Pest Control – Why It's Not the Same as Termite Control

When you have a pest problem, it can be downright annoying. You may see ants crawling around your kitchen, cockroaches in your garage, or even spiders in your basement. But when you have a termite control problem, things can get downright devastating. Termites cause more than a billion dollars' worth of damage every year – more than natural disasters, like fires and storms! If you think you have termites, you don't have time to waste. You need a professional exterminator who can get in your house and get rid of them. The longer they have time to hang out inside your home, the more damage they're going to cause. But before you call your neighborhood pest control company, you have to make sure they're well-versed in termite control.

Why? It's one thing to be a pest control expert; it's another to be a termite control expert. Termites operate very differently than the average pest, so they have to be treated differently than the average pest. You may think that because you don't have any cracks or tiny holes in your walls that termites can't get in. However, that's not the case! Termites are capable of coming up with sophisticated ways to get into your home. Don't live on the ground floor? It doesn't matter to a termite! That's because they construct "mud tubes" made out of their own feces to travel from underneath the ground up into your home's foundation. Then, they can use these "mud tubes" to go back and forth to get more food. If you keep a sharp eye out, you can see these mud tubes.

A termite control specialist should be able to spot them very easily. But the way they get in isn't the only thing that makes termites different. Unlike the average pest, termites live deep inside your house. Your odds of actually seeing one scamper across the floor are very, very slim.

That's because they're far more interested in the wooden studs inside your walls. To them, that wood is far more delicious than anything you may have left out on the kitchen counter! So, what can a termite control specialist do? Unfortunately, if your exterminator comes to spray or put down baits geared for "traditional" pests – like ants and roaches – it will not help your termite problem. Instead, termite control has to be centered at the core of your home – like inside your walls and underneath your foundation. It may take sophisticated tenting techniques or even drilling and trenching to get to the source of your termite infestation. Every exterminator doesn't know how to do it – which is why it's so important to find the right expert!

About the Author

Richard A. Manfredi has written about www.affordablepest.com . When you have a pest problem, it can be downright annoying.

Looking for a Good Exterminator? Look for These 4 Things

If you need an exterminator, it might be tempting to just call the first name you see online or in the phone book.  However, if you want a good exterminator, you need to be on the lookout for these 4 things:

1.An exterminator who doesn't rely solely on chemicals
Sure, chemicals are a very effective form of pest control, but they can also be a dangerous one.  If you have small kids or pets running around your home, you can't leave poisonous baits and traps out that they might mistake for treats or toys.  

If you don't want your home to turn into a toxic fume haven just because you have a pest problem, a good exterminator will understand – and he will work with you to find a solution that's more non-toxic.
 
2.An exterminator who understands termite control
Termites are a dangerous pest to deal with because they can cause so much damage so quickly.  And, unfortunately, they operate a little differently than the average pest does.  Just because someone really understands pest control doesn't necessarily mean that they understand all of the nuances of termite control.

If you think your home may have fallen victim to termites, you need to look for a termite control expert.  If an exterminator hems and haws when you ask him about his termite experience, find another one.

3.An exterminator who crafts a plan based on your specific pest problem

Pest control is not a one-size-fits-all industry.  The type of pest you're dealing with will play a huge role in the pest control plan that your exterminator comes up with.  For example, solving a roach problem is very different from solving a mouse problem – just like eliminating ants is very different from eliminating fleas.

If your exterminator tries to sell you a pest control plan before he knows exactly what kind of pest you're dealing with, he's not the right choice for you.

4.An exterminator who believe in prevention as much as elimination
Good pest control starts with keeping pests out in the first place.  A good exterminator will come up with an immediate plan for getting rid of your pest problem.  Then, he will come up with a plan to keep pests out of your home altogether.  After taking a look around your home, your exterminator might find tiny cracks or holes in your foundation that are giving pests a way inside.  Or, he may discover that your overgrown bushes have become a haven for rodents.

Unless you get an exterminator that works as hard on prevention as he does on elimination, you may never totally get rid of your pest problem.

About the Author

If you need an exterminator, it might be tempting to just call the first name you see online or in the phone book.  However, if you want a good exterminator, you need to be on the lookout for these 4 things:

5 Tips for Finding a Good Exterminator

If you have a pest control problem, you do not have time to waste.After all, every pest that makes its way into your home can do serious damage.

Termites cause more than $5 billion in damage every year, and rodents–like mice and rats can contaminate your food supply and threaten your health.

If you suspect that you have a pest problem,you need a quality exterminator, pronto.But with all of the choices out there, how do you find the best one?

Follow these 5 tips:

1.Look for an exterminator that does more than just spray

You don't always need toxic pesticides to eliminate your pest woes.  In fact, if you have small children and pets, you don't want a bunch of chemicals around your house!Today, there are greener alternatives and even humane traps that can get rid of pests effectively.A good exterminator will have a variety of different treatment options at his disposal.

2.Look for an exterminator that has been in business for awhile

Sure, there are companies out there that have been ineffective for years.However, as a general rule of thumb, if a pest control company has been around for awhile, they are probably effective, and they will likely give you much better service than some "fly-by-night" company.

3.Look for an exterminator that knows that termite control starts at the source

If you have a termite problem, it isn't good enough to just kill the termites you can see; you have to dig deeper to find their colony.If your termite control doesn't focus on destroying that colony, you will never be able to get rid of the problem.

4.Look for an exterminator that can handle a variety of pest control issues

During your quest for termites, you may discover that you have a bed bug problem or a rodent problem.If that happens, you do not want to waste your time calling another company to handle the problem.It is much easier and much faster to simply hire a pest control company that can handle everything.

5.Look for an exterminator that can take preventative steps

You do not have to wait for a problem to address pest issues.If, for example, your neighbor has a termite issue or a rodent problem, you can work with a good exterminator to prevent those critters from making their way into your house.A quality pest control company can help you prevent problems from developing–or prevent little problems from getting bigger.

About the Author

Richard A. Manfredi has written about www.affordablepest.com.Get quality pest control services in Virginia and termite control in VA.Contact leading exterminator in DC to get rid of bed bugs in DC.