Connecticut Termite Control

Facts you need to know about termites and termite control.

-The termite species in Ct is the eastern subterranean termite.

-Even with harsh winters the northeast has heavy to moderate termite activity.

-Termite colonies are 3-25' below the ground.

-Termites eat all wood based products including paper, boxes, drywall and books.

-Termites only need the width of a business card to get into your home. 

-Termite swarming takes place in the month of March-April.

-Termites feed 24 hours per day seven days per week.

-Hidden damage is likely so act before it increases and gets worse

Trust me a free termite inspection is well worth the 30 minutes it will take

Call 1-888-879-6481

                                                     

        

Envirocare Wants Happy Customers

My name is David Bisaillon and when I started Envirocare I was given a lot of advice, most of it not very good.  The best advice I got was from my grandfather who said "keep it simple, give people what they paid for and you'll be fine.  Through the years the company has grown and I have really tried to stick with the  advice my grandfather  gave  me and "keep it simple".  Here is what I've learned over 16 years

Have happy customers

We have lots of happy customers, mainly because we hate to disappoint.  We try to treat our customers the same way we expect to be treated.  We're not perfect, but I can honestly say that if you call  and make an appointment someone will be there within the 1 hour window you were given.

Give clients a great person to talk to when they call

We have the best office staff in the world and I'm not just saying that because the  office manager is my wife.  Danielle and Carol really do care about the appointments they make with our customers .  I once had Carol call me while she was off work just to be sure a customer actually was on the schedule.  These women are there for you to answer questions about billing, scheduling or  whatever else you may need.

Have a hardworking service staff

The service technicians we have in the field are great.  We have some of the hardest working people in Ct employed by Envirocare.   Our service staff takes appointments M-F and Saturdays until 12 for your convenience.  They also give one hour no hassle appointment windows.

Be big enough to get the job done, but not too big

Envirocare has clients of all sizes from large national companies, to  housing authorities with 900 units, schools  and large commercial facilities.  We are keenly aware that not every account has to be ours.  We actively solicit and service only those accounts that can be given above average service at a fair price for both the client and our company.  We work with you to achieve a common goal.

Parting words

You have a lot of choices on who you can use to provide your pest management service.  Believe me, the competition in our industry is fierce.  There are large national companies where you really are just a number.  Then there are the one and two man companies who sadly in this day and age may not make it.  Then there are companies like Envirocare, we are a medium sized company that works day in and day out at 2 things;  getting rid of your insects and keeping it simple so you our client is happy.

Call us at 1-888-879-6481.  We want to show you how simple customer service can be when you care!!

Connecticut Rodent Control

With the onset of fall and colder evening temperatures rodent season begins and your home may be at risk of becoming a rodent hotel. Following these steps as well consulting with a pest management professional can lessen the amount of time these creatures live with you and your family rent free.


As a homeowner you can help yourself by doing an exterior evaluation of your home. During this evaluation you will be looking for areas where rodents can gain entry. The size hole you're looking for is about the size of a nickel. The most common areas to find these holes are garage door frames, utility entrances, dormers (remember rodents are great climbers) and gaps under your siding.


Once you have identified these holes they are best closed using copper mesh, steel wool, caulk or weather stripping. Foam can also be used, but beware rodents can chew through foam quite easily. Pest control companies that perform rodent exclusions may use foam, but in high traffic areas it is best to use wire mesh or a foam mixed with a hot spice additive to prevent reentry.


Another method of prevention is the use of exterior perimeter bait stations. These stations can be hidden under and behind the landscape at the exterior perimeter of your home. The stations are secured and filled with a palatable bait that the rodents will consume. After 3-5 days the rodents will succumb and hopefully die outside before gaining access to the interior of your home. There are plenty of safe rodenticides on the market, a professional should be able to guide you to what bait is best for your situation.


Believe it or not the best interior choice for humane control of rodents is the snap trap. The key to success with snap traps is to use enough of them. If you're going to do it yourself then plan on an average 2500 sq ft house needing at least 10-15 traps in the basement, garage, attic and other areas of activity. The more opportunities you have to catch a rodent the better off you will be. The best type of bait to use is peanut butter, but if you have a hard to catch mouse tying dental floss or cotton balls to the traps trigger will work great. The rodent tries to use the product for nesting material and when they pull on the item they set off the kill bar and meet their demise.


