now, Zika is spreading fastest in tropical cities with dense populations and poor mosquito control.
Can't we just kill all the mosquitos?
People have been trying for hundreds of years to do that. Mosquito control can work — wetlands draining and aggressive control with pesticides. But wide use of the best bug killers, like DDT, stopped when their effects on the environment outweighed the benefits. Brazil actually did eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that spread Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever and other diseases in the 1950s, but the mosquitoes gradually returned.
"Controlling this type of mosquito is difficult," experts said. "It is easy to say, 'Get rid of the mosquito.' It is a lot harder to do it."
It's very hard to kill Aedes mosquitoes because they like to breed in unexpected places, such as bottle caps filled with water, trash cans and discarded tires. Brazil is experimenting with genetically engineered mosquitoes that lay dud eggs, but it's an early experiment. It's also trying fish that eat mosquito larvae, but that approach doesn't work for urban breeding sites.
What should you do?
Like Dengue and chikungunya, Zika is feared. Here are simple ways to help prevent breeding of mosquitos:
Unfortunately, there is no easy solution for managing mosquitoes. Countless products on the market claim to be effective and easy to use but few have appreciable value in lessening the annoyance and incidence of bites. Unlike most insects found around homes, mosquitoes are pervasive outdoor pests and there are limits to what can be done to minimize their abundance, Nonetheless, there are measures that can afford some relief.
Breeding Site Reduction
The most effective way to reduce the number of mosquitoes around homes and neighborhoods is to find and eliminate their breeding sites - standing water. Adults of some mosquito species remain near their breeding site. Others can travel long distances, even up to several miles. Because of this, problem mosquitoes may come from breeding sites some distance away.
Regardless of recent weather patterns - wet, dry, warm, or cool - there are plenty of potential places in which mosquitoes can develop. A neglected bird bath, swimming pool, or clogged rain gutter can produce hundreds of new mosquitoes in a just a few days. Trees uprooted by storms leave soil depressions that collect seepage and rainwater. Large areas of standing water, such as from swamps, sluggishly moving streams or ditches may require efforts beyond those of individual property owners.
However, there are effective steps that individuals can take to minimize mosquito breeding on their property:
Dispose of old tires, buckets, aluminum cans, plastic sheeting or other refuse that can hold water. Empty accumulated water from trash cans, boats, wheel barrows, pet dishes, and flower pot bottoms. If possible, turn these items over when they are not in use.
Clean debris from rain gutters and unclog obstructed downspouts. Clogged rain gutters are one of the most overlooked breeding sites for mosquitoes around homes. Remove any standing water on flat roofs or around structures. Repair leaking faucets and air conditioners that produce puddles for several days.
Change water in bird baths and wading pools at least once a week and keep swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated. Ornamental pools can be aerated or stocked with mosquito-eating fish. Aeration / water movement helps because mosquitoes prefer quiet, non-flowing water for egg-laying and development.
Fill or drain ditches and swampy areas, and other soil depressions and remove, drain, or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar or sealant to prevent accumulation of water. Eliminate standing water and seepage around animal watering troughs, cisterns, and septic tanks. Be sure that cistern screens are intact and that access covers fit tightly.
Pest Control
Larval Control. Use of a mosquito larvicide may be beneficial when it is impractical to eliminate a breeding site. Larvicides are insecticides which are used to control immature mosquitoes before they have a chance to develop into biting adults.
Mosquito development will be inhibited for up to a month in ornamental ponds and similar bodies of water; longer protection is provided in sites that periodically dry out.
Adult Mosquito Control
Mosquito breeding sites are not always obvious or accessible so some nearby sources will remain undetected or impractical to treat. Also, mosquitoes can fly in from some distance away. Therefore, it may be necessary to take additional measures against adults.
Mosquitoes prefer to rest in protected sites during the day. Yards with lots of trees, shrubs, and dense vegetation or properties adjoining such areas, can have nightmarish problems. Consequently, removal of tall weeds and overgrowth is part of an integrated mosquito management program.
It depends on where you live. Philippine residents, Zika is unlikely to be a problem. That's because it take two factors for the virus to spread: actively infected people and the right kind of mosquitoes to spread it.
Should you worry?
About 80 percent of people who get Zika don't even know it. The other 20 percent may get a rash, a fever or pinkeye, but Zika hardly ever causes serious illness.
But pregnant women planning to travel should worry. For pregnant women who to plan travel: Please take this very seriously.. Experts advise pregnant women to seriously consider postponing travel to any Zika-affected regions. That's because Zika is suspected of causing microcephaly, a serious birth defect in which the brain is underdeveloped.
