Preventing Fall Pests
In addition to colorful leaves and warm apple cider, Fall brings about the beginning of the year’s cold weather and due to this, many pests start to search for a place to keep warm. For this reason, pest-proofing your home is crucial before the fall months arrive in order to keep these pests from turning your home into an animal hotel. Individuals may think that this animal hanging around may not be that big of a deal. Although, this is far from true. Mice, rats, and other rodents can spread germs, bacteria, and disease around your property. This can cause you as well as members of your family to fall sick. On top of increasing the spread of germs, pests that last over the winter can also cause severe damage to homes such as chewing electrical wires and leaving dropping within insulation. This is why it is vital to take steps to ensure that pests will not settle in or around your home such as:
- Keep food in airtight packaging
- Repair screens that are damaged
- When not using garage door keep closed
- Be sure trash is in sealed container and taken out regularly
In addition to taking these steps, it is also very important to understand exactly what to keep an eye out for as well. There are a variety of pests located within the New England states, but these are the most common:
Rodents:
Just like other cities around the world, Boston is home to an increasingly large number of rats and mice. These animals are constantly on the search for food which leads them inside buildings on a regular basis. This is made possible thanks to their ability to squeeze through incredibly tiny holes that homeowners often overlook due to their small size. For this reason, it is important to keep indoor clutter to a minimum so that rodents and their entryways can be easily identified.
Bees:
In terms of identifying an infestation, Bees are one of the easiest to address. The reason for this is that not only are they found in large numbers but they also are quite noisy and often simple to spot. Many species of bees will actually make their nests inside the walls of your home or even inside an attic or basement.
Contact Aboslut Pest Control today for all of your pest removal needs!
Here at Absolut Pest Control, our specialists can help you prepare your home this fall by making sure that it is pest free. Take care of your pest problem today by calling the professionals Absolut Pest Control at 978-388-4589!
Preparing for Autumn: Bat Proofing
What is Bat Proofing?
As August comes to a close, it is the perfect time for individuals to start bat proofing their homes as summer is often too early and the winter is far too late. The term bat proofing sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is as the process is simply identifying and dressing any openings that get into the house. Since these animals are very small, some can fit into holes as tiny as a quarter inch although the large brown bat requires something bigger. These holes act as their doorway in an out of your house during their times of travel. Bats tend to leave the home at dusk only to return before daytime returns.
Bat Proofing Steps
Although it is best to be proactive in order to prevent the need for these practices in the first place. Homeowners can use items such as mothballs to deter bats from colonizing in the home and it is even suggested that putting fiberglass insulation in at their areas of interest will keep bat families away. But If you notice bats coming to and from your house and are afraid that you could already have a colony in your home, locating the entry point is something that should be your top priority. Any small gap, such as where conduit enters the house, chimney flashing, ridge vents, window and door flashing, and areas around the roof line should be sealed immediately with material including. sheet metal, pieces of wood, just buttoning up the siding, a long-lasting caulking, expandable foams, and stainless-steel screening. If you plan to complete this project on your own, many experts suggest waiting until the end of August, so baby bats grow large enough to be capable of flight. That way, when holes are sealed there no baby bats remaining in the house. But it is best to call in an expert to take care of the job themselves as soon as possible if actual removal is needed as having a bat family in your home, even just the attic, can lead to issues such as staining and odor problems which are difficult to remove as well as disease causing to humans. In addition to this, bats are a protected species so it is required that a trained professional such as the ones at Absolut Pest Control help you take care of the issue once and for all as well as prevent any harm from happening to the animals.
Contact Aboslut Pest Control today for all of your bat removal needs!
Here at Absolut Pest Control, our specialists are trained in taking care of not only bat removal services but also repairs to make sure that they can never ever reenter your home. Take care of your bat problem today by contacting us now or calling the professionals, Absolut Pest Control, at 978-388-4589!
How to Ward Off Mosquitoes this Summer
Mosquitoes can be a real nuisance once the warm weather rolls in. Regardless of whether you’re enjoying a family barbeque or kicking back on your deck, your time can go from pleasant to agonizing as you swat these buzzing buggers away. If you’d like to keep yourself from becoming a mosquito magnet this summer, follow a few of our tips.
