Saturday, February 28, 2009

Are Termite Renewals Worth It?

The question is, are termite renewals worth the money? I like to think of it this way. Most termite jobs are expensive, many times invasive, and involves moving items and a mess. A termite renewal is an insurance policy or a yearly warranty, for lack of a better word. Usually you pay ten to fifteen percent of the job on a yearly renewal basis. This guarantees that if termites return, the company will come out and treat the area of concern. Liquid termite jobs are not a sure fire treatment, even though the termite technician may have done an overly thorough job. The problem is, you can't see what is going on under the slab. The liquid termite juice may be splitting at a rock or other obstacle under ground, leaving the perfect non treated area for termites to re-infest. Same goes for termite bait. It may take some adjusting of placements, etc. So I would argue that termite renewals are worth the money. At least for a few years so that you are relatively sure the treatment has worked. If you don't pay the renewal, the company can charge you the full price again. Yikes!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Box elder bug sure fire elimination

Is it true...a sure fire way to finally get rid of the bug that has plagued society for years and years? Can it be as simple as a bait or a pheromone that will kill off for good this bug we all hate? Well unfortunately no. With the warm winter days comes the boxelder bug slithering it's way into the offices and homes across America like an unwanted flu or cold. How can we stop them? Vacuum them. I have an old shop vac that I keep only for boxelder bugs on the outside of my home, and another little carry along canister vac with a hose for the inside. This system instantly eliminates the pest and everyone is happy. Short of cutting down a ton of trees or using sprays that don't really work, vacuuming is the best way to do it. Keep you house and box elder problem clean with your handy every day vacuum.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Mice in my furniture

Here is a question I get pretty often. Can mice live in a sofa or puffy chair? The answer is yes they can. If you tip your couch over you will see a dust cloth stapled to the bottom. Mice can get through this and burrow in the stuffing, settling into a pretty posh environment. Get a strong flash light and start to explore if you think this could be the case, or set up traps and place some bait in the area of the sofa. Tamper proof bait station are required and safety is your best friend. Good luck and happy hunting.