PEST CONTROL :
Whether conditions in your area are hot and humid , cool and dry , or rainy with sudden downpours , your weather directly affects pests and their activities . These conditions prompt pests to invade your home to seek three very basic needs – food , water and shelter . Find out how your local weather is affecting your pest forecast this summer , then use our tips to help maintain a pest-free home !
Rainy , Wet Weather Pest Forecast : More pests may invade your home . You can expect an increase in the number of pests you see this summer , plus more invasions , as these larger populations seek food . Specific pests you should watch for include : ants , outdoor cockroaches , spiders , crickets , ladybugs , yellow jackets , hornets , mice and rats . Here ’ s why :
• More moisture promotes pest reproduction and growth , so you have more insects ! Ants , especially , reproduce in greater numbers in wet , warm climates .
• Additional pests mean a greater need for more food sources . Insects will continue to search beyond their normal habitats to find food .
• Invasions may occur as pests relocate to drier ground .
Excessive Rainfall and Flooding Pest Forecast : Ants and others retreat from flooded soil . Excessive rainfall over a short period of time will flood the soil and cause insects , especially ants , to seek dry ground . Some pests retreating from the unfavorable weather conditions will find shelter in the nearest location , which is often your home . Other facts to note :
• Ants can easily move an entire colony on short notice .
• Common areas that may become new homes overnight for ants are wall voids and under foundations .
• Excessive rain creates an abundance of ants , which increases the need for pest control services .
Dry Conditions Pest Forecast : Pests most likely will seek water in and around your home . Rain will create additional pest growth , while lack of rain promotes pest invasions . If you enjoyed a dry , cool spring , chances are pests may be fewer , but they will be relentless in their pursuit of moisture for survival . Dry conditions affect pests in the following ways :
• Lack of moisture outside drives pests inside homes to find water .
• During dry weather , ants , earwigs , millipedes , pill bugs and sow bugs , crickets and spiders are the most common pests to seek water indoors .
• Millipedes have been known to leave leaf litter , mulch or a lawn and move in migrations of thousands when their harborages dry out – inevitably invading homes that stand in their way .
Extreme Drought Pest Forecast : Fewer pests but more frequent visits . Fewer pests are one benefit of a dry spring and summer . Extended periods of dry weather or droughts will affect the food supply also eliminating some insects . Here ’ s what you can expect :
• With a reduced food supply , scorpions and certain spiders must venture beyond their normal habitats in search of a food source .
• Pests may establish breeding sites and harborages in and around your home – in debris , bricks , rocks , firewood , etc .
Cool Weather Pest Forecast : Warmth indoors attracts pests into your living spaces . With cooler temperatures outside , pests seek the warmth and shelter of your home . Some pests you are likely to find invading your home to escape the cooler temperatures are box elder bugs , cluster flies , ladybugs and silverfish . Here ’ s more about these pests :
• Occasional invaders , like overwintering pests , start moving indoors during late summer and early fall as the temperature drops .
• These pests like to use walls , voids and attics as their winter retreats .
• There isn ’ t any way to totally pest-proof your home , but you can seal as many cracks and holes on the outside of your home as possible , especially on the south and west walls where the sun heats the home during the late summer and fall . Also , you should install tight-fitting screens on all foundation and attic vents .
PLUMBING :
Seasonal Tips for Winter The holidays are a time for family , friends and quite a few plumbing emergencies . A majority of Americans take part in holiday parties with 11 or more guests around Thanksgiving and Christmas . These extra guests put a serious strain on a home ’ s plumbing system , which results in more emergency calls to plumbers .
Big holiday meals require a busy kitchen . Too much grease and food finds its way into the kitchen drain or disposer . Holiday guests also equate to extra showers and baths as well as lots of extra toilet flushes . It all adds up to potential plumbing disasters . Pipes clog because of a gradual buildup of grease , hair , soap and / or food particles . All it takes it one major overload , like a house full of guests , to exasperate the situation and create a clogged drain . Follow these tips to avoid a plumbing disaster .
In the kitchen :
• Avoid pouring fats or cooking oils down the drain because liquid fats solidify in the pipes and create clogs . Wipe congealed grease from pots .
• Never put hard-to-grind , stringy , fibrous waste into the garbage disposer ( poultry skins , carrots , celery , pumpkin pulp or banana peels ). The disposer can › t sufficiently grind these items and they will clog your sink drain .
• Run cold water down the drain for about 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposer to flush waste down the main line .
• Turn on the disposer before adding food debris .
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine at night or at off times to conserve hot water and maintain adequate water pressure for your guests . In the bathroom :
• Plan ahead , spread out showers throughout the day ; wait 10 minutes between showers rather than taking one right after another .
• Turn up the water heater slightly to retain hot water . To avoid scalding , do not exceed 125 ° F .
• If shower pressure is weak , pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag , place it over the shower head , and soak . Use a twist tie to hold it in place overnight . In the morning , remove the bag and use an old toothbrush to gently scrub off the mineral deposits to help restore water flow .
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