Now that spring has finally arrived, and the weather conditions are beginning to improve along the east coast, many homeowners will be spending the next couple of weekends tackling their spring cleaning to-do lists. If you are one of these people, make sure that you address the pest hot spots around your home in between wiping down the windows and shampooing the rugs.
Here’s a handy room-by-room guide of specific things to do to keep pests at bay this spring.
Kitchen
Ants, among other common pests, are known to infest kitchen spaces because this room provides easy access to food and water sources. They often march one-by-one through the heart of the home while searching for crumbs left behind from dinner, sticky residue from liquid spills and overripe fruit sitting out on the countertop. Although you may make a concerted effort to keep the kitchen clean on a daily basis, there are still a few other projects you can do to make it less attractive to pests.
First, remove all of the items from your cabinets and pantry. Go through them and discard of stale spices and other dated items such as flour. These baking ingredients attract pantry pests, including several types of beetles, Indian meal moths and ants. Next, wipe down the inside of your cabinets and install fresh shelf paper. Then, pull out your appliances from the wall as much as possible and vacuum behind them. You might be surprised how much dust, dirt and crumbs you find! Lastly, give the kitchen counter and floor a good scrub-down. Wash them with a sponge and a squirt of dishwashing liquid mixed in a bucket of warm water.
Bathroom
Many pests like cockroaches and silverfish are attracted to moisture, so they are commonly found in bathrooms. Eliminating sources of water in the bathroom is the best way to prevent pest infestations, especially because this pest can only survive for one week without water. In addition to washing the shower curtain and liner, and cleaning out the medicine cabinet, you should check under the sink and around the tub and toilet to ensure there are no moisture issues from leaky pipes or faucets.
BasementRodents, spiders and a slew of other pests can make themselves at home in the basement. The main reason that pests often take up refuge in this underground space is because this room tends to harbor dark corners and clutter, which provides the ideal place for rodents and spiders to hide. Take some time to go through your valuables and eliminate clutter where possible. Steer clear from using cardboard boxes to store items, using plastic bins with secure lids instead. You should also be sure to seal any cracks or crevices with a silicone-based caulk that pests could use to enter your home. Remember, mice can fit through an opening the size of a dime and other small insects need only a paper-thin crack to gain entry.
Outdoor Space
Once you complete your list of tasks inside, conduct an audit of your home’s perimeter, taking stock of any damage done over the winter months. Start on the roof by repairing fascia and rotted roof shingles, as some insects are drawn to deteriorating wood. Then, clean out clogged gutters and downspouts to ensure they are properly functioning before the April showers roll in. You may also find you need to repair ripped screens, replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around the foundation and windows.
Scary Halloween Pests
Bats, Bugs, and Rats Rank High on the List of Scary Pests Halloween Highlights Our Fears
Ghosts and goblins, witches and other scary fictional characters are favorite Halloween creatures, but pests, too, are high on the list. Homes are often decorated by featuring insect and rodent pests. Bats, spiders and their webs, share holiday honors.
“A lot of pest-related Halloween items have to do with the historic role they have played in spreading plagues,” said Leonard Douglen, the Executive director of the New Jersey Pest Management Association. “The most famous combination were the fleas and rats that spread the bubonic plague that was also known as the Black Death. It killed a quarter of Europe’s population in the 14th century.”
“With the exception of rabid bats, the bat population gets a bum rap,” said Douglen. “They play an important role in keeping the insect population in check, but they are famously associated with castles, vampires, and dark caves.”
Douglen notes that bats are protected by law in most states. As a result, if homeowners discover that bats have taken up residence in their homes, they must call on the services of pest management professionals. “Homeowners should not undertake do-it-yourself efforts because bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, a lung infection.”
“There are two pests that have always cause fear,” said Douglen, “and they are spiders and rats. There’s even a term, arachnophobia, for the fear of spiders. Two species of spider in particular pose a threat to humans, the brown recluse and the black widow. They will bite humans when disturbed and the bites are painful, are known to cause allergic reactions, and occasionally can even be fatal for small children.”
