Earth Day And Pest Control

At Active Pest Control, we take pride in the dedication our team has shown in the development of green solutions. Through the years, we have gone to great lengths to develop methods that target pests in a way that requires the least amount of chemical product. We don’t think that trading one health or safety issue for another is a good way to do pest control. When safe, eco-friendly methods are employed, everyone wins. In celebration of Earth Day, we would like to share with you a few ways we keep Lawrenceville homes and businesses safe from the harmful and destructive effects of pests, through the use of smarter, safer pest solutions.

While it is perfectly acceptable and understandable to use a chemical barrier to keep destructive termites from damaging man-made structures, we’ve found a better way. With Sentricon® System, our technicians are able to directly target and control termites with zero impact to the environment, and without the need for drilling or trenching. This is a targeted approach that takes into consideration the behavior of subterranean termite workers. Some really smart scientists realized that termite workers never stop searching for new food sources, even when a source is found, and that this would ensure that they would find bait left out for them in bait stations. They also learned from their studies how to develop a bait that is scientifically proven to be more desirable to termites than wood. Beyond this, they learned that the agent inside the bait needed to work slowly to kill termites, so workers would be able to bring it deep into the invading colony, without warning the queen of danger. At every turn, they used education as a tool to defeat those termites.

We use this philosophy with all the pests we treat for. The famous tactician Sun Tzu says that we should know our enemy as well as we know ourselves. This is as true today as it was centuries ago.

We understand that pests are attracted to water sources and that removing areas of standing water can deter them.

We know that spider infestations increase when populations of flying insects are greater. Thus, reducing flying insects has a direct impact in the control of spiders.

We know where pests make their nests, and what measures will deter them.

We are aware that bugs and wild animals eat things we do not, and that proper sanitation is key in pest management

Just like those smart people who invented Sentricon®, we continually train and educate ourselves on the habits and habitats of pest creatures, so that we can employ the most effective measures to keep them from causing harm to humans, pets, and property. For us, it is all about safe and effective pest control. Saving the Earth is just a side benefit.

Spring is the Perfect Time for Termite Inspections in Knoxville

What makes termites such a threat? It’s the nature of the beast, so to speak. Silently and unseen, termites burrow underground and make a path straight for your home where they can enjoy wood, moisture, and warmth. You probably will not see them or hear them, and you won’t realize they are in your home until you see a buckling wall, bulging floor, or dipping ceilings. There are a few subtle signs that they leave such as mud tubes around the outside of your foundation or in your basement, you may also see the discarded wings they leave behind after mating, but even these often go unnoticed by the untrained eye until support beams are weakened and damages become noticeable.

Understanding a little about termites is an important first step in preventing their damage. Subterranean termites are highly social and live in colonies beneath the ground sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands. These termites use an intricate system of tunnels to run from their colony to places where they can find wood to eat, especially wood that is decaying or water damaged. Once they gain access to your home, they will eat anything that contains cellulose and is fibrous. They can get into your floors, walls, ceilings, and into the support structures of your home.

While termites are a problem all year long, colonies are expanding and creating new colonies in the spring. In fact, this is when you are most likely to see the reproductive caste swarming to find and establish new colonies which is why it is so important to get an inspection in the springtime if you live in Knoxville. Inspections are truly the only sure way to stop an infestation and the damages that come with it.

When you call and schedule your free termite inspection with Active Pest Control, it’s quick, easy, and thorough. The Active Pest Control professionals can identify an infestation, safely eradicate any existing termite colonies, and advise you on how to protect your home from termites in the future. In fact, our termite control experts are certified operators of the Sentricon® System with Always Active Pest Control™ which utilizes discreet, non-toxic, baiting stations that are strategically placed around your home and monitored by our experts. Once ingested, this bait disrupts the termite’s ability to absorb nutrition and their ability to reproduce. The termites will ingest this bait, take it back to the colony, and share it – even with the queen. Not only will any existing colonies be eliminated, but this system will remain in place to discourage any future foraging termites from choosing your property to invade.

Remember, termites are elusive. Often, you don’t even know they are eating away the support structure of your home until damage has become severe. Obtain the peace of mind that can only come from ‘knowing’ that termites have not invaded your home by contacting Active Pest Control and scheduling your termite inspection today.

