According to estimates, termites are responsible for $1 billion in damage every year. These pesky pests eat wood and can be quite a nuisance. If you’re looking for useful tips on how to keep these insects out of your home, we’ve got you covered.

Top 4 Tips to Help You Rid Your Home of Termites for Good

1. Learn how to identify them.

First things first, it is important for you to identify them correctly as termites and flying ants are similar in appearance. Termites have a ribbed abdomen and don’t have any visible waist. They have two pairs of vein-filled wings that are equal in length but double the length of the body. The antennae are short and straight, and they have no eyes.

2. Look in the right places.

To accurately gauge a termite’s presence, look for the following signs:

• Termites often build thin mud-like structures that connect the ground to your home/garage/or other wooden structures.
• Check for signs of decay on wooden structures by gently tapping on them. If you get a hollow sound, chances are you have termites.
• Look out for discarded wings as reproductive termites tend to shed their wings.
• Closely examine outside electrical meters/fuse boxes as well as joints and cracks in your home’s foundation for a termite infestation.
• Make sure to check the attic for water leaks, mud tubes, or wood rot.

3. Understand what attracts termites.

Termites are attracted to both dry wood and moist wood. They are also attracted to moist soil as the latter allows them to thrive, staving off dehydration. Finally, termites are attracted to dark and warm places as these places double up as the perfect place for a hide-out and raise their brood. To that end, you should make it a point to clean out the gutters and pipes as frequently as possible to keep any pesky termites at bay.

4. Choose powerful termite treatments.

Get in touch with a termite treatment professional such as Ultra Safe Pest Management to get rid of termites. Professionals might engage in the following treatment methods:

• They may treat the soil around your home with a termite insecticide.
• They could set up termite baits strategically around your yard to lure termites in. Once in, the termites get covered with a slow-acting insecticide, which they then pass on to the other termites as they enter their colony.
• They may opt to inject foam agents into areas liquid pesticides can’t reach or use dust agents.
• They could choose fumigation to kill termites in an area to ensure they don’t return.

Other useful preventive treatment tips to kill termites include:

• Eliminating damp areas around your home and getting rid of any wood-to-ground contact to the extent possible
• Replacing the soil around your home with sand if you have wood touching the ground
• Investing in termite-resistant wood in areas where the wood touches the ground
• Cleaning gutters and drain spouts to prevent water buildup
• Doing home inspections regularly

Termite prevention starts with the right kind of home maintenance. If you want to keep the termites at bay, get your home inspected frequently by a qualified professional. With Ultra Safe Pest Control, you can rest assured that your home is pest-free. We can help you eliminate existing pests and take preventive measures to keep them away from your home and family. What are you waiting for? Call Ultra Safe Pest Control now!

Pests can turn up in any environment, and commercial buildings are no exception. What’s more? Even minor pest control issues can turn into full-fledged infestations in no time if left untreated. This can lead to product loss, facility damage, disgruntled consumers, and a negative business reputation.

So, here are a few essential tips to help keep pests out of your property.

Top Pest Control Tips for Businesses

Use Door Sweeps

Driving insects and rodents out of your commercial space can be a challenging task. This is because pests use various channels, and sources to enter your property. While small holes in the walls or cracks in the foundation are typical entry points, open doors give them easy access. Door sweeps are an inexpensive and efficient way to prevent this from happening. They stop insects, rats, and other pests from creeping into your building.

Trash and Recycling Containers

Garbage and recycling bins are among the most popular breeding grounds for bugs. Even if you use liners, food and drink residue may build at the bottom and edges of these containers. So it’s vital to ensure your trash and recycling containers should have self-closing lids and be emptied regularly.

Standing Water

Stagnant water and dark, damp spaces are ideal ecosystems for mosquitoes, rodents, and cockroaches to breed in. So it’s essential to pay attention to potential breeding sites like birdbaths, plant pots, and parking lot potholes. Use check sprinklers, hoses, and other automated watering systems whenever possible.

Check All Arriving Items

Bugs and rodents can easily contaminate your shipments and enter the property through them. So make sure to check all incoming goods for indications of pest damage. If there are any damaged or broken packages, it’s best not to take them into your building without a thorough inspection.

Regular Cleaning

Consistent efforts are vital to maintaining a clean workplace. The “clean as you go” technique works best for counters, food prep surfaces, and utensils. Remove food and other debris from beneath and behind all kitchen equipment at least once a day to avoid food buildup.

Rooftop Checks

Rooftops should be checked for puddles, clogged gutters, and other issues that might enable pests to enter and occupy the structure. Property managers should check rooftops regularly, even if they are difficult to reach.

Set Up a Waste Management System

Check whether an appropriate waste management system is in place before beginning any work at the property. Additionally, you should also toss garbage regularly in well-sealed containers and clear your dumpsters at least once a month.

Partner with the Best

Pest control begins with prevention. However, working with a qualified pest control provider will ensure the best results and the least amount of worry on your part.

Ultra Safe Pest Management, is accredited with Advanced Pest & Wildlife Certifications, NPMA Quality Pro Certifications, and has ESA Associate Certified Entomologists as staff (ACE). We have been servicing Greater Boston and its surroundings for over two decades now so our professionals can deliver safer, more effective pest control solutions for your business. So regardless of whether you run a hotel, restaurant, hospital, retail, or corporate establishment, feel free to contact us through our website or by calling 866.472.5858.

