Does it sometimes take an eternity for your clothes to dry. That is what one area resident recently encountered. When the dryer repair technician arrived he quickly determined that the dryer was operating normally, however, the dryer vent line was clogged. Unlike my own dryer vent duct, this one weaved itself through several bends and turns around various obstacles and was of substantial length. The homeowner tried a blower with little or no success to clear the line. One of their friends recommended that they call us as we had removed an entire birds nest with several decaying birds from their bathroom exhaust duct last year. So, we were glad to tackle the clogged dryer duct using the same procedure that had worked so well for the birds nest. We removed a substantial mass of lint and debris from the line. Dryers by nature reach substantial temperatures and when not properly vented pose a significant fire hazard. Fortunately, many modern dryers have a sensor that will regulate the temperature and trip the heating element in such instances. However, this is only after the peak shut off temperature is reached. So, as soon as you are done reading this post and looking at the photos go check those dryer vents. Simply turn your dryer on and find the location of the vent on the outside of your home. Now,  hold your hand up to the vent to be sure that air is flowing freely.  Such a simple check could potentially save lives and property!

BLAKELY — David James recalled opening a tote of peanuts at the processing plant here and seeing baby mice in it. “It was filthy and nasty all around the place,” said James, who used to work in shipping at the plant. Read the entire article.

As a small, locally owned company, National understands the importance of shopping around for a good price on any product or service. We recently came across “Termites “Bite” into Pocketbook” by Barb Ogg, Ph.D., Extension Educator and Dennis Ferraro, Extension Educator which was located on the University of Nebraska’s Cooperative Extension in Lancaster website. We could not agree more! We recommend that you follow these tips when selecting your professional. You will quickly learn the importance of comparing apples to apples when it comes to professional treatment of your home.

The only bit that I would like to add to the following list is that you ask the professional for an estimate of how long the treatment will take and note any drastic differences. And finally ask lots of questions!

From “Termites “Bite” into Pocketbook”

by Barb Ogg, Ph.D., Extension Educator and Dennis Ferraro, Extension Educator

It is obvious that the cost estimate is one important factor when selecting a pest control company to treat your home. But, other factors should be taken into consideration. The following guidelines may be useful in selecting a pest control company.

• Do not rush – termites work very slowly. Spending two to three weeks gathering information is time well spent.
• Arrange to have 4-5 professional pest companies inspect the structure and estimate the cost of the termite treatment. Request that all bids be put in writing.
• Ask each company to describe in detail the precise procedures that will be taken to treat the structure. These “details” should be the basis for making an objective evaluation regarding the quality of treatment by each company.  Include:
  • Where will the chemical be applied?
  • How and where will holes be drilled to incorporate the chemical?
  • What special techniques will be used in areas where floor covering is present.
  • How will inaccessible areas and/or voids be treated?
  • How will the injection points (holes) be sealed?
• Find out what chemical(s) will be used and the rationale behind its (their) use. Ask for a copy of the chemical label(s). If you have questions or concerns, talk to a physician or call the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (1-800-858-7378). There are no special or secret chemicals available to only select pest control companies. All companies can use any of the registered termiticides.
• What application methods will be practiced to insure a safe treatment for your family?
• Ask what rate and amount of chemical solution will be used. Current research has determined a slow rate of application (< 25 psi) is best. The key to an effective treatment is the formation of a complete continuous barrier between the soil and all  parts of the structure.
• Request to be furnished with a list of recent references in your area. Then, call the references and ask them to comment on their termite treatment. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any unresolved complaints against each company.
• Find out what type of insurance the company has. Examples of insurance are liability and complete operations policies.
• Ask about any warranty that will follow after treatment.