For landlords, the responsibility of keeping ants and other pests out of tenants' apartments goes far beyond a legal requirement - it's a simple way to show people that you care about them and the complex. As professional pest control businesses know, ants can negatively impact the quality of life of tenants by infesting their living space and contaminating food. But in addition to the impacts ants can have on tenants, carpenter ants can also cause structural issues for your entire housing development.
The University of Minnesota Extension School called carpenter ants' damage to wood "severe," noting that they can hollow out large sections of wooden beams and planks. The structural dangers that carpenter ants pose underscore the importance of ant control for landlords and property managers when it comes to large housing areas and apartment complexes. But before you enlist the help of a commercial pest control business to rescue your complex and tenants, here are a few things you can do to prevent ants from ever becoming an issue.
A major responsibility of landlords and property managers is to see to the upkeep of the buildings. Some issues, like a leaking roof or electrical problem, require immediate attention for safety or comfort reasons, while others, like small cracks and dripping gutters, may seem as if they can be put off slightly longer. But, as Oregon's Rent Right program reminded landlords, sealing cracks can be a major way to prevent pest infestations. Ants can fit through very small spaces and will quickly find water and food sources, so the longer any cracks that can access a residency are left unattended, the more likely it is that you'll be dealing with an ant infestation soon.
Plumbing leaks and dripping gutters can cause similar issues by providing ants and other pests with new water sources.
Tenants and landlords may disagree about things from time to time, but everyone can agree that insects are unwanted in their residences. Landlords should listen to tenant complaints about insects in order to get a jump on potential infestation issues. If you're able to find a single nest near one unit, call in a pest control service to eliminate it before it can spread to the rest of the building. Proactivity and an open ear to tenants can end up saving landlords and property managers a lot of headaches in the future.
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.