Experts notes that many news outlets are publishing maps that show the known distribution of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and their cousins, Aedes albopictus. "Don't make the assumption that you are going to see outbreaks in that distribution of mosquitoes," experts said. "That's just where the mosquitoes are." Again, those mosquitoes would need a pool of infected humans to bite before they could spread the virus. Right now, Zika is spreading fastest in tropical cities with dense populations and poor mosquito control.
Can't we just kill all the mosquitos?
People have been trying for hundreds of years to do that. Mosquito control can work — wetlands draining and aggressive control with pesticides. But wide use of the best bug killers, like DDT, stopped when their effects on the environment outweighed the benefits. Brazil actually did eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that spread Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever and other diseases in the 1950s, but the mosquitoes gradually returned.
"Controlling this type of mosquito is difficult," experts said. "It is easy to say, 'Get rid of the mosquito.' It is a lot harder to do it."
It's very hard to kill Aedes mosquitoes because they like to breed in unexpected places, such as bottle caps filled with water, trash cans and discarded tires. Brazil is experimenting with genetically engineered mosquitoes that lay dud eggs, but it's an early experiment. It's also trying fish that eat mosquito larvae, but that approach doesn't work for urban breeding sites.
What should you do?
Like Dengue and chikungunya, Zika is feared. Here are simple ways to help prevent breeding of mosquitos:
Breeding Site Reduction
The most effective way to reduce the number of mosquitoes around homes and neighborhoods is to find and eliminate their breeding sites - standing water. Adults of some mosquito species remain near their breeding site. Others can travel long distances, even up to several miles. Because of this, problem mosquitoes may come from breeding sites some distance away.
Regardless of recent weather patterns - wet, dry, warm, or cool - there are plenty of potential places in which mosquitoes can develop. A neglected bird bath, swimming pool, or clogged rain gutter can produce hundreds of new mosquitoes in a just a few days. Trees uprooted by storms leave soil depressions that collect seepage and rainwater. Large areas of standing water, such as from swamps, sluggishly moving streams or ditches may require efforts beyond those of individual property owners.
However, there are effective steps that individuals can take to minimize mosquito breeding on their property:
Dispose of old tires, buckets, aluminum cans, plastic sheeting or other refuse that can hold water. Empty accumulated water from trash cans, boats, wheel barrows, pet dishes, and flower pot bottoms. If possible, turn these items over when they are not in use.
Clean debris from rain gutters and unclog obstructed downspouts. Clogged rain gutters are one of the most overlooked breeding sites for mosquitoes around homes. Remove any standing water on flat roofs or around structures. Repair leaking faucets and air conditioners that produce puddles for several days.
Change water in bird baths and wading pools at least once a week and keep swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated. Ornamental pools can be aerated or stocked with mosquito-eating fish. Aeration / water movement helps because mosquitoes prefer quiet, non-flowing water for egg-laying and development.
Fill or drain ditches and swampy areas, and other soil depressions and remove, drain, or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar or sealant to prevent accumulation of water. Eliminate standing water and seepage around animal watering troughs, cisterns, and septic tanks. Be sure that cistern screens are intact and that access covers fit tightly.
Pest Control
Larval Control. Use of a mosquito larvicide may be beneficial when it is impractical to eliminate a breeding site. Larvicides are insecticides which are used to control immature mosquitoes before they have a chance to develop into biting adults.
Mosquito development will be inhibited for up to a month in ornamental ponds and similar bodies of water; longer protection is provided in sites that periodically dry out.
 |
| Residual spraying/larviciding |
Mosquito breeding sites are not always obvious or accessible so some nearby sources will remain undetected or impractical to treat. Also, mosquitoes can fly in from some distance away. Therefore, it may be necessary to take additional measures against adults.
Mosquitoes prefer to rest in protected sites during the day. Yards with lots of trees, shrubs, and dense vegetation or properties adjoining such areas, can have nightmarish problems. Consequently, removal of tall weeds and overgrowth is part of an integrated mosquito management program.
 |
| Misting for adult mosquitos |
For preventive maintenance treatment against mosquitos, you may wish to hire our services. We are fully licensed and equipped with the latest machineries to combat mosquitos. Call us at hotline 0927-365-2847 anywhere in the Philippines. Or you may contact our branches in major cities: Pasay/Makati area (02) 370-7778; Bacolod City/Negros Occ. (034)479-9993; Iloilo City, Iloilo (033) 393-3668; Cebu city (032) 513-7116. You can also shoot us an email at info@tekpest.com or visit our website http://tekpest.com
Friday, October 25, 2013
How to spot termites in your home
Most termites are able to stay hidden very effectively – it’s in their very nature. As well as protecting them from predators staying hidden it is part of the reason they continue to thrive undetected. However just because they are out of sight, does not mean they should be out of mind. If you look carefully around your home there are many signs which can indicate the presence of termites.
