Pest Information

Keeping Pests Away from Your Property

Click the icons to the left to learn more about how a few simple steps can keep pests from taking up residence in your building.

If you've been unsuccessful in keeping pests away from your facility, contact us immediately before taking steps to remove them. Some pests can be dangerous, and improper treatment and handling of any infestation could harm people or property.

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Bedbugs

• Check for and seal any cracks in exterior of building.
• Have the facility cleaned on a regular basis.
• Check any secondhand furniture for bedbugs or their eggs.
• Thoroughly wash bedsheets and blankets that have come into contact with bedbugs.
• If the infestation persists, you will most likely need to call a professional. Bedbugs can escape through walls and floors and spread to other rooms.

Carpenter Ants/Pavement Ants

• Do not store any kind of wood or place landscaping elements near the foundation of the building, as ants are likely to gather under these areas.
• Landscape beds should not be any deeper than two inches, and should be at least twelve inches from your foundation.
• Try to keep vegetation cleared from around the perimeter of your facility.
• Direct rainwater away from the building, and do not let it empty near the foundation.
• Plug and seal all cracks and openings in the building.
• Remove all stumps and dead limbs from your property to eliminate potential nesting sites for ants.
• Immediately seal any leaks in your roof or plumbing, and routinely check basements and crawl spaces for excess moisture.

Cockroaches/Water Bugs

• Properly storing food and thoroughly cleaning your facility are two of the most effective methods of preventing roach infestations. Be sure to remove food particles from corners and small spaces.
• Do not leave standing water or food remnants anywhere in the building.
• Properly insulate all interior pipes to control the amount of moisture in dark spaces.
• Immediately seal any cracks or openings in the exterior of the facility.
• Install screening on all vents leading into the building to prevent roaches from entering.
• Ensure that all trash bins have tightly-fitting lids, and empty them regularly.

Fleas

• Sweep and vacuum regularly, paying close attention to cracks and hard-to-reach areas.
• Keep food items covered and stored whenever possible.
• Place screens on foundations and access areas to deter flea-bearing animals from entering the building.

Moths

• Use cedar wood in storage areas where moths might be a problem.
• Hang cedar bags, which can usually be purchased from a dry cleaner, over items you want to protect from moths.
• Moth balls, despite the scent they tend to produce, are effective at warding moths from your merchandise.

Pigeons

• Remove any traces of food or standing water from the area around your building.
• Place "pigeon spikes" on places where pigeons are likely to roost.
• Use wire mesh to barricade parts of your facility that may be frequented by pigeons. Use the mesh to cover surfaces that will be out of sight from your customers, as pigeons tend to avoid walking on the material.
• Place dummies of predatory birds near roosting locations.

Rodents

• Do not stack bricks, stones, or debris near your building's foundation.
• Many rodents can fit through openings no larger than ¼ of an inch. Carefully inspect your building for cracks and holes, filling them with steel wool or wire mesh and sealing them with caulk whenever possible.
• Install weather stripping on the bottoms of doors.
• Remember, your Amazing Pest Control! service includes coverage of commensal rats and mice, and much of the service provided during the colder months is to inspect for signs of rodents and to maintain preventive control measures.

Squirrels

• Check for tree branches that are growing close to the building, and prune them back to ten feet or more.
• Watch for holes or openings that squirrels could use to enter the facility. If you find a breach, repair it immediately or cover it with wire mesh. Steel wool can also be useful for plugging smaller holes.
• Place caps over any tubes or pipes that protrude from the roof of the building.
• Do not use poisons or lethal traps to combat squirrels that have already gained entry to your facility.

Termites

• Inspect your building every year, looking for tunnels and piles of "dirt."
• Redwood, cedar and juniper are a few examples of wood types that termites generally avoid. Use these types of wood whenever possible.
• Remove all standing water from the premises, as it tends to attract termites.
• Place polyethylene sheets in crawl spaces to serve as a barrier between the building's frame and the soil. You can also use sand in crawl spaces and around support structures to keep termites from tunneling through the soil. Keep these areas dry at all times.
• Trim plants away from the exterior of your facility to discourage damaging mold buildup and invasion by termites.
• Remove scraps of unused wood from the vicinity of your building.