Think Twice Before Exercising Outside
If you’re heading outdoors for some extraneous physical activity, you might want to reconsider. Mosquitoes are attracted to excess body heat and carbon dioxide. If you’re jumping around outside and getting your sweat on, mosquitoes will be more likely to bite you. While the summer months are a great excuse getting outdoors and getting active, be aware of peak mosquito hours to prevent you from becoming a tasty morsel.
Protect Yourself
One of the best ways to protect yourself while outside is to use a bug repellant. The CDC recommends using one that has been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as those chosen repellants have been evaluated for product efficacy and effects on both the human body and the environment. Use the repellent on bare skin sparingly and keep an eye out for products containing DEET. Also, lemon eucalyptus, a plant oil, is as effective as low concentrations of DEET which makes it another viable option. Once you return indoors, do yourself a favor and wash the repellent off.
Check On the Status of Your Screens
This is an important one because protecting yourself inside is just as important as protecting yourself outside. Take a look around your house at all the screens on your windows and doors to ensure there aren’t any holes or tears where bugs can get through. There’s nothing worse than thinking you’re safe from mosquitoes indoors only to hear a buzzing in your ear or seeing one land on your arm. Keep mosquitoes outside where they belong by making sure your window and door screens are doing their job.
Want to protect yourself from mosquitoes this summer? Follow our tips! If you can’t seem to shake your mosquito woes no matter how hard you try, get in touch with us. You can reach us by filling out an online contact form or by calling us at 978-388-4589. We look forward to helping you.
Ward Off Pests with Some Spring Cleaning Tips
While spring has technically arrived, the weather is still quite wintery. But, the weather conditions will soon improve and that means we’re getting ever closer to the big spring clean up once winter makes its full exit. While some may roll their eyes or groan about spring cleaning, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s highly effective. After all, winter can be a brutal season, especially on the east coast. Taking stock of your home in the spring can help you spot areas in dire need of attention, areas that if left ignored could allow pests into your home. If you want to maintain a pest free home this spring, give the following areas of your home some love during spring clean-up
Bathroom
One should not have to worry about pests in their bathroom, period. But, if you have moisture issues in your bathroom, you may encounter silverfish or cockroaches, both spring pests, during your morning shower. Since both pests are attracted to moisture, be sure to eliminate open sources of water in the bathroom. Be sure to clean out your medicine cabinet, inspect the bathroom for any leaking moisture from pipes or faucets, and wash your shower curtain and liner.
Kitchen
Nicer weather brings the ants right on out. The first place they’re likely going to invade if they get into your home is your kitchen since it provides ample access to both food and water sources. They will crawl throughout your kitchen in search of crumbs, residue from liquid spills, and overripe fruit left sitting out on the counter. Keeping a consistently clean kitchen is tantamount to keeping pests at a minimum, but there are a few more things you can do to help. Clean out your cabinets and remove old food items, like spices and flour. Those ingredients can attract beetles and ants. Once you’ve cleaned out your cabinets, wipe down the insides for good measure. You can also pull out your appliances and clean behind them, as you’d be amazed at how much is actually back there. Giving your kitchen a good scrub down isn’t a bad idea, either.
Basement
Your basement can be a popular place for spiders and rodents to camp out in, especially because there are corners and clutter they can hide amongst. Going through items in your basement and getting rid of things you don’t need can negate this, as it will provide fewer hiding places. When storing items, don’t use cardboard boxes because they can wear down over time and allow pests access to their contents. Instead, use sturdy plastic bins with secure lids. If you happen to notice any cracks or crevices that give you pause, seal them up with caulk to provide pests with one less access area to your home. You’d be surprised at just how small an opening has to be for critters to get through.
Spring cleaning shouldn’t just be a quick clean up. Spring cleaning doesn’t only get your house ready for spring either, but for summer too. By giving your home a solid inspection, particularly in the areas listed above, you’ll be ensuring strong pest protection for months to come. If you begin experiencing a persistent issue, please get in touch with us. You can reach us at 978-388-4589 or by filling out an online contact form.
