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By Jana
Ward
Spring is finally upon us. Along with
the fresh green grass and beautiful spring flowers, budding trees
and flowering tulips comes the reawakening of pests. For home
owners, bugs are not only annoying, they can actually harm your
house, furnishings and pets.
Termites usually come to mind as the
most aggressive pest. They cost American home owners about $1.1
billion each year. Termites actually threaten the structure of a
house because they eat its framing lumber. It can be difficult to
determine if a house is infested with termites because they look
like ants. Home owners can take these steps to lessen their chances
of attracting termites:
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Moisture attracts the most
common species of termite, subterranean, which causes 95
percent of all termite damage. Keeping gutters and downspouts
clean, in good repair and free of clogs will help eliminate
pools of water close to the house. Repairing leaky plumbing
and drainage under the house, and keeping the house and crawl
space properly vented will also keep areas dry.
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Move wood, such as scrap
lumber, away from foundations. Keep tree stumps and firewood
from beneath and around the home. Stack firewood off the
ground and away from the home.
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Cut all shrubs and bushes
away from the foundation.
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No lumber or siding should
touch the ground.
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Fleas can be a big problem to home
owners with pets, but can also enter a house on clothing and shoes.
Fleas are a hardy species. They accelerate the equivalent of 50
times faster than a space shuttle does after liftoff, and they can
jump up to 150 times the length of their bodies—sideways or up.
Fleas live more than 100 days on a dog and produce millions of
off-spring during that time. A female flea consumes 15 times its
body weight in blood daily.
For the health of your pet and your
family, it is important to discourage flea activity in the home.
Here are some tips:
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Take your pet to a
veterinarian for treatment on the same day you do your flea
control measures in your home. The dual-treatment is essential
to effective flea control.
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Wash all pet bedding
thoroughly in hot water or destroy it if necessary.
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Vacuum all floors and
upholstered furniture thoroughly, especially areas where pets
sleep.
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Seal used vacuum bags in a
plastic bag and remove the bag from the house.
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Groom pets regularly outdoors
to keep fleas, their eggs and larvae from falling off inside
the house.
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Trim lawns and weeds to
create a drier, hostile environment for flea larvae.
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When pets go outdoors,
minimize their contact with infested animals by keeping them
on a leash and in a fenced yard.
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Ants present another problem. They eat
practically every kind of food and enter homes looking for sweets
and protein-containing substances. When ants find a food source,
they leave a long-lasting, invisible chemical trial for the rest of
the colony to follow. Here are a few tips to discourage ants:
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Correct moisture problems such as leaking roofs and
blocked gutters.
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Correct poorly ventilated attics or crawl
spaces.
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Store garbage cans in dry places (not under kitchen
sinks); empty them often and keep them clean.
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Trim tree limbs so they don’t touch or hang over your
house.
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Consider replacing or restoring rotted or water-damaged
wood.
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Inspect window and door frames, and pipes for small
openings. Caulk or screen the openings to seal entry.
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Examine firewood and remove infested logs, and use them
quickly once you bring them inside.
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Remove dead trees and stumps, Remove damaged limbs from
trees.
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Keep food in pantries in sealed containers.
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Inspect plants for ants before bringing
indoors.
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Keep cupboards clean.
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If you need help eliminating pests, or repairing the damage
caused by them, call The Greater San Antonio Builders Association at
696-3800 for free copies of the Remodelors® Council Directory and
the brochure “How to Choose a Remodelor®.”
Jana Ward, of Clear Choice Flooring and Design, is president
of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association Remodelors®
Council. |