As an expert of termite targeting professionals here in the Philippines, we share what you can look for yourself to determine if termites could be eating away at your home – one bite at a time.
If you see a thin line of mud or dirt around you’re the exterior of your home (especially around the concrete slab or base of your home) it is likely to be the work of termites. They use these to travel from underground and into unsealed cracks or crevices around the foundation of the home – especially in gaps surrounding plumbing or electrical infrastructure. These are some other common signs of an infestation:
• Build-up of mud, dirt and other muddy debris around the cornices of windows or door framing.
• Damp or moisture stains on the walls or roof. Termites thrive in damp environments where there is a reliable source of moisture. This is another reason to fix leaking roofs or plumbing right away.
• Blistering or chipping of paint work especially around window framing and skirting boards and other damage to timber work.
• Discarded wings or insect detritus resembling sawdust (termite droppings)
• Wood that feels hollow when tapped, or tiny holes visible on the outside of woodwork.
Termites can squeeze through very tight cracks and gaps usually around the base of the home. However if there is vegetation surrounding the home, especially if it is in contact with the roofing eaves this can also be a way for termites to access a home. Dry wood termites do not require mud tubes to access the home and can fly in through ceiling vents.
Here at Pest Control Technologist we encourage all homeowners to keep their eyes open for the signs of termites and if they spot any of these conduct a pest control professional to assess the extent of the problem. Most termite populations if treated early will have minimal damage to your home, making the important of regular termite inspections an absolute necessity to continually safeguard your home.
Don’t leave it any longer. Call Pest Control Technologist on 0919-3810710 for your next termite inspection anywhere in the Philippines or visit our webpage: http://pestexpertonline.com/
As an expert of termite targeting professionals here in the Philippines, we share what you can look for yourself to determine if termites could be eating away at your home – one bite at a time.
The Signs of a Termite Infestation
If you see a thin line of mud or dirt around you’re the exterior of your home (especially around the concrete slab or base of your home) it is likely to be the work of termites. They use these to travel from underground and into unsealed cracks or crevices around the foundation of the home – especially in gaps surrounding plumbing or electrical infrastructure. These are some other common signs of an infestation:
• Build-up of mud, dirt and other muddy debris around the cornices of windows or door framing.
• Damp or moisture stains on the walls or roof. Termites thrive in damp environments where there is a reliable source of moisture. This is another reason to fix leaking roofs or plumbing right away.
• Blistering or chipping of paint work especially around window framing and skirting boards and other damage to timber work.
• Discarded wings or insect detritus resembling sawdust (termite droppings)
• Wood that feels hollow when tapped, or tiny holes visible on the outside of woodwork.
How can termites enter my home?
Termites can squeeze through very tight cracks and gaps usually around the base of the home. However if there is vegetation surrounding the home, especially if it is in contact with the roofing eaves this can also be a way for termites to access a home. Dry wood termites do not require mud tubes to access the home and can fly in through ceiling vents.
Here at Pest Control Technologist we encourage all homeowners to keep their eyes open for the signs of termites and if they spot any of these conduct a pest control professional to assess the extent of the problem. Most termite populations if treated early will have minimal damage to your home, making the important of regular termite inspections an absolute necessity to continually safeguard your home.
Don’t leave it any longer. Call Pest Control Technologist on 0919-3810710 for your next termite inspection anywhere in the Philippines or visit our webpage: http://pestexpertonline.com/
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Guide in choosing a Pest Control Company (Philippines)
You have found out that your house is infested with termites, or you have probably heard your daughter screaming and running away when she saw cockroaches or you have discovered that your electricity supply was halted by rats that chewed on the wires that supplies the current to your outlets or worst case scenario, smoke was seen from the fusebox and some explosions were heard and fire alarms went off. These are all reasons to hire a Pest control company nearby.............but how do you choose the right one?
Ask about the Technician's Competency and Training Certificate and License
The SERVICE TECHNICIAN is the individual who does the actual pest control work. The quality of the control of pests depends to a large degree on the training the technician has received and the professionalism of the technician on the job.