“Rats, of course, have been reviled throughout history,” said Douglen. “In fact, the pest control profession got its beginning when eliminating a rat or mouse infestation meant hiring rat catchers. Early British royalty would appoint an official rat catcher to keep their castles rodent-free. In modern times, everyone can call pest management professionals.”
The Pied Piper entered popular culture with a story of how, after offering to rid Hamelin of its rats, the Piper was rebuffed and turned his musical skills to luring all the children out of town.
“Rodents were despised even in ancient times for the way they contaminate food and spread disease,” said Douglen. “They also do a great deal of property damage. Wherever you find large concentrations of humans, you will find rodents,” adding that the same is true for cockroaches.
“An old bug species has made a dramatic comeback,” said Douglen. “Bed bugs that had been virtually eliminated following World War II and the use of DDT, but after it was banned pest management professionals have developed alternative means to get rid of them.”
“As the weather turns cooler mice and rats look for harborage inside structures and it is a time when many homeowners discover they have unwanted guests,” says Douglen. “What they often do not discover for years is that their home has been playing host to a termite infestation.”
The fall is a good time to invest in an inspection of one’s home, says Douglen. “It can save the cost of the damage a termite infestation can generate if not eliminated. A pest control expert can identify the many areas of a home where either insects or rodents can gain access and, of course, one wants to avoid giving larger creatures such as raccoons and opossums and opportunity to gain entry.”
NJPMA - The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Pest Control
Maybe You Shouldn’t Do-it-Yourself When it comes to Pest Control?
Especially if you risk burning your home to the ground!
NJPMA - The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Pest ControlBy:Len Douglen | The New Jersey Pest Management Association
In June, a Woodbury, NJ homeowner managed to set his house on fire in the course of a do-it-yourself pest control effort to rid it of bed bugs. He was reportedly using a space heater, a hair dryer, and a heat gun in order to exterminate bed bugs in a room on the second floor.
“He went online, got some instructions,” said a neighbor, referring to one method pest management professionals (PMPs) use to rid a room of bed bugs by raising the heat to a point that exterminates them. PMPs, however, are extensively trained in this and other methods to ensure safety. Over the years there have been many instances in which homeowners have used “bug bombs” to rid a room or two of a particular pest only to have the volatile elements of the spray explode due to contact with an oven pilot light or some other source of flame.
“People commonly purchase an off-the-shelf pesticide,” says Leonard Douglen, Executive Director of the New Jersey Pest Management Association, “but many homeowners and apartment dwellers are disappointed with the results and end up calling a pest management firm. I’m biased, but most of the time, they should make that call first.”
“As often as people are told that pesticides are toxic chemicals,” says Douglen, “they still tend not to read the instructions or use them properly when they do. Pest management professionals (PMPs), licensed and certified by the State Department of Environmental Protection, receive extensive, on-going training.
The arrival of summer guarantees “Lots of bugs and bites,” says Douglen. “It is a particularly active season for pest management professionals. Among the insects making a big comeback are bed bugs and fleas.”
Fleas, Douglen explains, had become less of a problem that PMPs were treating because of the advent of a host of products sold by veterinarians and applied directly by pet owners. “What PMPs know, however, is that fleas like other insect pests can, over time, build a resistance to the chemicals in those products and the result is that pet owners are discovering flea infestations in their homes and apartments.”
“Bed bugs had virtually been eliminated as a household pest in the 1950s are the new plague,” said Douglen, “and they have become a major problem involving new techniques to deal with them, including dogs that are especially trained to find them. This is not an insect problem that can be eliminated without professional help.”
Let’s not forget those perennials, ants and roaches. “Roaches have been around since the days of the dinosaurs and, along with ants, they reproduce in such vast numbers that virtually no place is immune to an infestation,” says Douglen. “A legion of PMPs works around the clock in New Jersey to insure that homes, schools, hospitals, restaurants, hotels and offices are kept free of these invaders. Because a lot of pest management work is done at night, the public does not see them, but they are on the job.”
The combination of heat and moisture makes summertime the ideal time for insect pests to thrive.
