The Do's & Don'ts Behind Pest Control

5/22/2019 (Permalink)

How can you safely solve your pest problems? The key is to be willing to ask questions. Learning about the pests you have and the options available to control specific pests is the first step.

Learn more about the steps you can take to safely control pests:

• Try pest prevention first
• Do safely and correctly use pesticides
• Do dispose of leftover pesticides and pesticide containers properly
• Don't use outdoor chemicals indoors
• Don't assume that twice as much is better
• Don't transfer pesticides to other containers

Try pest prevention first.

• Remove sources of food, water and shelter.
• Store food in sealed plastic or glass containers. Garbage containing food scraps should be placed in tightly covered trash cans. Remove garbage regularly from your home.
• Fix leaky plumbing and don't let water accumulate anywhere in the home. Don't let water collect in trays under your house plants or refrigerator. Don't leave pet food and water out overnight.
• Clutter provides places for pests to breed and hide and makes it hard to get rid of them. Get rid of things like stacks of newspapers, magazines, or cardboard.
• Close off places where pests can enter and hide. For example, caulk cracks and crevices around cabinets or baseboards. Use steel wool to fill spaces around pipes. Cover any holes with wire mesh.
• Learn about the pests you have and your options to control them.
• Check for pests in packages or boxes before carrying them into your home.

Do safely and correctly use pesticides.

• Keep pets and children away from areas where pesticides have been applied.
• After preventive steps have been taken, you can use baits as a first line of chemical defense against insects or rodents.
• These are often effective and can be used with low risk of exposure to the pesticide, as long as they are kept out of the reach of children and pets.
• Other relatively low-risk pesticides are available for some pests. Consult your local cooperative extension service office for recommendations suitable for your area.
• Pesticides not contained in baits or traps should generally only be applied to targeted locations, not sprayed over the whole room.
• Use fogging devices only when absolutely necessary.
• Always read and follow the pesticide label's instructions and safety warnings.
• Use ready-to-use products (i.e., no mixing needed) whenever possible.
• If you hire any outside persons to help control pests, ask them to find and correct the source of the problem before applying pesticides.
• For example, you might have to repair a leaky toilet to remove a water source.
• Ask them to use baits and crack and crevice treatments when feasible.
• Only apply chemicals approved for use in homes.
• The label will list where the chemical may be used.
• Write down the name and EPA registration number of any chemical used by someone you hire. You will need this information if you decide to look up more information on the pesticide.
• The pest control operator should be able to provide information about the chemical, such as the material safety data sheet.

Do dispose of leftover pesticides and pesticide containers properly.

• Read the label to find out how to dispose of the pesticide and the container.
• Many communities have household hazardous waste collections that will accept unwanted pesticides. Call your waste disposal authority for information about your community.

Don't use outdoor chemicals indoors.

• Many chemicals intended for use outdoors are dangerous to use indoors because they will remain toxic longer inside than they would outdoors.

Don't assume that twice as much is better.

• Always read and follow label directions.
• Using too much of a pesticide can endanger your family's health.

Don't transfer pesticides to other containers.

• Store pesticides in their original containers.
• Only mix as much as you are going to use at one time if the pesticide must be mixed with water.
• Don't use empty pesticide containers to store anything else.
• Children and others have been poisoned by accidentally consuming pesticides stored in food or beverage containers. 
• No matter how well you wash the container, it could still contain remnants of the pesticide and could harm someone.

Call SERVPRO of The East End for Cleanup and Restoration

Once you have exterminated, you will want to call SERVPRO of The East End at 631-653-9595 to effectively remediate and restore your property. We will even replace any insulation that has been infested. Because of the potential health risks, many home owner’s insurance policies may pay for cleanup and restoration. Check your policy provisions with your insurance agent.

Cleaning up after a pest infestation is not as easy as it seems. The decontamination of a home or business due to infestation can be dangerous.

Specialized experience and training is important when choosing a qualified cleanup company to resolve these problems. Protect the safety and health of your family, friends, customers, and business by having hazardous materials properly removed by the professionals at SERVPRO of The East End.

If you have any questions about pest cleanup on The East End of Long Island, call SERVPRO of The East End at 631-653-9595.

Source: https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/dos-and-donts-pest-control  

The Importance of Proper Pest Remediation

5/11/2018 (Permalink)

Pests can enter your home or office from any number of entry points or openings in a structure, causing unforeseen problems & transmitting disease.

As many East End property owners know, a pest infestation is beyond problematic. In addition to causing health hazards, pests adversely affect the structural integrity of your residential or commercial property.  Our team of certified IICRC professionals at SERVPRO of The East End is trained to safely remove biohazards and properly dispose of them in accordance with OSHA and health regulations. Equipped with the recommended safety apparatus and specialized cleaning products, we turn these unhealthy environments back into clean, safe homes and offices, ‘Like it never even happened!’

Rodents Can Invade Your East End Home or Business
Pests can cause serious damage to your property and your health! Property owners are often surprised to find rats, squirrels, raccoons, bats, birds, mice and other pests invading their property in search of warmth, water, and food, especially after they may have left their seasonal homes for an extended period. These creatures contract and transmit numerous diseases and introduce parasites that carry disease into your home. Rats and other invaders breed rapidly and are capable of squeezing through spaces that appear much smaller than their bodies. 

Prevention Tips
There are numerous prevention tips you can implement to decrease your property’s susceptibility to an infestation. One effective strategy is to keep food sources away from open areas. Garbage and crumbs can become food for rodents, as can dry goods like cereals and grains. Make sure that these items are kept sealed away in glass containers to decrease the likelihood of contamination. Also make sure that you properly store vegetables and fruits. This means that you should never leave waste on your counters and sinks. Did you know that cardboard can be attractive to rats and other pests because they chew them up and use the material to make nests. So, be sure that you're not leaving cardboard material out in the open. 

Call SERVPRO of The East End for Cleanup and Restoration
It is not surprising that many property owners seek quick solutions that may help eliminate unwanted creatures. Often, property owners attempt to limit or eliminate the presence of rodents with repellents like mothballs or essential oils. But these homemade treatments are not effective in combating a rodent infestation, or eliminating the health hazards they carry. Rather than attempting to complete a do-it-yourself remedy, we strongly recommend that you call a high quality pest control company to exterminate. Following extermination, call SERVPRO of The East End to effectively remediate and restore the property. We even replace any insulation that has been infested. Because of the potential health risks, many homeowners insurance policies may pay for cleanup and restoration. Check your policy provisions with your insurance agent.

Cleaning up after an infestation of rodents is not as easy as it seems. The decontamination of a home or business due to infestation can be dangerous. Specialized experience and training is important when choosing a qualified cleanup company to resolve these problems. Protect the safety and health of your family, friends, customers, and business by having hazardous materials properly removed by the professionals at SERVPRO of The East End.

If you have any questions about pest cleanup on The East End of Long Island, call SERVPRO of The East End at 631-653-9595.