Most Pest Control companies offer services and boasts of their market share. Are the Service technicians well trained? Some companies train their technician by just letting them go and put them to work. A good technician must be able to correctly identify the specific pest from the rest. Technician's must have undergone training from the authorities in Pest Management such as the National Committee on Urban Pest Control (NCUPC). They must undergo competency training covering the Biology of Insect-Pest, Identification of Household, Structural and Stored products Pest, Proper usage of pest control equipment's and most important of all is the Safe handling of Pesticides. Sad to say, most companies don't have a Professionally trained and Licensed Technician. Only the owner of the Pest control company is licensed and not the Technician. They would just say "Technician's are under the direct supervision of a licensed PCO. We'll have you seen the licensed owner go with their Technician's during their routine job and supervise them? If the Pest control guy tells you they are licensed, ask them to show you their license and or certification. If they can't show it then probably you have to look for another company.
Don’t trust that the pest control technicians are licensed simply because they tell you they are. It is best to do your own research on this matter. Ask the company you are interviewing for their license numbers, and then verify them with the organization that gave the certifications. Remember, pest control licensing regulations vary. For more information on where to check the licenses for your particular area, you can call the Nat'l Committee on Urban Pest Control at (02) 484-0208.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that all certificates and licenses are created equal. Agricultural Pest is different from Urban Pest. Research each license and certification individually, and feel free to call the licensing agency to ask them about their requirements. Below are some questions you may want to ask when researching a license or certification for a company you are interviewing:
1. Is this license or certification obtained by simply paying a fee?
2. Does this certification require a certain number of hours of practice or education to earn?
3. Does the contractor have to do anything in order to maintain this license or certification?
4. How often does this license or certification expire?
Do they own a website? Check Their Online Reputation
Though every company will advertise that they are honest, dependable, and affordable, the reality is that there are many businesses that have none of those qualities whatsoever. Sometimes a company will attempt to advertise their experience by talking about how long they've been in business. Just because a company has been in business for 80 years doesn't mean they actually know how to get rid of your pests! Thanks to instant results on Google and Yahoo, it can be really easy to find out a company's online reputation quickly - if they even have one, that is. Online reviews, ratings, and rankings can help you find a company that backs up their promised value with actual value. For a quick search on Google just type Pest Control(area). Example if you are in Iloilo City just type "Pest Control Iloilo" or "Pest Control Bacolod" and so on and so forth. Check all those listed and call them for an appointment.
Know The Company's Employee.Take Advantage of the Free Inspection
Most pest control companies will offer you a free inspection of your property so that they can give you a quote for services. Take advantage of this free inspection to see what kind of employees the company hires. A good pest control agent will be able to effectively communicate what is going on in your home, what you can do to help prevent that from happening, and be able to answer any questions you may have, does not say bad things about competitors and are professional in every aspect. If you don't get that level of service from the employee, then that might not be the best company for you.
Do You Need to Get Rid of Some Pests?
Despite our best efforts, we can get pests in our homes that can bite, sting, and even leave disease. That's why it is so important to make sure that we get those pests out of our homes as soon as possible! This can easily be done when you hire a good pest control company. Use these ideas today to evaluate your own local options so that you get the pests eradicated for a fair price! You might as well consider hiring a Pest Control consultant before hiring a Pest control company to ensure you get what you pay. You can call my attention at 0919-3810710.
Ask about the Technician's Competency and Training Certificate and License
The SERVICE TECHNICIAN is the individual who does the actual pest control work. The quality of the control of pests depends to a large degree on the training the technician has received and the professionalism of the technician on the job.
Most Pest Control companies offer services and boasts of their market share. Are the Service technicians well trained? Some companies train their technician by just letting them go and put them to work. A good technician must be able to correctly identify the specific pest from the rest. Technician's must have undergone training from the authorities in Pest Management such as the National Committee on Urban Pest Control (NCUPC). They must undergo competency training covering the Biology of Insect-Pest, Identification of Household, Structural and Stored products Pest, Proper usage of pest control equipment's and most important of all is the Safe handling of Pesticides. Sad to say, most companies don't have a Professionally trained and Licensed Technician. Only the owner of the Pest control company is licensed and not the Technician. They would just say "Technician's are under the direct supervision of a licensed PCO. We'll have you seen the licensed owner go with their Technician's during their routine job and supervise them? If the Pest control guy tells you they are licensed, ask them to show you their license and or certification. If they can't show it then probably you have to look for another company.