3 Signs Your Home May Have Termites
Much to your chagrin, termites remain active year round. Don’t let your mother or your co-workers tell you they go into a dormant state or become less prevalent in the winter, because they don’t. Discovering a termite infestation can be incredibly disheartening and also leave you scrambling for answers on how to solve the problem. After all, if termites are not discovered early, you stand the chance of having to pour a lot of money into repairing your home. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult to recognize your home even has a termite problem in the first place. So, we’ve compiled a list of warning signs you should be on the lookout for. Read on!
Shelter Tubes
You may notice fan-like looking patterns on your walls or foundations. These are termite shelter tubes and they are key to helping termites maintain a dark, humid atmosphere for general development and food storage. Termites typically build these tubes at night and the larger they appear the more damage your home has likely sustained. The shelters are often various shades of brown, and appear earthen and clay-like in appearance. If you’re concerned about termites, take a look at your foundations and walls. Keeping an eye on things could help you avoid heaps of damage.
Frass Piles
Frass, or termite droppings, are minuscule pellets often found near termite entryways. This sign more or less speaks for itself. If you happen to spot a frass pile, immediately contact pest control services so they can get to work on saving your home. Termite dropping piles are a clear indication you have a termite problem on your hands.
Hollow Wood and/or Sagging Floors
Since termites often burrow in honeycomb patterns, they don’t come close to the surface of the wood. Not only does this add to the list of reasons why detecting termites early can be troublesome, but it also means the termites have more time to burrow and wreak havoc. Wood will continue to grow weaker, which may cause your floors to sag or a hollow noise to emanate from your walls when knocked upon. Don’t chalk these things up to your home’s age, either. If your floors and walls were not like this before, contact professionals to get your home checked out.
No one wants to deal with a termite infested home, ever. Unfortunately, Americans pay millions of dollars annually in termite damage. Don’t allow yourself to be part of that statistic! If you begin to notice any of these warning signs or other worrisome indicators, get in touch with Absolut Pest Control. You can reach us at 978-388-4589 or by filling out an online contact form.
Mouse Proofing Your Home This Winter
The winter season and the frigid temperatures that come along with it can make it unsavory to stay outside for long periods of time. Much to your dismay, that also means critters will try and make their way into your home. After all, they need somewhere warm to hunker down too. Mice, in particular, can be a real nuisance for some homeowners. While mice may be cute, they can cause some real damage to your home. Let’s go over a few ways you can mouse-proof your home this winter season…
Store All Foods, Even Your Pet’s
First and foremost, you’re going to need to make sure you’re not providing the mice with a readily available food source. This means keeping your countertops and other surfaces spick and span while ensuring all your other foods are sealed in containers and stored away. It can be easy to overlook your pet’s food during this process, so don’t. Food for your dog or cat is a real draw for mice, so remember to seal and store away your animal’s sustenance as well.
Utilize a Brush Strip
A neat trick for preventing rodents is installing a brush strip to all exterior doors. This way, small gaps at the base (common in older doors) will be blocked off, thus giving mice fewer entry points to your home. Not only are brush strips easy to install, especially the ones with adhesive strips, but they can also help prevent your home’s heat from seeping out through the gaps in the door during the cold months! It’s a win-win.
Elevate Firewood
If you’re big on having fires during the winter, listen up. Your wood pile outside is a fan favorite among our rodent friends. These piles are typical hangouts for mice, which means you should elevate your log pile 18 inches off the ground at the minimum. Not only will this make it much tougher for mice to nestle in amongst the cut wood, but it’ll also keep you from having to completely dig out your wood when it snows!
These are just a couple ways you can go about making your home non-rodent friendly this winter. We’ve still got plenty of cold times ahead of us, so it’s not too late to implement our tips. If you can’t seem to shake your mouse problem, get in touch with us. Fill out our online contact form!
How to Prevent Bed Bugs this Winter Season
The scary thing about bed bugs is that you can pick them up almost anywhere. Just think, you run the risk of encountering the little guys at a hotel, your office, the gym, or even a store. Bed bugs are quite good at hiding and like to hitch rides in your personal belongings when given the chance. Being unaware of their presence is the root of the issue because once they are in your home, they can be a real hassle to get rid of…unless you have help from Absolut Pest Control, of course! Now, you might be thinking that, because it’s winter, you don’t have to worry about bed bugs but you’d be wrong. As long as they have a blood host, they can continue to thrive in colder temperatures. Their bites can vary in severity as well, depending on how you react to them. Check out a few of our recommendations for preventing bed bugs in your home. Don’t forget, these critters can lay up to five eggs a day!