In conclusion, rodents are filthy creatures that are linked to all sorts of nasty diseases. Every year pest management professionals are asked if there are other ways to remove them from homes. Unfortunately, there is not; baiting, trapping and exclusion is the center of any good pest management program.

Connecticut Termite Inspections

 When you purchase a new home a wood destroying insect inspection should always be included.  Even in cooler climates such as Connecticut they are still important, we have just as many wood destroying insects as most other states.  In fact, according to industry experts Connecticut has heavy to moderate termite activity, so why isn't every home inspected?

The answer to this question is complicated, but it starts with HUD.  HUD is the agency that handles mortgages and real estate matters for the federal government.  In a recent bulletin sent to appraisers, banks, realtors and the like.  The agency spelled out their position on termite inspections prior to the sale of a home.  The agency stated that termite inspections were to continue if they were "customary" in the state where the inspection is taking place.  Not knowing how to define customary, most realtors, appraisers, banks and mortgage companies naturally thought, Connecticut is considered a cold weather climate termite inspections are no longer needed.

Here is the problem; in 2009 local pest control companies that did termite inspections prior to HUD issuing this statement did a study to see what percentage of homes inspected in the year prior to the HUD statement had "evidence" live or not of wood destroying insects.   Over a thousand homes were inspected for the prior one year period and over 40% of homes had some type of wood destroying insect evidence.  The information was submitted to the National Pest Management Association and in turn they presented it to HUD. 

The outcome was even more astonishing than the study.  HUD knows that many homes in at least Connecticut are not being inspected because of the way the bulletin is worded, but refuses to clarify the statement.  So that means the only time a home is being inspected for termites in Connecticut is under the following circumstances:

1.       The buyer requests it.

2.       The mortgage company requests it.

3.       Or the buyer has an experienced agent who guides them through buying process.

Other than the aforementioned circumstances a buyer, especially a first-time buyer would have no idea that termites are prevalent in Connecticut.  And why would they.

Now, by my own admission the pest control industry appears to be crying foul because from their point of view more inspections will mean more treatments.  The problem with that argument is that that's the point.   If an inspection is done and a wood destroying insect is found shouldn't it get treated?  Or look at it this way; if a doctor told you that you had an over 40% chance of having a heart attack would you change your lifestyle?  The answer is obviously yes.

The pest control industry doesn't blame realtors, appraisers and the banks for the misinterpretation.  What the industry wonders is; why wouldn't everyone involved want to know about termites BEFORE the home is sold?  It's a question I never really have been able to answer.

Bed Bugs!!! YUCK

In case you haven't noticed pest control services have become very popular as of late.  This is due to the huge increase in bed bug activity throughout the nation.  Bed bugs are spreading so quickly that they soon will reach epidemic status.  As the problem becomes larger more individuals are entering the industry looking to make a buck off of a hot trend.

As a consumer you need to know a few things about the pest control industry in order to make an informed decisions about who to call. 

The pest control industry has been around for many years and has a notoriously bad image.  In fact, if someone just say's the word exterminator it conjures up a picture of a man spraying baseboards with a can filled with pesticides (not very professional).  Unfortunately, this can be true ,but in most instances those operators are being weeded out naturally by the poor service they provide.

The "new" generation of PMP's (pest management professionals) are well educated business people who have embraced changes within the industry.  The days of splash and dash are over and have been replaced with inspection, judicious pesticide usage and follow up.  The new breed of PMP knows the business top to bottom and steps in tune with regulatory changes and uses new technology to their advantage.  These new generation companies are more likely to be found advertising via word of mouth, internet and through professional networking. 

As a homeowner you must realize that all PMP's are NOT created equal . Here's how to spot the good one's

1.  They have and are not afraid to tell you their personal and business occupational license numbers.

2.  They can provide you with the information confirm above state minimum insurance.

3.  They have references.

4.  They belong to their state and national organizations; further they should be certified QualityPro from the National Pest Management Association.  The QualityPro designation truly separate the fly by night companies and the one's in it for the long haul.

5.   They can explain exactly what the process is for controlling your pests, what they will use and how long it will take.

6.  They provide you with MSDS sheets as well as label information for the products they use.

7.  Their appearance should be that of a professional, if it's not dig deeper.

Finally, use your gut if something doesn't seem right it probably isn't.  Good luck finding a true professional because it turns out that when the lights go out at night the bed bugs will bite after all.