Don’t trust that the pest control technicians are licensed simply because they tell you they are. It is best to do your own research on this matter. Ask the company you are interviewing for their license numbers, and then verify them with the organization that gave the certifications. Remember, pest control licensing regulations vary. For more information on where to check the licenses for your particular area, you can call the Nat'l Committee on Urban Pest Control at (02) 484-0208.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that all certificates and licenses are created equal. Agricultural Pest is different from Urban Pest. Research each license and certification individually, and feel free to call the licensing agency to ask them about their requirements. Below are some questions you may want to ask when researching a license or certification for a company you are interviewing:
1. Is this license or certification obtained by simply paying a fee?
2. Does this certification require a certain number of hours of practice or education to earn?
3. Does the contractor have to do anything in order to maintain this license or certification?
4. How often does this license or certification expire?
Do they own a website? Check Their Online Reputation
Though every company will advertise that they are honest, dependable, and affordable, the reality is that there are many businesses that have none of those qualities whatsoever. Sometimes a company will attempt to advertise their experience by talking about how long they've been in business. Just because a company has been in business for 80 years doesn't mean they actually know how to get rid of your pests! Thanks to instant results on Google and Yahoo, it can be really easy to find out a company's online reputation quickly - if they even have one, that is. Online reviews, ratings, and rankings can help you find a company that backs up their promised value with actual value. For a quick search on Google just type Pest Control(area). Example if you are in Iloilo City just type "Pest Control Iloilo" or "Pest Control Bacolod" and so on and so forth. Check all those listed and call them for an appointment.
Know The Company's Employee.Take Advantage of the Free Inspection
Most pest control companies will offer you a free inspection of your property so that they can give you a quote for services. Take advantage of this free inspection to see what kind of employees the company hires. A good pest control agent will be able to effectively communicate what is going on in your home, what you can do to help prevent that from happening, and be able to answer any questions you may have, does not say bad things about competitors and are professional in every aspect. If you don't get that level of service from the employee, then that might not be the best company for you.
Do You Need to Get Rid of Some Pests?
Despite our best efforts, we can get pests in our homes that can bite, sting, and even leave disease. That's why it is so important to make sure that we get those pests out of our homes as soon as possible! This can easily be done when you hire a good pest control company. Use these ideas today to evaluate your own local options so that you get the pests eradicated for a fair price! You might as well consider hiring a Pest Control consultant before hiring a Pest control company to ensure you get what you pay. You can call my attention at 0919-3810710.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
TERMITE PREVENTION TIPS
TERMITE PREVENTION TIPS
Whether you have just moved in to a new home or have been settled in one for years, it is important to keep up with termite prevention. Termites are focused in their pursuits, they are abundant in number, and they are probably nibbling on your home right now. One of the few insect colonies to eat continuously, a typical single termite colony can completely consume 2.3 linear feet of 2x4 pine in a single year. If that does not sound like much to you, consider the seriousness of the situation if that 2x4 was also one of the supporting beams of your house. Keep in mind also that where there is one termite colony there are usually others, clustered together in pursuit of food. Suddenly, that 2.3 linear feet seems significant, and it is, especially when it is multiplied four or five times.
Termites are one of the biggest contributors to home destruction, costing a staggering $1 billion in damages each year. Thanks to the importing of the voracious Formosan termite from East Asia, that amount continues to skyrocket. Think about the following numbers for a moment. A termite colony consists of anywhere from 350,000 to well over a million workers, soldiers, and swarmers (termites with wings). A single termite queen can lay thousands of eggs per day and live between 30 and 50 years. That means a queen can recoup her losses and repopulate her colony even after tremendous devastation. The best way to fight this foe is to prevent them from ever touching your home.
Before we can look at how to prevent termite infestation, let’s look at the conditions that attract these insects to an area:
Soil: Most termites are subterranean, meaning that they build their colonies in the ground. They love the soil and build elaborate tunnel systems, called galleries, extending up to three feet below the surface. Termites will often use this versatile building material to create mud tubes leading from their underground colonies to above ground food sources, like the wood in your home.
Wood: Termites will consume any material that contains cellulose, and since wood contains a great deal of cellulose, termites devour wood voraciously. If a single piece of wood touches the ground, be certain that a colony of termites somewhere will know about it. Although some subterranean termites will consume other materials like vegetation, dung and humus, their primary source of food, and their favorite, is wood.
Water: As with most living things, termites generally cannot survive without a source of water present. Whether in the form of a leaky faucet or the natural precipitation process of rain, termites will always seek some source of moisture to survive.
Now that the three conditions for termite survival have been identified, we can now look at how to prevent termites from infesting your home.
1. Identify and fix all water leaks in your home, both internal and external. As mentioned above, termites need water, and it does not matter where they get it. If the water source comes from your home, all the better for the colony. It means they do not have to work as hard. Eliminating their water source removes one of the three requirements for survival.
2. Remove any brush or heavy growth from around your home. Vegetation can create areas of intense moisture, which is necessary for colony survival. Termites like it wet, so try and disappoint them as much as possible.
