My Exterminator Blog

As a homeowner, you do everything that you can to take care of your property. Routine maintenance can become tedious and expensive, but neglecting an issue can become problematic over time, especially regarding termite activity. If a termite infestation is left untreated for too long you could be facing extensive and expensive repairs. Keep reading for why you need to treat termites now. What Termites Will Eat Termites are constantly feeding. Once they find a food source they will continue to feed until there is almost nothing left. They will eat through wood, wallpaper, plastic and even fabric. So, keeping a lookout for signs of termite damage is imperative, as the longer they are able to feast, the more damage will be done.  Damage Caused by Termites Whether or not your home is constructed of wood materials, you can still have termite damage. These pests are capable of eating their way...

The cold weather months often bring thoughts of holiday cheer, snowfall and frozen landscapes. For homeowners , these thoughts may be tempered with the threat of uninvited creatures invading their homes. To keep any unwanted guests out, equip yourself by learning about the most common winter pests and how to guard against them. Common Winter Invaders Look out for these clever pests who seek to move in with you during the winter months:   Rats and mice: These rodents can slither in through tiny spaces. They cause structural damage to walls and electrical wires as they search for food. Rats and mice spread disease by contaminating food and leaving droppings and hair behind.  Squirrels and raccoons: These relatively small mammals can cause significant problems for the homeowner. They often use overhanging branches and missing shingles as a way into your attics or walls. These pests are notorious for chewing and burrowing,...

My Exterminator LLC is one of the leading companies that help homeowners deal with ants' invasion. Ants can quickly get into your home to seek food and water. They enter through small holes on windows and doors and other spaces. There are various ways of ant control. Consider hiring pest control companies since they are professionals. The problem with DIY is that you will mostly use an ineffective home ant remedy. You are likely to treat the visible ants leaving the invisible ones. Ants can build a nest inside or outside your building. They produce a chemical known as pheromones as they move around. The chemical produces a scent that other ants smell and follow in the same direction- why they follow the same movement path. Some ant infestation may be full-blown, and it may be difficult for the homeowner to deal with. An ant control exterminator will do the following...

Bedbugs are tiny, oval insects that feast on blood. They tend to enter homes through used or old furniture, clothing, boxes and luggage. Bedbugs are one of the oldest known pests, second only to cockroaches, and do not spread diseases.  Common hiding spots include beds, couches, carpets and dark areas. If unnoticed bedbugs continue to thrive, they will infest all areas of your home. Before you let these uninvited intruders take over your house, discover the telltale signs of a bedbug.  Red, Itchy Bumps One of the first signs that you may have bedbugs is bites all over your body. Bedbug bites are small red, itchy bumps that occur on any exposed skin. Many people mistake bedbug bites as rashes, eczema or ant and mosquito bites. However, one of the ways to differentiate between this and other skin issues is to take note of when the red, itchy bumps appeared. If...

People love their kitchens. Maybe they want to upgrade or remodel their own, but that stems from their love of wanting the kitchen to be at its best. It is the area where family time is shared, new recipes are developed and mouth-watering meals are served. Unfortunately, people are not the only ones who have an affection for kitchens. Ants can often be found trying to get in on the kitchen fun as well. Food Galore One of the most common phrases a parent will yell when their child drops food is, “What? Do you want ants in the house?”. Many have heard that said to the point of insanity, but it holds a lot of weight. The food is in the kitchen. Whether it is stored away or sitting out, ants will make their way toward it to steal it for the colony. The easier of a time they have,...

Buying an over the counter pest control solution may be an expedient way to deal with visible pests, but there are significant drawbacks. Dealing with visible pests does not guarantee that you have eliminated your pest problem regardless of what the label on the packing says. If you want to deal with the problem once and for all, here are some reasons why you need to call a pest control expert: Experience Matters Pest control specialists have the experience and training to deal with any household pest permanently. Buying a can of insecticide spray is definitely a cheap and expedient method of pest control, but experts can identify and eliminate the pests in your home, so they don’t keep coming back. Pest Prevention is Critical Getting rid of the pests in your home right now is only part of eliminating your pest problem. Future outbreaks are a very real possibility if...