Termites: The Silent Destroyers

It is safe to say that no one likes or appreciates household pests of any type. Insects are never welcomed into the home. Capturing the top honors of the most dreaded and disliked of all household pests is the eastern subterranean termite. The termite, known as a silent destroyer, will feed on the cellulose material of many things from the wooden structure of your home to paper, books, and wooden fixtures. Termites never rest and will work around the clock, 365 days a year.

At Active Pest Control, we realize that every home throughout the entire Southeast area is a target to the destructive eastern subterranean termite. In these high infestation regions, it is estimated that 1 in every 5 homes will be attacked by termites. Our goal is to provide your family, your home, and your property with the appropriate protection they need.

When you contact Active Pest Control about your concerns of possible termite infestation, the first order of business is a free inspection. Our highly trained and experienced termite control experts will provide a thorough examination of your home and property, determine the extent of infestation and damage, and will then recommend the most efficient and safe plan to solve your termite problems.

Our technicians use an integrated system of protection from subterranean termites called the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System. The Sentricon system is designed to be an on-going program of protection. Your Active Pest Control technician will strategically place Sentricon stations around the home with Always Active Pest Control technology, new Recruit HD termite bait. Termites will begin feeding on it the moment they find a station. This not only starts the elimination process sooner; it also provides continual protection from any future infestation of termites. The beauty of this process is that the interior of the home is never disrupted. Our professionals can install and service Sentricon stations without ever entering your home. We understand that the entire termite colony must be eradicated to fully eliminate your termite issues. This new advanced technology and bait is actually more desirable to termites than the cellulose found in the wood. The moment a termite ingests the bait, the growth process and reproduction abilities are disrupted.

Our Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System is environmentally friendly and is now trusted by more than one million homeowners and commercial entities. Sentricon is the only termite treatment system to earn the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, and the first to become registered under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Reduced Risk Initiative. Remember, it all starts with a free inspection.

Termite Inspection

The conscientious homeowner is always on the lookout for various areas of the home that may be in need of improvements or repairs. This includes exterior components that are exposed to the elements of adverse weather conditions as well as normal wear and tear of the interior. Repainting walls is not an unusual job for the homeowner to periodically do throughout the home. Occasionally, the windows are looked at to see if it would be prudent to consider window replacements in order to maintain optimal efficiency. However, there is one inspection of the home that is often overlooked and yet is perhaps the most important and needful inspection of all.

The most dreaded invader to which all homeowners have a fear of is the elusive termite. Often referred to as the silent destroyer, the termite does incredible damage “beneath the surface.” In other words, the damage invoked is rarely seen until it reaches substantial damage. This damage can affect the structural integrity of the building and should be approached seriously with professional assistance.

A professional termite inspector has the knowledge needed to know what to look for and where to look. The knowledgeable inspector will begin by looking for obvious, visible signs of the presence of termites. This includes:

  • Wood damage inside or outside the home.
  • Mud tubes coming from the ground up the sides of the foundation.
  • Discarded termite wings and termite droppings.

But a thorough inspection does not end there. The inspector will also look for particular areas of the property and home that may be ideal conditions to attract termites. This may include areas outside that stay very moist, perhaps even standing water close to the foundation. Decking supports with direct contact to the ground are also closely inspected. The landscaping mulch that looks so nice is another potential spot that is conducive to termite infestation. The well trained inspector might even dig into the soil in various spots around the foundation, looking for termite activity.

If you are a Tennessee homeowner, you should contact the termite experts here at Active Pest Control and arrange for a thorough inspection of your home to give you the peace of mind that your property is free of termites. Our trusted technicians are trained to know just what to look for and where to look. They are aware that termites work all year long, day and night, eating away at the structure of your home one tiny bite at a time. If termites are found, Active Pest Control can strategically implement a treatment that is environmentally friendly; the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System which takes care of the initial infestation as well as any future infestation of termites.

Terrible Termites in Tennessee!

Termites strike fear in the hearts of homeowners for good reason, they are well known for dining on wood and significantly damaging the structural wood of homes and other buildings. And while that in itself is scary, the really scary thing about termites is that it can sometimes take weeks, months, or even years for a termite infestation to be discovered. At Active Pest Control we want to help make sure that your property isn’t taken over by these silent invaders by providing you with some information about them, the signs of a termite infestation, and what to do if you do discover termites in your home.