“People who like to barbeque in the backyard or enjoy the outdoors know that they can find themselves under attack by yellow jackets, wasps, and other stinging insects,” says Douglen. “Around one’s home, these problems do not yield to a quick spray with an off-the-shelf pesticide and it’s a bad idea to be spraying indiscriminately. You may get one or two, but there’s always an entire colony nearby that needs elimination and you may never find it. That, too, is the job of professionals who are trained to spot their nests and other habitats.”
“Aside from the annoyance or pain of being stung,” says Douglen, “there is the very real threat of the diseases many insect pests like ticks and mosquitoes can spread. West Nile Fever and Lyme Disease are just two diseases that are still active throughout the state. Here again, pest management professionals can protect your family from being exposed to them.”
When a pest problem occurs, Douglen recommends a quick call to a pest management firm. “One way to determine whether a particular firm has the right credentials to do the job is to ask if they are a member of the New Jersey Pest Management Association,” says Douglen. “You can visit our website at www.njpestcontrol.com for information on a member company in your area.”
The New Jersey Pest Management Association was founded in 1941 and its members are also members of the National Pest Management Association.
Spring Season & Termites
When Spring Arrives NJ Homeowners May Discover Termites. Don’t Panic. They’ve Been There for Years
“It’s an annual ritual of spring,” says Leonard Douglen, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Pest Management Association. “Along with the warm weather, thousands of homeowners will discover that they have been playing host to colonies of termites.”
“In the springtime the most visible evidence of a termite infestation are the winged “elates”, those termites whose job it is to start new colonies. This mating flight of hundreds and, in some cases, thousands, usually lasts from three to five days.”
The presence inside a home of winged swarmers, usually gathering around windows as sunlight streams in, is a guaranteed sign that the structure has a termite colony.
Estimates of the nationwide cost of the damage termites do every year range between five and six billion dollars.
Several species of termites are native to New Jersey and the tri-state area. “By far the Subterranean termite species pose the greatest problem,” says Douglen, “because they are the most difficult to control and their nest may be below ground.”
The most visible sign of an infestation are the mud tunnels termites build to access a structure, often against a foundation or pier post, and frequently visible in basement void areas under porches and other parts of the home.
The Eastern Subterranean Termite is among the most common in the tri-state area. Homeowners are advised to eliminate any water leaks in the roof and other areas, and inspect the system of gutters that keep water away from wooden surfaces. Crawl spaces in attics or basements should be kept dry through ventilation or vapor barriers. “It is essential to eliminate all wood-to-soil contact,” says Douglen, “and to avoid having mulch against the structure.”
Based on normal feeding activity, it can take from three to eight years for a termite colony to do serious damage to any structure. Experts believe that, under ideal conditions, a termite colony of 60,000 workers will consume one foot of a 2-inch by 4-inch pine word in 118 to 157 days. Termites eat wood, flooring, sheetrock, wallpaper, plastics, paper products, and fabric made of plant fibers.
“One of the best investments homeowners can make,” says Douglen, “is an annual termite inspection by a certified, trained pest management technician to identify such potential points of infestation.” The bad news is that a colony of hundreds of thousands of termites may operate in different locations throughout a structure.
Choose Termite Inspectors Carefully
“Homeowners need to be aware that New Jersey allows anyone, even someone without any previous knowledge or training of any kind, to perform a wood destroying insect inspection,” said Douglen. “It is essential to know that the person hired to inspect has the proper credentials and training to insure that, if a termite colony exists and that he can find it.”
The New Jersey Pest Management Association has, for many years, a training course for its members and others who wish to become inspectors. On successful completion of the course, the Association issues a certificate granting the status of Credentialed Wood Destroying Insect Inspector.
An untrained inspector or one lacking sufficient training can easily miss the signs of an infestation. Termite infestations go unnoticed because, though eating wood throughout a structure, termites rarely break through the surface areas of the wood, leaving it intact.
Douglen notes that people sometimes think the swarming termite alates, the winged reproductive class, are winged ants because “ants and termite swarmers not only look similar, but they come out at the same time, either to expand their colonies or to start a new satellite one.”
