Wednesday, February 20, 2013

How to Inspect Your Hotel Room for Bed Bugs



Great infographic on how to inspect your hotel room for bed bugs. An important step in bed bug prevention and bed bug control!

source

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Quick Facts about Termite Inspection

Termites are among the most destructive insects and they can cause extensive damage to properties and furniture. The two general types of termites that destroy properties are the wood inhabiting and the subterranean termites. These termites are a major threat to homeowners, and they can hide in areas one least thinks of such as carpets, rugs, furniture, ceiling, walls, and appliances among other places. Termite inspection services are very important since they help property owners determine if there are termites in their properties. After the inspection is complete, once can decide on the appropriate measures to take.

Knowing the average termite inspection cost before deciding to hire the services of termite inspectors is important. It is hard to give the exact cost of termite inspection but some factors will help you estimate the amount of money you will pay for inspection services. The dimensions of a building are one of the factors that are used to determine the cost. The larger the area under inspection is, the more you should expect to pay.

Part of the termite inspection cost also relates to determining the procedures that will be followed in order to detect the presence of termites in or around your property, identifying the species, and considering the soil type in order to determine which product or method is appropriate to use to eradicate the pests.

When termite inspection is performed as part of the closing costs, termite inspection costs can range anywhere from 65 to 100 dollars and the inspector will provide you with a wood destroying insect report. This report consists of two parts; one part holds information about the immediate steps that you need to take in order to protect your investment and the second part lists the potential problems that may take place.

When a termite inspection is performed as part of a residential property purchase, a connecting 1-year warranty may be needed. There is a lot that you can expect from termite inspection specialists. For one, they look for evidence of termites by using various tools to probe wood in your crawl space or basement to find out if there is any damage.

They also check for damage along the interior and exterior surfaces of a building or foundation. They take their time to carefully inspect structures like joists, window sills, support posts, wood porches, basement window frames, cracks in cement, scrap wood piles, expansion joints, fence posts, and tree stumps. Termite inspectors assess the extent of damage caused by termites and then recommend the right course of treatment.

The termite inspection cost will vary from one company to another and it is appropriate to get quotes from a few companies. As you get such quotes, you should consider a number of factors. For example, you should only work with companies that are licensed to operate in your area even if it means that you have to pay a higher price for the termite inspection. If the termite inspection is being performed on your home, you should find out if your home insurance policy can cover the termite inspection cost.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

How to Kill Bed Bugs

Learning how to kill bed bugs is necessary as these creatures are becoming a common problem to many people. Bed bugs are nocturnal insects that live in bedding and suck human blood. They are disastrous as they can infest any place but love box spring, blankets, mattresses, or mattress covers. They usually feed in the dawn hours and you won't have any idea of them other than the itchy, red bites left behind. It is important to note that infestations can be tough to eliminate and require dedication.

The following are the steps you can follow to learn how to kill bed bugs:

Bed bug treatments
First you need to ensure there are bed bugs that have infested in your bedding. This is important to be sure that the treatments are going to work effectively. Some nocturnal parasites such as bird mites also suck blood. You can check whether there are dark spots on the mattress as this is an indicator for bed bug waste.

Use a mattress encasement
A mattress encasement is quite different from a mattress pad. It encloses the whole mattress and can be zipped around it. The zipping will ensure that your bed bugs are trapped inside and will be starved to death since they will not be able to feed on you. This is a long term solution as bed bugs can live for a couple of months without feeding.

Vacuum often and thoroughly
This is another method used in killing bed bugs. This method is used when one is in middle of infestation. You can use a crevice tool to get every nook and cranny of your bed and the surrounding fabrics and furniture. You need to empty the vacuum away from your house and the clean the hoses and filter. If this is not possible, you can vacuum up with a flea powder containing Pyre-thrum. This will ensure the bed bugs will die rather than crawling out of the vacuum.

Use steam
You can rent or buy a commercial steam cleaner. It works on the same principle as the vacuum. You need to steam every piece of furniture and fabric in the bedroom and the immediate rooms. The heat will kill the eggs and bed bugs themselves.

Wash bedding and clothing
In this case you should use a washing machine with detergent and hot water. The items should then be dried by using the hottest dryer setting for more than 30 minutes to kill the eggs and bed bugs. The clothing and bedding should be placed in plastic bags when they are not in use. The infested room should then be heat treated for four hours.

Call an exterminator
If you have no knowledge on how to kill bed bugs, this will be your best option. It is a costly method but can make a great difference between buying new bedding or not. You should call an exterminator with lots of experience in dealing with bed bug infestations and should clean your house carefully before they arrive.