Lady Bug and Fly Season has past.

The colder nights of fall will bring lady bugs and cluster flies into your home,  they're seeking refuge from the winter to come.   These pests can be alarming when found in your home only because they come in abundant numbers.  The trick to stopping these pests begins on the outside of your home.

The biology of lady bugs (also known as the Asian Lady Beetle) and cluster flies affords these pests the opportunity to make fall the ideal time for them to enter our homes.  The basic biology of the cluster fly and lady bug are as follows

       Cluster Fly

·         Larva develop in earthworms

·         They pupate in the adjacent soil of homes

·         Adults overwinter in voids in the home

        Lady Bug

·         Feed in high trees throughout summer

·         Attracted to light colored homes

·         Especially attractive are southwesterly home faces warmed by sunlight

Most homeowners immediately reach for an insecticide to control these pests, unfortunately this is only one part of an integrated approach which should also include exclusion.  Exclusion can prevent large numbers of these pests from gaining access to the interior of a home in the first place.  Exclusion methods  differ, but the most common material used are latex type caulks that are labeled for both  indoor/outdoor uses.  The following are the most common areas that need caulking and repair to prevent pest entrance:

·         Cracks at window and door frames

·         Eaves

·         Roofs

·         Siding penetration areas

·         Flashing areas at chimney and additions

·         Exterior plumbing and utility entrances

·         Damaged windows and screens

·         Door sweeps

·         Any other area that is a crack that can lead to the interior

In the likely event that exclusion alone doesn't work the timely application of labeled insecticides work quite well in heading off the invasion of these pests into the main living area of the home on warm winter days.  The application should take place at all the aforementioned cracks and crevices ideally BEFORE these pests enter your home.

Once the pest has gained access to the home there are a few tried and true methods to keep them at bay.  Unfortunately,  this is the answer that homeowners least like to hear, but it's the safest as well as most readily available.  Ready, vacuum the little beasts.  It's easy, pesticide free and sure to work every time.  After the pest has gained entrance to the home a pesticide application is only going to hasten their demise, not stop you from seeing them all together.  Why use a pesticide if you don't have to?

Well , there you have it simple instructions that work without fail every time. 

Good luck and happy hunting.

Pest Control Industry and Pesticides

Pesticides And You

The following is a must read letter on pesticides

                We have all heard the horror stories about pesticides and there long term effects on both the environment and humans.  The other side of the story is that in some cases pesticides are a necessary part of the modern world.  In fact, many of the gains in agriculture are due to keeping pests at bay with pesticides.  Without pesticides pests which have no natural predators would be allowed to destroy crops and other property that the modern world depends on.  The trick to safe pesticide usage is to know how to safely use them.

                The purpose of this report is not to defend pesticides or even to promote their use.  The object is to explain how and when they should be used and what part they play in the service we provide. 

                In order to have a discussion about pesticides the reader must accept that most pesticide accidents occur within the home, by the homeowner.  The leading causes of accidents are over application of the pesticide, using the product in a manner that it was not intended for and improper storage of pesticides which accounts for 3/4 of all accidents. 

                The professional pest management industry has done a great deal of work to assure the general public that we are not the cause of these accidents.  Our industry has begun to police itself and require state training and certification.  Most all states also require some type of on- going training and recertification.  Some companies like ours also have regular meetings about pesticides and their safe application.

                As for the use of pesticides, Envirocare Pest Control, LLC obviously uses them.   We use them judiciously and only in conjunction with the 4 cornerstones of sound pest management which are inspection,  identification, monitoring  and recommendations to the homeowner on how to eliminate conducive conditions.

                The broad application of pesticides by our service staff is not part of our program, but when they are needed we are using products with a caution rating.  This rating is similar to that of a household cleaner.  Further ,to protect our clients all are technicians are trained to leave vehicles locked and to place any pesticide out of reach of children and pets.  Our technicians are also familiar with the label on all the products they use daily. 

                In closing , pesticides are harmful when placed within the hands of the untrained, but  when used carefully in the hands of a trained individual they are just another tool.  I want you to be comfortable knowing that a great deal of thought has gone into our services not the least of which is in the careful manner in which it is completed.  Should you ever have questions about a pesticide contact a manager at 203-879-6481, they would be happy to speak with you.