3. Eliminate any standing or pooling water from around your home.
4. Store all excess building materials and firewood away from the house. Remember that wood is their primary food source. Scrap wood touching the ground is an open invitation to hungry termites. If your property is not large enough for wood storage away from the house, create barriers beneath the wood to prevent direct access to the termites. Thick concrete slabs or heavy duty metal stands can be used to raise the wood off of the ground.
5. Use treated lumber for any wooden structures that will have direct contact with the ground. The chemicals in treated lumber do not guarantee that termites will not invade the wood, but they can act as a deterrent for decks and patios made out of treated lumber. Home improvement centers now offer concrete supports that raise the wooden support beams for decks and patios off of the ground. This would be a great way to avoid wood to ground contact.
6. Avoid using mulch near your home. Mulch provides two things to hungry termites: a food source and a water source. The qualities of mulch that make it attractive for use in the garden are the very qualities that attract termites. If mulch is placed near the exterior of your home, it is only a small step for a colony to move into your walls. As an alternative to wood mulch, try using one of the newer rubber mulches now available at your local home improvement center. They have the look of mulch and the benefits of mulch without providing the risks.
7. Never bury waste lumber or wood scraps in your yard. It acts as a magnet to termites and directs them to your property.
8. Remove any dead trees, old stumps, or roots in your yard. As these items decay, they attract termites to the area by providing a food source. When the food is gone, the termite colony will look for new sources of food. This includes your house.
9. Seal any cracks or holes within the foundation of your home. This will help prevent easy access for wandering termites.
10. Keep all gutters and waterlines clean of debris. Clogged gutters and waterlines leak, creating pools of water close to the house.
11. Make sure your home is properly ventilated, including your attic and internal crawl space areas. Adequate airflow prevents the buildup of moisture needed by termite colonies.
12. Periodically, get your home inspected for termite damage. A once-a-year inspection can save your home with early detection. If termites are not found in the home, the trained pest control specialists can at least offer recommendations to help you prevent an invasion. They may catch something you missed.
So what happens if you take all of these precautions and termites still begin to munch on your home? Use a pest control specialist in your area to help you deal with the problem. Here are a few of the insect pest control options that are currently on the market:
Liquid Termiticide: This liquid pesticide is generally applied around the foundation of the house, as well as underneath the foundation. For new construction sites, the termiticide is applied to the graded soil as the home is being built, but for existing buildings, the foundation is partially dug out and drilled to ensure proper coverage. There are termiticides on the market that act as barriers and repellents to termite invasions, and there are termiticides that act as nerve poisons, killing the termites upon exposure.
Subterranean Bait: Rather than acting as a deterrent to termite invasion, termite baits attempt to eliminate the colony at its source. Bait stations are set in the ground every ten feet or so around the perimeter of the home. The treatment begins when untreated wood segments are installed in the bait units to determine if termites are active around the house. The units are checked once a week, and if live termites are found, the wood is replaced with a toxic bait that is ingested by the termites and carried back to the colony. The toxins in the bait affect the termites by preventing the molting process, causing them to die "within their shell." This long acting toxin allows the termites to both ingest the poison and carry it back to share with their colony. Special bait units can also be installed inside the home if termites damage is evident. A new series of bait traps have been developed by Dow Agrosciences to fight the more aggressive Formosan termite, which can penetrate cement, brick, heavy duty plastics, and high-pressure water lines just to get to food and water sources.
The best treatment option is a combination of termiticides and bait units setup both in the ground and throughout the house. Termites are hard to kill, and they are even harder to eradicate, so be tenacious in your efforts. Your best bet is to call a professional to help you. Over the counter solutions do not offer the same level of effectiveness that professional grade products do. Your house is one of your greatest commitments you will ever make. It is worth protecting the right way by getting the help of professionals who know what they are doing. In this case, an ounce of termite prevention really can take you far, ensuring a better chance of keeping these nasty bugs from eating up your investment before you have a chance to truly enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/keeptermitesout#.UgRw_dKTSDk#ixzz2bRY5IgB7
Whether you have just moved in to a new home or have been settled in one for years, it is important to keep up with termite prevention. Termites are focused in their pursuits, they are abundant in number, and they are probably nibbling on your home right now. One of the few insect colonies to eat continuously, a typical single termite colony can completely consume 2.3 linear feet of 2x4 pine in a single year. If that does not sound like much to you, consider the seriousness of the situation if that 2x4 was also one of the supporting beams of your house. Keep in mind also that where there is one termite colony there are usually others, clustered together in pursuit of food. Suddenly, that 2.3 linear feet seems significant, and it is, especially when it is multiplied four or five times.