Setting traps is just one of the many effective ways that you can get pests out of your home. The only issue is that many of these pest traps can be poisonous or hazardous to your pets and your children if they were to get into them. Here are a few tips that you can use to keep your children and pets away from pest traps.   1) Pest Trap Prevention In terms of the type of pesticide that you are using to kill rodents or pests, make sure that you choose the method that is the least toxic. That way, in the worst-case scenario that your pet or child would get a hold of a trap, this would lower the risk or level of harm that the trap could cause your pet or child.   2) Pest Trap Placement One of the best ways you can make sure that all...

Home and business owners know just how much of a nuisance termites can be. They are annoying, destructive and can be difficult to get rid of once they infest an area. Fortunately, it is not impossible to find a solution. Making that solution easier to achieve is also possible by understanding the signs of a termite infestation. Let’s look at some ways you can identify a potential termite issue before things get out of hand. Hollow Wood Wood that has been hollowed out around the house is usually a sign that you have termites to deal with. Drywood termites love chewing through timber and will not leave much behind. If you tap against some wood, such as on a wall or floor, and it feels hollow, you may have termites. It can be tough to tell if an area of wood has been hollowed out without poking at it or knocking...

It’s always nice to have visitors over - except when are your visitors! Raccoons may look cute and cuddly, but they can be a big nuisance. When they pay your home a visit, they can cause a lot of damage. They don’t just knock over garbage cans and leave droppings all around your home. They can also chew right through the electrical wires, carry diseases and tear up your home’s insulation. The best way to deal with a raccoon problem is by trying to prevent it from ever happening. And in order to do that, you need to know the reasons why raccoons are attracted to your home so you know how to deter them. Garbage Can Does your garbage can have a secure lid? If it doesn’t, it is an invitation for raccoons to come have a feast. They eat a wide range of foods, so a garbage can is...

When we think of fleas, most people think that fleas only thrive in the heat and humidity of summertime. Fleas certainly are most active during those warm months, but fleas are fairly cold hardy creatures as well. Fleas in Winter If you have fleas outdoors, we generally say that it takes two hard freezes to kill them. By hard freeze, we mean below freezing temperatures for at least five days in a row – this constitutes one hard freeze. In particular, fleas will naturally seek out a warm place, such as taking a hitchhike indoors on the fur of your dog. Once indoors, fleas are in more of a natural habitat and can survive indefinitely. Indoors, they will have lots of food and a warm place to live on your pet, so they are pretty toasty indeed. If you have outdoor fleas, you can hope for two hard freezes, but if...

Camping is one of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends. Roasting hot dogs over a fire, sleeping under the stars and washing yourself in a lake are all iconic activities of the worldwide hobby of camping. Now, many people think that bugs and insects are just a part of being in nature, and if you want to enjoy the experiences of camping, pests are something you simply have to deal with. This is true, to an extent. However, there are things you can do to keep them at bay . Here of some of the pests you may come across while camping and what you can do about them. Pests You May Meet When Camping When you’re camping, you’re directly in pest territory, so don’t be surprised to find everything from ants to mosquitoes to wasps. Fortunately, pests are less of a problem for you...

Pests are a nuisance to just about everyone. They can be especially irritating when they get into your home and you cannot get rid of them. One of the best ways to keep your house free of pests is to identify the hot spots that attract them and decrease or eliminate the temptation. Here are some of the most common hot spots for pests in the average home. Under Furniture Pests like areas that are dark and quiet. So, underneath furniture is an ideal place for them to hide., particularly if the furniture is heavy and not moved often. Take a moment to check under your furniture for signs of pests, like live ones scattering away or empty shells of dead ones. If you find evidence of pests, contact a professional exterminator right away. Pet Food Dishes Insects and other pests love pet food as much as your favorite four-legged friend...

For over 30 years, My Exterminator LLC has been providing pest control services for Northern Virginia. We strive to please our customers in any way possible, and because of this, we offer a “No Charge Call Back” guarantee. If you find pests after we have treated, we will come back to your home for retreatment at no cost to you. Keep reading for more of our services that we offer. Ant Control Ants can cause a lot of damage to your home, whether they are carpenter ants or pavement/sugar ants. Obviously, carpenter ants can cause more destruction to the structure of the house, as their tunnels can compromise the strength. But pavement ants can cause issues as well as they come into your home in search of food. They don’t nest in your home, but they will form a trail to take away any crumbs. But don’t worry! My Exterminator LLC...

