Why DIY Cockroach Prevention Methods Can Fail

Why DIY Cockroach Prevention Methods Can Fail

Cockroaches are not just a nuisance pest. They pose serious health concerns for people and pets that reside in the home they choose to invade. They readily spread germs to food and to surfaces, germs that they carry on their bodies. They not only contaminate food and cause illnesses, but they can also bite. This makes cockroaches a triple threat in your home that you will want to get rid of quickly.

If you have seen cockroaches in your home, you may have been tempted to use DIY methods to treat them yourself. What you might not know is that cockroaches are downright difficult to get rid of. One of the reasons for this is that they are very hardy. They can live without their head for about a week, and go without eating for months. They do not need their mother after her eggs have been laid, the eggs remain hidden away until they have hatched, increasing the cockroach population in no time at all. Lastly, if you have ever seen cockroaches scurrying around, you may know that they can run pretty fast and even upside down on ceilings and under items, making them extremely evasive.

Here are some of the problems with DIY cockroach control:

  • Bombs and foggers don’t penetrate the deep cracks and crevices of a home.
  • Chemicals can be messy and dangerous.
  • They may be short-lived solutions for a long-term problem.
  • Different types of cockroaches require different treatments.
  • Last but not least, these methods can end up being costly, time-consuming, and ineffective.

This is why your best option for guaranteed safety in regards to cockroaches is through a professional pest control plan. Why risk the failure of DIY methods when you can have a cockroach-free home through Russell’s Pest Control in Eastern Tennessee. We know how important the health of your family and pets are to you, and that your #1 priority is to protect them.

At Russell’s Pest Control, we use the most effective and safest treatments possible and offer a variety of residential service bundles that are sure to suit your needs and your budget. Our Power programs include Power, Power Gold, Power Plus, and Power Platinum. All of these include the 30 most common pests, including cockroaches. Our experienced service technicians are ready to help. Give us a call to learn more about our residential pest control options and discover which plan works best for your family, home and budget.

Preparing Your Knoxville Home Against Termites This Spring

Preparing Your Knoxville Home Against Termites This Spring

Winter is coming to a close and whether you experienced termites throughout the winter or not, it’s time to start looking ahead. You can start preparing your Knoxville home for the spring termite swarmers that are about to emerge. If you plan ahead you can avoid a lot of stress, headaches, and serious damage to your home.

In the spring mature termite colonies send out swarmers. You will only see them for a short period of time (if you see them at all) as they are going out to develop new termite colonies. They will typically present themselves as winged insects gathered in a large mass on windowsills and around the walls of your foundation.

Once these new colonies develop, the once small termite problem you may have encountered previously is bound to get much larger. Large populations of termites can damage the structure of your home and any wood inside including furniture and personal items. Signs of damage are hollow or damaged wood, as well as, bowing floors, warped walls, and sagging ceilings. If structural beams are affected by termites, it could compromise its strength. Simply put, termite damage can be serious and the repairs can be very costly.

To get started, follow these preventative measures, but in the end, you will want to seek professional help for an active infestation:

  • Keep your home dry by using dehumidifiers in damp areas around your home, especially the basement. You should also make sure your attic and crawl spaces are well ventilated. Repair leaks inside and outside of your home as soon as possible. Finally, don’t allow standing water too close to your home.
  • Keep piles of firewood, debris, and junk up off of the ground and at least 20 feet away from your home. You should also leave an 18” space directly around your home by using crushed rock or other non-wood material.
  • Repair any rotted wood or damaged siding found on your home.
  • Routinely inspect your property for termite mud tubes.

If you have tried your hand at prevention and you are still experiencing termite-related problems, or if you’d rather get the professionals onboard from the start, call on the experts at Russell’s Pest Control in Eastern Tennessee. Give us a call today to learn more about termites, the problems they cause and the termite control options Russell’s Pest Control offers to help protect your home from these damaging pests.

What To Do If Winter Spiders Invaded Your Knoxville Home

What To Do If Winter Spiders Invaded Your Knoxville Home

Spiders, spiders, and more spiders! They seem to be everywhere! Cobwebs in the corners and spiders dangling from the doorways. It’s enough to cause a homeowner tremendous stress. You may be wondering, “How are they getting into my Knoxville home? They get in through cracks and crevices in your foundation and exterior walls. They can also gain access to your home through utility entrances, torn screens, and damaged vents. Finding the many entry points that spiders and other bugs are getting in through is a daunting task, to say the least. If you don’t want spiders in your home, you are going to want some answers. Even though most spiders are considered a nuisance, there are some that can prove to be very dangerous. This is why it is so important for you to do all you can to avoid them.

For the most part, spiders are a problem all year long, but in the fall and winter, they do tend to be more bothersome. Why is this time of year worse for spider infestations? You would think that the cooler weather may drive them indoors, but that simply is not true. They are only following their primary food source, other bugs. Insects that seek refuge indoors during cooler weather actually draw spiders into your Knoxville home. And they are there to stay unless you take action to get rid of them and prevent them from returning.

If you think your home is at risk for spider invasions, try these prevention steps to limit them:

  • Caulk gaps around window and door frames.
  • Seal cracks and crevices in foundations and exterior walls.
  • Keep exterior doors shut.
  • Repair screens and vents.
  • Install weather stripping around doors.
  • Get rid of the many insect pests that spiders are drawn to.

In the end, professional pest control is the best solution for all of your spider and insect problems. Russell’s Pest Control in the Knoxville area is known for their expertise in getting rid of spiders and all pests that plague Knoxville homes. Our courteous technicians can help by monitoring spiders and safeguard against them by applying control measures. Give us a call at the first sign of an infestation. Find out more about our bundle packages, including the Power, Power Gold, and Power Platinum. Each one of our service packages can help protect your home, family, and pets from spiders as well as other, more dangerous pests.