There is nothing more irritating than pests lurking in your room and damaging your home. Even with the best precautions, pests might find a way to enter your house and find their place in the smallest gaps. Knowing what kind of pests are more likely to invade your home can help you understand how to keep them away from your home.

Here’s a list of some common pests found in Massachusetts:

Rats

Rats are the most common rodents found in Massachusetts homes, especially during winter. Your warm house is a perfect place for them to stay and thrive.

Rats are known to spread diseases and damage your wiring. So, it’s important to immediately get rid of them as soon as you spot them. Catching rats can sometimes be tricky; pest control specialists can help you identify their breeding grounds and eliminate them from your home.

Bugs

Bugs, especially bed bugs, multiply at a faster rate and can infest your home very quickly. Most bugs are nocturnal creatures that can create infections and cause health problems. Since they are too small, they can easily lurk in corners without you knowing they exist.

Bedbugs deposit their feces after every meal, leaving dark brown stains on bedding, especially around the edges of mattresses and bed frames where they are mainly found. Their bites will be red, slightly swollen, itchy, and may appear in clusters. If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to call an exterminator.

Termites

Termite infestation is not that easy to catch since it may not be visible. They may be eating out your favorite wooden decor from the inside, and you would not notice it until they have done substantial damage. Therefore, pest control is your only option to protect your beautiful wooden furniture.

Cockroaches

Cold weather can draw these disgusting insects into your home. They carry a wide variety of bacteria and cause asthma attacks in children, so cockroach infestation should be dealt with as soon as possible.

Beetles

In the late summer and early fall, you may find a variety of beetles looking to hibernate for the winter. Among these are ladybugs and stink beetles. They usually like lurking in the warmer parts of your home.

Ants

Ants may seem like summer pests since they are known for ruining picnics. But, fall weather drives ants into your home in search of food. They may also try making their colonies in your home.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes enter your home mainly during dawn and dusk. They carry various harmful diseases that they inject directly into your bloodstream. If not dealt with immediately, they can cause severe damage to your health. It’s important to take steps to prevent mosquito breeding grounds around your home since mosquitoes can lay eggs in as little as half an inch of water.

With Ultra Safe Pest Control, you can rest assured that your home is pest-free. We can help you eliminate existing pests and take preventive measures to keep them away from your home and family. What are you waiting for? Call Ultra Safe Pest Control now!

As the weather outside gets worse, your home becomes your refuge from the bitter cold. Unfortunately, you’re not the only one enjoying the cozy warmth of your home—you also have some unwanted visitors hiding in the nooks and crannies of your house.

You may not be able to see them but, during winter, insects and bugs seek shelter in your warm home to escape the bitter cold. Though many of them will die over winter, they leave their eggs behind. And, when the warm weather comes around, you may find yourself dealing with an infestation. Here are some tips to protect your home and family from troublesome pests this winter.

Seal All Cracks and Holes, No Matter the Size

Your house is your fortress, and you need to take steps to keep pesky little invaders out!

Start with your doors—install a sturdy steel or aluminum threshold to prevent insects from crawling under your door. For added protection, combine this with nylon brush sweeps as they are the best at keeping pests out. Seal the area around the frame with weatherstripping or door-seal kits. Caulk can seal the joint where the door frame meets the wall and the ground.

If a pencil can slip through a crack, so can insects and rodents! Examine the outside walls of your house and replace any damaged brick or rotten wood. Mortar and cement can be used to patch foundations and masonry walls. Don’t forget to check the roofline closely as bees and wasps often nest there. You also need to seal around utility openings.

Add Screens

During winter, you may occasionally open the window to escape the stuffiness of your heater or to enjoy some natural ventilation. This unintentionally provides pests with an excellent opportunity to enter your house. Fortunately, installing a 20 mesh (or finer) screen to your window will effectively block their path to your home.

If you have existing screens, don’t forget to check them for tears or any openings insects can take advantage of.

Yard Maintenance

Proper yard maintenance plays a crucial role in fortifying your defenses against insects. Piles of leaves and debris make an ideal place for pests to keep warm in winter. So, remove them before they are covered by snow.

Trim tree branches, so they are not physically touching your home or hanging over your roof. Build a barrier between your yard and home to keep mulch and soil away from your house.

Eliminate Unprotected Food and Water Sources

Remove the main reason pests visit your house. Store all your food in airtight containers and wipe up spills and crumbs as quickly as possible. Try to limit food consumption to one room—you don’t want to leave a trail of crumbs all over your house for insects to feast on. Also, don’t forget to do dishes immediately after use.

Manage Your Trash Properly

Your trash is a full course meal for pests. Store all food waste in the kitchen—don’t leave dishes or food waste around the house. Buy trash cans with secure lids (including tight seals) that keep bugs out. Always remember to empty the trash can before going to bed every night.

At Ultra Safe Pest Management, we have over 20 years of proven track record of protecting homes and families in Massachusetts from pests. Schedule an expert pest inspection today on our website or by calling 866-472-5858.