The termite swarmer is drawn to any light source such as a window or where the sun is shining on a wall. The usually drop their wings. “A termite has a straight body compared to an ant which has a pinched waist. The termite’s antennae are straight while ants have an elbowed antennae.”
Douglen recommends gathering a few samples of the winged insects and seal them in a plastic envelope such as a sandwich bag. Then call a pest control firm. “They will send a technician who has been trained to identify various insect species.”
Pest control professionals recommend that you vacuum the uninvited winged invaders, but expect to have to repeat the process for several days. Mother Nature always deals in massive numbers.
“Pest management professionals have the licensing and certification, and the training to provide the best protection and to eliminate an existing termite infestation,” says Douglen. “This is definitely not a do-it-yourself project.”
Founded in 1941, the New Jersey Pest Management Association is affiliated with the National Pest Control Association. The NJPMA maintains a website at www.njpestcontrol.com/nj. The website provides a library of information for visitors seeking information on pest species and a directory of member firms.
Read More on Viking Pest Control's Termite Services. Click Here
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY FIRST PEST CONTROL SERVICE VISITS? (INTERIOR)
Common preparations include; cleaning the area to be treated, removing clutter, picking up pet food, and putting away open food.
All children’s toys and personal items should be picked up from the floor and moved outside of the treatment area.
It is recommended that all windows be closed prior to arrival.
People and pets must be out of treatment areas until the products have dried after the treatment. Some treatments may require additional, more specific, preparations. These will be communicated with you in advance of your service.
WILL TREATMENT AFFECT MY GARDEN?
If you have a garden, merely advise the technician of the location of any edible plants when they arrive. They will avoid treating near the garden.
Many of our materials may be safe when applied up to the dripline of the plants (the area the plant would drip on when wet). We will however implement a larger buffer than is required to further help protect your safety.
I HAVE A FISHPOND; CAN THE TREATMENTS NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE POND OR FISH?
Our technicians are careful to avoid sensitive areas, such as ponds, during treatments.
I HAVE A POOL; CAN THE TREATMENTS NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE POOL?
It will not affect your pool. Viking has carefully selected only the best materials with our primary concern being the safety of your family, pets as well as the environment. These materials are then carefully applied by our highly trained pest management professionals in a manner that all but eliminates contact with non-target treatment sites like pools and other sensitive environments.
WHAT SAFETY PROCEDURES MUST I FOLLOW AFTER TREATMENT?
Always consult your service report for product-specific precautionary requirements; these are emailed to you upon completion of the treatment.
Avoid all treated surfaces until dry. Once most materials have dried, they pose little risk and you may proceed as you normally would with your daily life.
Your technician will discuss any necessary safety precautions with you at the time of service.
I HAVE PETS, ARE YOUR TREATMENTS PET-FRIENDLY?
Viking’s certified technicians care about you, your family, and your pets. Please inform your service technician you have pets and s/he will take the necessary precautions.
Our programs are designed around people with pets and children in mind. Our products are carefully selected to minimize any effect on your family, pets or the environment.
Viking Pest also offers an Organic Pest control program that offers a range of non-pesticide treatment options.
Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Viking. We are always ready to answer your questions!
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM MY PREMISES AFTER TREATMENT?
Most treatments do not require you to leave your home, though we do recommend you avoid contact with treated areas until dry (approximately one hour).
If instructions differ for the service being rendered, you will be notified prior to treatment.
For bed bug treatments we recommend 4 hours.
DO YOUR MATERIALS HAVE A STRONG ODOR?
Most of our materials have very low or no odor.
Some roach and bed bug treatments or power sprays may have an odor. These services will usually involve reentry time.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THE TREATMENT TO WORK?
Most treatments will be effective within 10-14 days.
Some, like direct treatment of a hornet’s nest, will be effective in days.
Others, like the treatments for some ant species, can take around 2 weeks. If you see an increase in pests after treatment, that’s a good sign the service is working.
I NOTICED MORE BUGS THAN USUAL AFTER TREATMENT, WHY IS THAT?
It is common for insect activity to increase after successfully treating pest harborage locations because many of our products have a “flushing” effect design to eliminate the entire concern, not just what is being seen.
