Resources and Services
Consumer Guides
Pest Control
Pest control professionals (or exterminators) are adept at dealing with hundreds of unwanted house and office guests, including flies, birds, fleas, ants, termites, bees, hornets, wasps, roaches, silverfish, rats, mice, squirrels, moles and raccoons.
Pest control is important because most pests combine exceptional reproductive zeal with an equally powerful likelihood for carrying disease. Without control, one pair of German roaches can expand to more than 2 million in less than a year. It’s not unusual for bacteriologists to find salmonella bacteria on cockroaches. Additionally, cockroaches are believed to spread viruses, and they can cause allergic reactions for many people, especially asthmatic children.
Birds can also spread disease through feces, and birds such as woodpeckers can cause property damage with their incessant urge to drill.
Pest-control tools and techniques are as varied as their targets. Perhaps the best known of these are the fly swatter and the mousetrap, although more advanced solutions abound. Professional exterminators employ methods that include poisons, bottle and bag traps, glue sticks and glue paper, foggers, aerosols sprays, bait stations, and even ultraviolet light traps. Non-toxic pest control products are increasingly popular in recent years.
Exterminator service professionals emphasize prevention as an essential element of any pest control program. Among tactics they suggest are covering garbage cans, practicing extreme cleanliness in the kitchen, storing pet foods in sealed containers, and sealing all potential pest entry points. A mouse needs only a 3/8-inch crack or hole to get inside. Pay special attention to places where wires, pipes, or other utility lines enter a building.
More Popular Entries
Additions & Remodels
Soundproofing Techniques
Small Kitchen Projects Can Make a Big Difference
Easy Financing Options for Remodeling
Agents (Real Estate), Appraisers & Home Inspectors
Mortgage Prequalification and Preapproval
Renting or Buying: Advantages and Disadvantages
Single Family Homes
Appliances
Installing Appliances
Selecting Major Appliances
Repair Dishwasher and Water Damage
Builders (New Homes), Architects & Designers
Critiquing a Floor Plan
When to Expect a Free Bid
Residential Designer
Carpentry & Cabinets
Tip: Dealing with Dryrot
Cabinet Options
Tip: Repair Laminate Countertops
Cleaning Services
Tip: How to Clean Your Windows Thoroughly
Making Furniture New Again
Cleaning Asphalt Shingle Roof
Concrete, Brick & Stone
Fireplace Efficiency
Fireplaces
Tuck-pointing
Consumer Guides
Time for a New Roof?
Preparing a House for Sale
Upgrading Your Electrical System
Design Ideas
Let it Shine!
Soundproofing Techniques
Designer Touches with Drywall
Electrical, Telephone & Data
Whole House Fans
Tip: Repair Home Entertainment Equipment
Convenient Electrical Fixtures
Expert Advice
Repair Cinderblock Foundation
Maintaining a Residential Air Conditioner
Water Damage
Flooring
Hardwood Inlay
Cleaning Hardwood Floor Inlay
Steam Cleaning Grout
Handyman Services
Do-It-Yourself Compared to Hiring a Pro
Checklist: Fall Maintenance
Checklist: Biyearly Maintenance
Heating & Cooling
Tip: Types of Geo Thermal Heating Systems
Heat Pumps
Environmentally Friendly Solar Heat
Home Construction
Getting Design Help for Remodeling or a New Home
Remodeling/Room Addition Project
Water Damage in Bathroom
Landscape, Decks & Fences
Asphalt Paving
The Attention Your Landscape Needs
Preparing Your Yard for Winter
Moving & Storage
Some Assembly Required
Preparing Your House for Sale
Remodeling Increases Value
Other Services
Tip: Fire Protection or Prevention
Simple Ways to Keep Your Children Safe
Wet Basements
Painting & Staining
Electrostatic Painting is the Way to Go
The Importance of Paint Removal
Peeling Paint
Plumbing
Safe Drinking Water
The Importance of Clean Water
Find a Water Treatment Service
Quick Tips
Tip: Cleaning Fireplace Burns
Tip: Repair or Maintain Sprinkler Systems
Checklist: Basic Lawn & Landscape Care
Roofing, Siding & Gutters
Clean Gutters
Wood Shingle Siding
Helpful Roofing Terms
SP Feature Article
The Internet Will Change the Buying of Services
Walls & Ceilings
Techniques for Wall Covering Removal
Create a Turn-of-the-Century Look With Metal Ceilings
Acoustic Ceiling Cleaning
Windows & Doors
Basic Door Lock Information
Installing the Correct Blinds or Shades
Choosing Between Blinds or Shades