Termites are one of the biggest contributors to home destruction, costing a staggering $1 billion in damages each year. Thanks to the importing of the voracious Formosan termite from East Asia, that amount continues to skyrocket. Think about the following numbers for a moment. A termite colony consists of anywhere from 350,000 to well over a million workers, soldiers, and swarmers (termites with wings). A single termite queen can lay thousands of eggs per day and live between 30 and 50 years. That means a queen can recoup her losses and repopulate her colony even after tremendous devastation. The best way to fight this foe is to prevent them from ever touching your home.
Before we can look at how to prevent termite infestation, let’s look at the conditions that attract these insects to an area:
Soil: Most termites are subterranean, meaning that they build their colonies in the ground. They love the soil and build elaborate tunnel systems, called galleries, extending up to three feet below the surface. Termites will often use this versatile building material to create mud tubes leading from their underground colonies to above ground food sources, like the wood in your home.
Wood: Termites will consume any material that contains cellulose, and since wood contains a great deal of cellulose, termites devour wood voraciously. If a single piece of wood touches the ground, be certain that a colony of termites somewhere will know about it. Although some subterranean termites will consume other materials like vegetation, dung and humus, their primary source of food, and their favorite, is wood.
Water: As with most living things, termites generally cannot survive without a source of water present. Whether in the form of a leaky faucet or the natural precipitation process of rain, termites will always seek some source of moisture to survive.
Now that the three conditions for termite survival have been identified, we can now look at how to prevent termites from infesting your home.
1. Identify and fix all water leaks in your home, both internal and external. As mentioned above, termites need water, and it does not matter where they get it. If the water source comes from your home, all the better for the colony. It means they do not have to work as hard. Eliminating their water source removes one of the three requirements for survival.
2. Remove any brush or heavy growth from around your home. Vegetation can create areas of intense moisture, which is necessary for colony survival. Termites like it wet, so try and disappoint them as much as possible.
3. Eliminate any standing or pooling water from around your home.
4. Store all excess building materials and firewood away from the house. Remember that wood is their primary food source. Scrap wood touching the ground is an open invitation to hungry termites. If your property is not large enough for wood storage away from the house, create barriers beneath the wood to prevent direct access to the termites. Thick concrete slabs or heavy duty metal stands can be used to raise the wood off of the ground.
5. Use treated lumber for any wooden structures that will have direct contact with the ground. The chemicals in treated lumber do not guarantee that termites will not invade the wood, but they can act as a deterrent for decks and patios made out of treated lumber. Home improvement centers now offer concrete supports that raise the wooden support beams for decks and patios off of the ground. This would be a great way to avoid wood to ground contact.
6. Avoid using mulch near your home. Mulch provides two things to hungry termites: a food source and a water source. The qualities of mulch that make it attractive for use in the garden are the very qualities that attract termites. If mulch is placed near the exterior of your home, it is only a small step for a colony to move into your walls. As an alternative to wood mulch, try using one of the newer rubber mulches now available at your local home improvement center. They have the look of mulch and the benefits of mulch without providing the risks.
7. Never bury waste lumber or wood scraps in your yard. It acts as a magnet to termites and directs them to your property.
8. Remove any dead trees, old stumps, or roots in your yard. As these items decay, they attract termites to the area by providing a food source. When the food is gone, the termite colony will look for new sources of food. This includes your house.
9. Seal any cracks or holes within the foundation of your home. This will help prevent easy access for wandering termites.
10. Keep all gutters and waterlines clean of debris. Clogged gutters and waterlines leak, creating pools of water close to the house.
11. Make sure your home is properly ventilated, including your attic and internal crawl space areas. Adequate airflow prevents the buildup of moisture needed by termite colonies.
12. Periodically, get your home inspected for termite damage. A once-a-year inspection can save your home with early detection. If termites are not found in the home, the trained pest control specialists can at least offer recommendations to help you prevent an invasion. They may catch something you missed.
So what happens if you take all of these precautions and termites still begin to munch on your home? Use a pest control specialist in your area to help you deal with the problem. Here are a few of the insect pest control options that are currently on the market:
Liquid Termiticide: This liquid pesticide is generally applied around the foundation of the house, as well as underneath the foundation. For new construction sites, the termiticide is applied to the graded soil as the home is being built, but for existing buildings, the foundation is partially dug out and drilled to ensure proper coverage. There are termiticides on the market that act as barriers and repellents to termite invasions, and there are termiticides that act as nerve poisons, killing the termites upon exposure.