I AM SEEING ANTS IN BETWEEN MY SERVICE VISITS; WHAT CAN I DO IN THE MEANTIME?
Use a napkin or paper towel to kill the ants.
Once removed from the location/countertop/window, utilize an appropriate cleaning solution to clean away the trail to try and remove the pheromones the ants were trailing upon.
Do NOT use any type of pesticide product as it may cause budding in some ant species which would make the issue worse or it may contaminate baits or non-repellant products we may have applied.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS AFTER MY SERVICE?
Our exterior treatments are designed to hold up in adverse weather conditions. Once a liquid treatment has dried, rainfall will not wash it away. The average dying time for our treatments is 2 hours.
DO YOU OFFER SERVICES FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES?
Yes, Viking Pest offers a wide variety of services for commercial properties.
DO YOU PROVIDE SERVICES TO MOBILE HOMES?
Yes, Viking Pest provides pest control services to mobile homes, detached homes, row homes, apartments, condos, and more.
I HAVE TWO HOMES; DO YOU HAVE MULTIPLE LOCATIONS?
Yes, Viking Pest has multiple locations throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. Viking has local pest control professionals servicing each area.
I JUST BOUGHT A NEW HOME, SHOULD I GET A PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION?
Purchasing a new home is a large investment. Every new homeowner should have their home professionally inspected for termites by a pest management expert.
The professionals at Viking Pest will carefully inspect for prior or current damage and provide you with a termite prevention or control treatment option to protect the structure of your home.
No, we do not have any products labeled for use on chipmunks.
DO YOU OFFER A SERVICE GUARANTEE?
Yes, Viking Pest does offer unlimited service requests. During your contracted service agreement, our team will re-treat if necessary, to get rid of unwanted invaders. Some limitations apply. – Yes, Viking offers a service warranty for the entire length of an active service agreement.
ARE BOTH THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF MY HOME COVERED?
Viking Pest Home Protection Plan services include both interior and exterior coverage of the home. Interior services should be scheduled ahead of time with a Viking representative.
DO YOU PROVIDE SAME-DAY SERVICES?
We can respond to emergency situations, typically within 24 hours. However, scheduling non-emergency calls is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
IF I PURCHASE YOUR HOME PROTECTION PLAN, HOW OFTEN DO I RECEIVE TREATMENTS?
Most Viking Home Protection Plans provide a Pest Shield to protect your home with seasonally timed visits (5 seasonally timed visits with a SMART Premier Home Protection Plan or 2 seasonally timed visits with a SMART Home or Convenience Home Protection Plan. For more information on the plans, you may call us at 800-618-2847
All plans include unlimited additional requests for covered pests. If you notice any pest activity in-between your scheduled preventative treatments, you can call Viking for unlimited service requests, meaning Viking will treat your home as necessary throughout the year.
ARE THERE ANY NOTIFICATIONS BEFORE SERVICES ARE PERFORMED?
Viking Pest’s Home Protection Plan is designed around our customers’ busy lives. As a result, all residential customers will receive a text message 1 week before their service AND another the day before.
And COMING SOON, customers will receive one annual email detailing their projected service schedule and service expectations.
For exterior treatments, you do not need to be home. However, if you like to be home or need to reschedule the service, please call 800-618-2847.
CAN MORE THAN ONE SERVICE BE PERFORMED DURING THE SAME APPOINTMENT TIME?
Depending on what the services are, this may or may not be possible. Sometimes, services do require specialized equipment and licensing that may require us to separate services.
AM I ABLE TO REQUEST A SPECIFIC TECHNICIAN FOR MY APPOINTMENTS?
Yes, though scheduling availability may be affected.
HOW LONG DO SERVICES TAKE?
The length of service varies depending on the pests being targeted and the size of the treatment area.
CAN THE TECHNICIANS PERFORM SERVICES WHEN I AM NOT HOME?
Yes, Viking’s Home Protection Plans provide a Pest Shield to protect your home with seasonally timed visits that are designed to protect your home from pests without the inconvenience of coordinating a time to be home for service.