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Don’t Fret!
While it can be hard to rid yourself of bed bugs, it’s not impossible. Don’t fly into a mad rush to throw all bed sheets and blankets away, as most of those items can be saved through treatment. Not to mention throwing out items can get incredibly expensive. Also, by throwing out your contaminated linens, your increasing the chance of spreading bed bugs to someone else.
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Be Sure You’re Actually Dealing with Bed Bugs
People will spot fleas or ticks around their home and mistake them for bed bugs. This causes a lot of unnecessary panic and stress, so we suggest comparing the insect you’re seeing in your home to pictures of what you suspect it to be on the internet. This can help clear up a lot of general confusion. If you still find yourself unsure of what you’re dealing with, get in touch with us and we’ll get to the bottom of your problem.
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Reduce Hiding Places & Clutter
This is a big tip, as a cluttered living area provides bed bugs with ample spaces to hide. Not only will a cleaner living space make it harder for the bugs to conceal themselves, but it’ll likely improve your quality of daily life too. If you’re currently dealing with an infestation, it’s a chance to clear out your space albeit under undesirable circumstances. Simply cleaning won’t be the answer to all of your bed bug problems either, but it’ll certainly aid the situation and help prevent future issues.
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Regularly Wash Bed Sheets, Blankets, Bedspreads, and Clothing
Bed bugs can hide and lay their eggs in both your clothing and laundry hampers/containers. Remember to clean your hampers and containers on a regular basis to reduce the risk of hidden bed bugs nesting in them. If you often leave articles of clothing in a pile on the floor when they are dirty, these rules especially apply. The goal when preventing bed bugs is to remain vigilant on the cleaning front.
Bed bugs can seriously drag down your time at home, especially the most important hours when you should be sleeping. If you suspect you’re dealing with a bed bug issue, utilize our tips and contact us to terminate said problem. Don’t let the winter months lull you into a sense of critter complacency. Remain vigilant and keep your home clean! Contact us if you’re at your wit’s end.
How to Get Your Property Pest Prepped for Winter
It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, we know, but winter really is just right around the corner. Honestly, some days it feels as though it’s already here. As the cold season slowly approaches, there are a few things you can do outdoors to keep pests from taking up residence close to, or inside of, your home. Let’s take a look at some suggestions…
Tend to Your Lawn
Keep your lawn looking neat and clean for as long as you can before winter arrives. This involves clearing dead leaves, fallen twigs, branches, and other debris you may find that could provide shelter for pests seeking to get into your home. Remain on top of keeping your yard tidy even after the snow has fallen.
Trim Your Hedges
To keep pests away who might be taking up residence in your hedges, leave about five feet of clear space between the edge of your home and your nearest hedge or plant. Plants near your home can be utilized as shelter by pests, so keep those branches short. After all, once you trim your hedges, they won’t again until spring.
Move Firewood
Firewood piles are a very popular shelter option for rodents and insects during the winter time since they can build nests for their young and feed them there. To keep rodents from moving from your woodpile to your house, store your firewood at least twenty feet from your home. If you can, keep the wood elevated about five feet above the ground too.
Clear Gutters and Drains
Having gutters that drain properly is essential for preventing water build-up. Built up moisture can attract pests, so check your gutters and clear out any leaves and debris you may find. It’s in your best interest to ensure your sump pump is draining properly too.
If you’re looking to protect your home from pests this winter, get started on these suggestions now. We’re just two short weeks away from the start of December, so set some time aside and try to get a jump on ensuring a pest-free home for winter. If you’re in need of help, give us a call here at Absolut Pest Control or fill out our online contact form!