Ask any number of people to make a list of the insects they hate the most, and mosquitoes are sure to show up on just about every single one of them. These hated bugs are pests that seem to have no purpose other than to ruin our camping trip, buzz in our ear when we’re trying to sleep and keep us scratching all day long. But other than that, what do we need to know about them? Here are five things to know about these blood-sucking vampires: Mosquitoes Carry Diseases This is a pretty well-known fact, but it’s so important that it bears repeating: when mosquitoes suck blood and go from host to host they are also carrying whatever is in that blood -- and if it’s a disease, there’s a chance the new host will contract that disease. Malaria, West Nile Virus and Yellow Fever are all diseases that are...

Bed bugs are a gross nuisance that can take weeks or even months to completely eradicate. Once you have a bed bug infestation in your apartment or home, there is no quick and easy way to end it. The best way to deal with bed bugs is to prevent them from entering your living space, to begin with. Understanding where they come from is the best prevention plan. Bed Bug Facts Bed bugs are creatures that thrive in environments with warmth, carbon dioxide, and blood. Living in a mattress is a perfect environment for that, as a sleeping person would provide a source of nourishment for them. They are also easily missed hitchhikers that can move from living space to living space in apartment buildings or even within multiple rooms of a house. Traveling is a significant factor in the spread of bed bugs. Hotels or other houses that have already...

Summer is a great time of year. It's the time of sunshine and picnics, but it's also the time of year for bug activity. With the warmer temperatures, you may see an increase in some bugs in your home. One of the most irritating can be ants . Problems Ants Can Cause It is possible for ants to cause health problems for you and your family. They may not cause typical diseases, but they can cause symptoms associated with allergic reactions. These reactions can include headaches, inflamed skin and cramps. For someone that is hypersensitive to ant venom, this can cause serious and life-threatening conditions. Ants are also able to transmit food borne disease organisms, such as Salmonella, E. Coli and Shigella. They are able to contaminate your food with these organisms and cause a great deal of problems for you and your family. Damage to your home While it's mostly...

As a homeowner, you want to make sure your house is a clean, inviting place to live. One of the most important things you can do to ensure this is to keep your home free of invasive insects and pests. Of course, calling in a professional service is a vital part of this process, but it is also important to do your part at home to prevent infestations . Unfortunately, sometimes homeowners -- even those with the best of intentions -- make mistakes that make it more difficult to do just that. Here are three of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make when it comes to pest control. Treating the Symptoms, not the Cause When you see bugs in your house, your first instinct is to grab bug spray and get rid of them. While that might solve the immediate problem, the real question is more important: “How and why did...

It is safe to say that most people do not like having bugs anywhere in the house. But, having bugs in the pantry is the worst place to have a pest problem. Even if your kitchen is immaculately clean, insects and other pests can find their way in. But, taking these precautions can help you keep pests out of your pantry so you can enjoy your time in the kitchen worry-free. Use Bay Leaves Keeping a dried or fresh bay leaf next to containers of dry goods is a great way to keep pests away. Pests do not like the smell of bay leaves, so use them to keep irritants like flies, moths, roaches and mice at bay. Catnip and pennyroyal mint are other herbs that can deter pests the same way. Choose the Right Storage Containers Durable storage containers that are made of plastic or glass help to protect the...

With warmer weather just around the corner, some folks expect unwelcome visitors in the form of ants. These pests are a real nuisance inside many homes, as colonies search for food and water to survive. If you’re tired of dealing with these critters, test out these tips to control your ant problem once and for all. Seal Those Cracks How are ants getting into your home? The warm spring weather doesn’t magically teleport them inside. Instead, it drives them to find food and shelter in safe places, which they access via holes in your home. The solution to this is to identify any cracks around the perimeter of your home, as well as those on the inside. Fix these holes with materials the ants cannot penetrate, like caulk. Keep in mind, this might not fix the problem if you already have an ant infestation. Ants may have been in your home...

My Exterminator, serving the Northern Virginia area, knows that rats are one of the most unpleasant house guests. Our unique ecology makes for a great habitat, however, and more often than not, these small pests will find their way into our houses. We understand homeowners want to perform due diligence in preventing rats and rodents from entering their houses, but it's hard. Rats can enter your home through exterior openings that measure less than the size of a quarter in diameter and are capable of making an entry if there is none present. Read below so that you'll know exactly what to keep an eye out for to avoid a single rat turning into a bigger problem. If you notice any of these signs, contact-us right away. Our fully trained, professional technicians are waiting on standby. With almost 40 years in the business, we've learned a thing or two about rats...