When pests gain a foothold in an apartment complex, it can affect everyone who lives and works there. It may start in one apartment, but quickly spread to other units. In the meantime, the landlord and staffers have to find the best solution to an irritating and potentially harmful situation.
Tenants and apartment managers have to work togetherto find the source of the pests, which include those commonly found in large complexes - cockroaches, bed bugs, ants and other insects in stored food products, and rodents. Tenants have an obligation to keep their units sanitary while property managers should have a regular program of pest management.
If the problem becomes too widespread for either party to handle, the best alternative is to call in experts from a commercial pest control firm like Abell Pest Control. They can do a thorough inspection of the premises, come up with a customized treatment plan and offer follow up advice to minimize the chance of repeat outbreaks.
Information on how to prevent bed bugs will warn apartment dwellers of how they may inadvertently bring the pests back with them after a trip, and how to inspect luggage so that doesn't happen. They should also be informed of telltale signs that indicate they have bed bugs so they can halt the intruders before a full-blown infestation takes place.
Pests are frequently drawn to improper garbage storage and disposal. Apartment managers have to do their part to keep the property clean inside public areas and on the building's exterior, but tenants are often the first line of defense because trash largely comes from individual units.
For instance, it's not enough to put food scraps into the sink disposal, which must be run each day so the garbage will be ground up and sent down the drain. For apartment dwellers who don't have a garbage disposal, they'll need a trash container with a lid for easy disposal. If at all possible, wet garbage should be disposed in separate plastic bags or in a separate container. If garbage leaks into the trash receptacle, it should be wiped clean or it may draw roaches and other pests.
As part of their daily cleanup routine, tenants should also make sure that all food is put away in airtight containers or plastic bags every day. Keeping food out, including scraps left on dirty dishes in the sink, can draw insects.
Correct maintenance by both property managers and tenants goes a long way toward preventing a pest infestation in a multi-unit dwelling.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