4 Common Fall Pests
Well, folks, the weather might still be wonky in terms of warmth but fall is officially here. If you’re from New England or if you’re a transplant, it’s highly likely you enjoy this brief season. The weather cools down at a moderate pace, the leaves change a bunch of gorgeous colors before letting go of their branches, and everyone can go back to wearing sweaters. It’s a lovely time indeed, but as the temperature cools there are quite a few pests who are going to be trying to find their way indoors. Here are a few you should keep an eye out for…
1.) Stink Bugs
Brown stink bugs actively seek shelter once cooler weather arrives. They don’t transmit diseases, nor do they sting or bite. They can, however, damage clothing, furniture, and other fabrics with their droppings. Conveniently enough, this is how stinkbugs get their name! When disturbed, their droppings emit a seriously strong odor in order to ward off potential predators. As fall settles in, take extra care to check out clothes, furniture, and blinds as these are common places to discover a lazy stink bug. Also, check all window screens to ensure they allow no easy entry into your home.
2.) Ants
You can potentially find all sorts of ants around your house throughout the fall months. Beware, some of these ants can wreak some real havoc. House ants can contaminate several of your foods while carpenter ants can damage the structure of your home. Keeping ants out of your home can be tricky, but to start you should store food in airtight containers , sweep your floors frequently, and keep tree branches and plants cut back from potential entry areas around your property. If these simple methods don’t help, you should look into sealing areas around your house in addition to cracks in the foundation.
3.) Rodents
These guys are pretty common in the fall and winter. Like people, they need warmth when the temperatures drop, so naturally they choose our homes. Unfortunately, they spread diseases, can build nests in your insulation, and chew through your wires potentially causing a fire in the process. Rodents are flexible creatures, and have an uncanny knack of fitting through even the smallest of cracks. So, to help prevent them this season, plug up suspicious holes in your home’s foundation. In addition to that, you should be storing your food in containers because it makes acquiring a food source much more difficult. Since they reproduce at an incredibly brisk pace, you should contact pest professionals as soon as you suspect an infestation.
4.) Cockroaches
No one wants to believe, or be told, that they have cockroaches in their home. Unfortunately, they are incredibly common and also quite dangerous. They can potentially spread up to 33 kinds of bacteria, some of which can trigger asthma attacks in children. Cockroaches fancy drains and pipes, so do your best to keep bathrooms and kitchens thoroughly sanitized. Again, make sure all cracks around the home are sealed and vacuum often.
These are some of the pests you might spot inside your home this fall, much to your dismay. Utilize our tips if you feel as though you can handle the problem, but if things get particularly out of hand then get in touch with Absolut Pest Control. We can have your home back to normal in no time!
Pest Prevention Tips for Fall
In New England, most people love fall. It’s a nice transition from hot weather to cool weather, and the colored foliage outdoors makes up for the fact that the general temperatures are dropping. As the weather changes, and the nights get colder, rodents and pests will begin seeking out warmer areas to inhabit. Your home is a slam dunk option. So, in honor of the impending season, we’d like to give you some pointers on how to help keep pests out of your home this fall.
1.) Examine Windows and Screens for Rips and Holes
If you have a large dog at home, or a small rambunctious one, there’s likely a chance your window screens have seen better days. Their claws can scratch screens when they jump up on window sills, which provide pests with an entry point to your home. When you have the time, take a look at your window and door screens. If you discover holes or rips, do what you can to mend them. If the screen is entirely beyond repair, you should look into replacement options.
2.) Install a Chimney Cap
If your home has a chimney, it’s a smart idea to install a chimney cap when colder weather rolls in. This way, you can deter bats, birds, and other wildlife from holing up in your house. The same goes for your attic vents. Installing wire mesh to vents keeps squirrels, rodents, and bats from infiltrating your attic, and even the walls of your home.
3.) Seal Openings Around Your Home
Utility openings such as dryer vents, gas meters, and other outdoor facets are common entry points to your humble abode. Tiny openings can allow spiders and a variety of other insects into your home, while an opening as small as a fourth of an inch is large enough for mice to fit through. Utilize things such as copper mesh, expandable foam, or caulk to seal up these areas.
Keeping your home secure from pests is important, particularly when the change in seasons involves a temperature drop. Inspect your property for any glaring issues, and do your best to remedy them. If you run into a problem you just can’t fix, or discover a pre-existing pest problem, contact us at 978-388-4589 or fill out our online contact form!