When there is something strange not just in your neighborhood, but in your living room and kitchen themselves, who are you going to call? Or what will you do? Do you call the pest exterminators? Or bring out the fogger bombs?
Why call pest control? Pests are insects or animals that adversely affect human activities. Research has shown that more than 80% of American homes have pest problems, and almost all homes have insects. Yes, almost all, including yours and mine. And a lot of these insects are classified as pests, like cockroaches, bed bugs, flies, and mosquitoes. And we have not even mentioned rats and mice as pests. These unwanted visitors make us feel unsafe right in our own homes, thus the need to get rid of them immediately.
Among the more popular methods of pest control are the use of foggers and fumigation. These methods can be done either with the help of a professional or by yourself. However, if you decide to go through the DIY route, you have to take all safety precautions.
The leading pest control company in Lenoir, Go-Forth Home Services, would like to discuss these types of pest control methods, though more focus will be given to fumigation.
Lenoir's Best Pest Control Treatments For 2020
Many residents of Lenoir use fogger bombs, or foggers, or total release foggers, to kill pests. This is because foggers are easy to use and require less effort; it is designed to be placed at the center of a room on top of a table or chair. It is then activated pulling the tab on the can, releasing the entire contents upward. Its aerosol droplets would then remain suspended for a period and then settle on the floor and other surfaces of the house.
Foggers seldom resolve pest infestations. Very little insecticides enter cracks and crevices where pests are hidden. It is effective against exposed flying insects like flies and mosquitoes, though. Rats, mice, bed bugs, cockroaches, and other hidden pests will probably survive a fogger bomb onslaught.
Foggers, though popular among homeowners are not exactly the kind of pest control method you would really want to use. It is the least effective, yet it can potentially cause harm to humans. Other methods may require a little more effort, but you would get better results from them.
Another popular form of pest control is fumigation. Fumigation acts to eliminate pests in your house and is a more effective tool. Fumigation is a more focused approach than foggers, one in which pests are targeted using toxic gaseous substances. This is effective against pests that hide deep inside structures since it brings them out of their nests and kills them, one that foggers cannot do.
Fumigation can be done by yourself. You may also choose a very good pest control company that will follow the proper procedures in doing a fumigation since it involves toxic chemicals. Whether you choose a DIY method or a pest professional, precautions must be made.
If you decide on doing this by yourself, start by doing an inspection of the entire house. It must be sanitized first. Open the drawers and the doors of cabinets. All the possible exit routes must be sealed. Make sure you have protection for the eyes, nose, and mouth. If done properly, you can be assured of a pest-free home for a long time after fumigation.
Fumigating A Room
If you do not have fumigants yet, you may buy from your local home improvement store. Before picking one up, check the label if it is for the pests that you have. Also, mind the ingredients, if you are unfamiliar with them, you may do some research. Check for potential harmful effects and how it will affect the environment.
Fumigators contain very powerful chemicals that, if mishandled, can cause serious injuries and even death to homeowners and pets. It is also extremely pressurized, so you must use only one per room. If you are willing to tackle a pest problem on your own by fumigation, you will have to begin by knowing how big the room is. The room should not be a small, enclosed space. Know the square footage of the room, then multiply this number by the height of the room and cubic feet.
After you set off the fumigator in the room, close the windows and the doors during the fumigation. Once you set the fumigation by pulling the tab, it would automatically spray a mist in the air and over a large area.
Safety Precautions
Fumigation uses highly toxic chemicals, which makes sense because its only purpose is to kill pests. Keep in mind that this is poison to humans and pets too. Before you fumigate inside your home, please read these safety tips.
- Turn off appliances. Fumigators are flammable, so that plus anything that can create a spark is very dangerous. Turn off any appliances including electric fans and air conditioning and unplug them. Same with ignition sources like gas pilot lights and other open flames. Cover all electronic devices like television sets, radios, computers to prevent damage. Disable smoke alarms.
- Evacuate everyone, including pets. Remove all pets, including fish and birds. If you can arrange with a friend or a neighbor to safe keep your pets while treatment is ongoing. If you have an aquarium, turn off the pump and place an appropriate cover on it.
- Disable all your smoke alarms, albeit temporarily. The smoke might trigger the alarm.
- Cover food, dishes, kitchen utensils, and surfaces that touch food. If you accidentally left some food exposed to the chemicals, throw them away. It would be too dangerous to eat them. Wash the dishes and other kitchen utensils with soap and water thoroughly.
- Tell your neighbors. It would be best to tell your neighbors about your planned fumigation. Advise them to cover their stuff too. Place a sign on your doors that says “Do not enter”.
- Get out of the house. After setting the fumigator, get out of the house and stay outside for at least three hours. After three hours, go back inside your house to open all windows and doors. This will allow the house to aerate. Leave them open for about an hour, which means you will have to stay out for an hour more until there is no more residual smell of the chemicals.
- Use only the right amount of foggers. The most common accidents involving fumigation happen when the homeowner releases too many chemicals, which results in a buildup of flammable vapors. The best way to know the right amount you need is to calculate the volume of the area you are to treat. Multiply the height, width, and length of the room. If you are going to treat the entire house, then simply add the room volumes together.
Other Ways To Prevent Pest Infestation
The truth of the matter is, it does not really have to come up to using poisonous chemicals in your house to make it pest-free. Here are some tips you can follow so you can have a pest-free and therefore a stress-free household.
- Practice good housekeeping. Regularly sweep and mop the floors and vacuum carpets and furniture.
- Remove clutter. Clutters are among the pests’ favorite places to hide.
- Place a cover on your trash can. Dispose of your garbage regularly and properly.
- Inspect around the house for cracks and crevices. Once you have found them, seal them off by caulking. Mice can enter holes that are the size of a nickel. On the other hand, cockroaches can fit into cracks that are the same width as a credit card.
- Put your food inside sealed containers.
- Fix leaky pipes and faucets.
- Place a screen on your windows. Keep your doors always closed, or if possible, install a screen door.
- Never leave unwashed dishes in the kitchen sink overnight. This will attract rats, mice, and cockroaches.
- Wipe off drink spills and food debris.
Following these tips will greatly reduce the chances of your home attracting pests. However, if you already have a pest infestation problem, then you may want to seek the help of the professionals. You would not want just any other professional, of course, you want Lenoir's best pest control treatments for 2020.
Finding the best pest control management is important if you want to completely eradicate these troublesome pests in your home safely and efficiently. For their pest control needs, people from North and South Carolina trust only one name: Go-Forth Home Services.
Go-Forth Home Services will effectively and efficiently control pests in your home so that you would not have to. We at Go-Forth Home Services know that your peace of mind is important when you are at your own home. Of course, your family’s safety is your top priority, and we know that. We will do what it takes to give you a worry-free experience.
For more information, call us now.