If you are not going to be home during treatment, we ask to make sure all gates are unlocked around your property, so our technicians are able to access all exterior parts of your property to properly perform your treatment.
Unlimited additional services for covered pests provide the assurance that an interior or exterior service can be scheduled anytime you need.
WHY DO TECHNICIANS ONLY TREAT THE EXTERIOR AND NOT THE INTERIOR FOR MY THREE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS?
Most pest concerns emanate from the outside. We proactively treat the exterior of your home to prevent pest entry.
If you are encountering pest concerns inside or would like the interior of your home inspected, we would like to encourage you to schedule a visit at no additional charge.
WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME FOR CANCELING OR RESCHEDULING SERVICE?
Services may be canceled up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled treatment date.
Services may be rescheduled up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled treatment date unless in the event of an unforeseen circumstance.
WHAT METHODS OF PAYMENT CAN BE USED?
Viking Pest accepts checks (they must be mailed in), money orders, credit cards, and ACH payments. Credit card and ACH payments may be processed over the phone or through the Customer Connect portal.
HOW OFTEN DOES PAYMENT OCCUR?
Payment schedules differed between each plan, please refer to your contract for more details on your specific plans.
For more information, you may call Viking at 800-618-2847 and ask a Customer Care Center Representative to advise you of your payment plan.
WHY DO I PAY FOR MONTHLY INVOICES OR QUARTERLY PAYMENTS, IF I ONLY HAVE THREE APPOINTMENTS PER YEAR?
Payments for our pest control plans are evenly charged on a monthly basis to alleviate the pressures of one upfront cost and to assist with monthly budgeting for our customers. Your pest control plan can be paid in full at the beginning of your yearly service agreement if you do not wish to receive monthly payments.
Most maintenance plans include FREE unlimited service visits for pests covered under your plan should you require additional treatments. If you are noticing pest activity between service visits, give us a call to schedule your free treatment.
AM I ABLE TO PRE-PAY FOR SERVICES?
Services may be pre-paid by contacting a Viking representative at 800-618-2847. Pre-payments cannot be performed through the Customer Connect portal.
WHY AM I REQUIRED TO CONFIRM MY NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL, AND PHONE TO LOOK UP MY ACCOUNT EVEN AFTER I GIVE MY ACCOUNT NUMBER?
With Viking having access to customers’ Personal Identifiable Information (PII), Viking has always and will always be vigilant in confirming customers’ information to ensure we are only speaking to account owners. This process is similar to calling a bank or utility company; as well all want to make sure we are speaking to an authorized person.
For reference, Viking Customer Service Reps are required to confirm the following when a customer calls in:
1. First and Last Name 2. Address on File 3. Telephone Number on File 4. Email Address
Additionally, by verifying the information above, we ensure we have the most updated information for customer communication including service notifications, service reports, and access to Viking’s customer portal.
HOW DO I SET UP MY CUSTOMER CONNECT PORTAL ACCOUNT?
To activate your Customer Connect Portal Account, please visit this page with step-by-step instructions with photos. https://www.vikingpest.com/customer-connect-portal/ Or, you may call Viking at888-395-1008 and ask a Customer Care Center Representative to please invite you to the customer portal.
HOW DO YOU ACCESS THE CUSTOMER CONNECT PORTAL AND WHAT RECOURSES DOES IT PROVIDE?
The Customer Connect portal may be accessed by visiting this link: https://vikingpest.pestconnect.com/login. The Customer Connect portal provides information regarding your account including service history, billing history, documents, material usage history, and the ability to ask questions, request services, or make payments.
I FORGOT MY USERNAME OR PASSWORD TO THE CUSTOMER PORTAL
A customer’s username for the Customer Connect Portal is an email address. If you are unsure about the email address used, please contact a representative at 800-618-2847.
Customers may reset their password by clicking the “forgot password” option on the portal’s main login screen.
I MOVED AND WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE MY ADDRESS ON THE CUSTOMER CONNECT PORTAL BUT AM NOT ABLE TO. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you have moved, please contact a Viking representative at 800-618-2847.