Subterranean Bait: Rather than acting as a deterrent to termite invasion, termite baits attempt to eliminate the colony at its source. Bait stations are set in the ground every ten feet or so around the perimeter of the home. The treatment begins when untreated wood segments are installed in the bait units to determine if termites are active around the house. The units are checked once a week, and if live termites are found, the wood is replaced with a toxic bait that is ingested by the termites and carried back to the colony. The toxins in the bait affect the termites by preventing the molting process, causing them to die "within their shell." This long acting toxin allows the termites to both ingest the poison and carry it back to share with their colony. Special bait units can also be installed inside the home if termites damage is evident. A new series of bait traps have been developed by Dow Agrosciences to fight the more aggressive Formosan termite, which can penetrate cement, brick, heavy duty plastics, and high-pressure water lines just to get to food and water sources.
The best treatment option is a combination of termiticides and bait units setup both in the ground and throughout the house. Termites are hard to kill, and they are even harder to eradicate, so be tenacious in your efforts. Your best bet is to call a professional to help you. Over the counter solutions do not offer the same level of effectiveness that professional grade products do. Your house is one of your greatest commitments you will ever make. It is worth protecting the right way by getting the help of professionals who know what they are doing. In this case, an ounce of termite prevention really can take you far, ensuring a better chance of keeping these nasty bugs from eating up your investment before you have a chance to truly enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/keeptermitesout#.UgRw_dKTSDk#ixzz2bRY5IgB7
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Termite Baits are often bypassed by Termites
According to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)
Termite Baiting Systems are :
*A post-construction methodology only
*Often bypassed by termites
*Indiscriminate in their action
*Often able to impact heavily on a healthy environment
Termite Baiting Systems (TBS)
The use of termite baiting systems has become a more common and widespread practice with the failure of many of the physical, chemical and reticulation systems discussed herein. Termite baiting systems provide mixed results that sometimes may provide a solution dependent on a vast range of factors. TBS are indiscriminate and may get the target species, or they may affect other termite species in the environment.
Termites often progress past termite baiting systems and proceed to forage in a building structure. Termite baiting systems are generally remedial or preventative measures and are often used where either the cost of a chemical termite management system is prohibitive or otherwise logistically difficult to emplace. Sometimes, because of certain construction methodologies, it is the only means by which some means of defence is afforded a structure. It needs to be immediately recognised that termite baiting systems are not a means of protection and are simply a bait to attract and poison termite colonies. Termite baits are often bypassed.
What does need to be understood with termite baiting systems is that despite the fact that they may provide toxicants to the target species, they often strike other termite colonies in the local environment. It needs to be further noted that termites are a base provider of a healthy environment and that excessive baiting in several suburbs has created a very unhealthy and termite depleted environment. There needs to be some environmental controls on the current unregulated baiting process. Termites are a base food stock in nature that recycles, fertilises and aerates soil. In fact, termites are a prerequisite for a healthy environment.
TBS are : - A post-construction methodology only
Often bypassed by termites
Indiscriminate in their action
Often able to impact heavily on a healthy environment
SOURCE:
Termite Action Group
Termite Baiting Systems are :
*A post-construction methodology only
*Often bypassed by termites
*Indiscriminate in their action
*Often able to impact heavily on a healthy environment
Termite Baiting Systems (TBS)
The use of termite baiting systems has become a more common and widespread practice with the failure of many of the physical, chemical and reticulation systems discussed herein. Termite baiting systems provide mixed results that sometimes may provide a solution dependent on a vast range of factors. TBS are indiscriminate and may get the target species, or they may affect other termite species in the environment.
Termites often progress past termite baiting systems and proceed to forage in a building structure. Termite baiting systems are generally remedial or preventative measures and are often used where either the cost of a chemical termite management system is prohibitive or otherwise logistically difficult to emplace. Sometimes, because of certain construction methodologies, it is the only means by which some means of defence is afforded a structure. It needs to be immediately recognised that termite baiting systems are not a means of protection and are simply a bait to attract and poison termite colonies. Termite baits are often bypassed.
What does need to be understood with termite baiting systems is that despite the fact that they may provide toxicants to the target species, they often strike other termite colonies in the local environment. It needs to be further noted that termites are a base provider of a healthy environment and that excessive baiting in several suburbs has created a very unhealthy and termite depleted environment. There needs to be some environmental controls on the current unregulated baiting process. Termites are a base food stock in nature that recycles, fertilises and aerates soil. In fact, termites are a prerequisite for a healthy environment.
TBS are : - A post-construction methodology only
Often bypassed by termites
Indiscriminate in their action
Often able to impact heavily on a healthy environment
SOURCE:
Termite Action Group
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