The most common species of termite found invading homes is the subterranean termite. As their name suggests they spend most of their life underground, and if they aren’t underground they are most likely on the inside of a piece of wood-feeding. The colony is divided up into three different castes each with their own job to do; workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Subterranean termites prefer to invade and feed on wood that has been previously damaged by water and will often accidentally enter into homes as they are searching for food sources.

The biggest threat from termites is that they are so difficult to notice. They could be living, feeding, and damaging the wood in your home for a long time before you finally start to notice that you have unwanted guests in your home. Active Pest Control’s termite experts want to provide you with some common termite signs to help you identify a termite infestation sooner than later.

Signs of a termite infestation include:

  • Finding mud tunnels that are about the width of a pencil running toward your home just underneath of the ground.
  • The walls in your home appear to be blistered or warped and sound hollow when tapped upon.
  • A large infestation that has been active for a period of time will results in doorways, floors, and ceilings becoming warped.
  • Finding piles of wings underneath of doors and windows left behind by swarming termites.

If you have discovered that termites have chosen your home to invade it is important to know that you are not alone. In fact termites are responsible for over 5 billion dollars’ worth of damages to homes all across the United States. And while termites are bad news, there is good news, the termite experts at Active Pest Control can quickly and safely eliminate termites from your Tennessee home through the use of the environmentally friendly Sentricon® System.

The Sentricon® system works by placing stations around your property that are filled with a specially developed bait. The workers are attracted to this bait even more so than the wood that they find so tasty. The workers bring the bait, along with a death sentence back to the colony. The bait works to effectively kill all the kings, queens and all other members of the colony. It’s that simple, no digging, trenching, or harsh chemicals needed! The bait stations can then be routinely monitored by our technicians so that future problems with termites will not be an issue for you or your home!

For more information about termites, the Sentricon® System, or how the termite experts at Active Pest Control can help eliminate an infestation, call Active Pest Control today!

What Is Termite Baiting?

When you hear the word bait, what do you think of? Does it conjure up an image of a man with fat fingers squeezing a worm onto a hook? Do you see him sitting in his boat or on shore waiting for the pole to bend so he can yank a giant fish from the water? If you do, it may seem impractical to use bait to catch something as small as a termite.

Now maybe you’re imagining a cup of worms being laid next to your home and all the termites squeezing out of the nooks and crannies to feast on it. After getting a belly full of poison they die in a big pile right there next to your basement wall–where they can be easily shoveled up and disposed of. You’re getting closer.

Some of you already know that termite bait doesn’t work anything like fish bait. You wisely relate it more to cockroach bait, and you are mostly right. Termite and roach bait are similar in many ways. Both are picked up by the insect and brought to where the “group” lives. And, both act as a toxin that continues to spread. But how it spreads differs.

Cockroaches and termites both have nasty habits. I know what you’re thinking, “Cockroaches and termites are nasty? I don’t believe it!” It’s true. And, it is these nasty habits that are exploited by the baits that are used to eradicate them.

Cockroaches are not picky eaters. They’ll eat toothpaste, hair, glue and even other dead cockroaches. When they eat a dead friend who was killed by toxic bait, they are poisoned by the bait, and soon die to become a meal for another roach.

Cockroaches also have a wonderful habit of leaving their excrement everywhere, and walking through the excrement of other roaches. Real nice, roaches. Real nice.

Termites go one step further with the whole “excrement” idea. They actually eat each other’s poo. This makes it even easier for a toxin to work its way through a colony. After the worker termites are eliminated, the colony is starved for food and goes into a suppression phase. As the colony starves, the queen starves. Without a queen, the colony dies.

If you’re looking to protect your home from termites, termite bait is the best way to go. It works to kill termites “before” they can damage your home. It isn’t perfect though. Sometimes the number of termites that take the bait from a bait station isn’t enough to fully eradicate the colony. But it is enough to warn a pest technician that there is a problem and zero in on where new bait should be placed. Call Active Pest Control and find out how a termite baiting system like the Sentricon© Termite Colony Elimination System can safely and effectively protect your home from termites.