Pest Control FAQ
You Have Questions. Our Exterminators Have Answers.
There’s no such thing as a dumb question in the pest control industry. Many pests can cause significant damage to your home, and others can put you and your family’s health at risk. Even pests that are more of a minor nuisance can still raise a number of questions that deserve thorough, non-judgmental answers.
Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions our team has received over the years. If you would like to learn more about a specific topic, please just contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help!
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Outdoor FAQ
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Will a Backyard Playground Set Attract Pests?Backyard playground equipment is notoriously pest-friendly for a few reasons. First, it provides pests with shelter, and in many cases, dark areas where they can hide from predators. It also tends to go unused for large periods of time, allowing pests to get comfortable. It’s also hospitable to a number of different pests, and it’s not at all uncommon for homeowners to discover several unwanted visitors making use of their backyard playset. The best way to keep them away is to contact a professional pest control company and have them treat the area seasonally. When your children outgrow it, we recommend that you have it taken down to make your property less hospitable to pests.
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What Can I Do to Deter Pests From My Property?Making the area around your property inhospitable to pests is a tall order without professional help, but there are several things you can do to make the area less attractive. In the summer, make sure that you’ve eliminated any areas that allow for standing water. Mosquitoes can lay eggs in pools of water the size of a bottle cap, which makes this task quite difficult if you have a large yard. That said, you can take simple steps such as draining kiddie pools, bringing pet bowls inside, and picking up children’s toys. You should also keep firewood at least 20 feet away from your home, keep your grass and bushes trimmed, and watch pets who spend time in the yard for any unusual behavior.
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Are DIY Outdoor Sprays and Products Effective?They can be, but as we discussed above, they’re often filled with harsh and harmful chemicals that could pose a threat to pets, children, your landscape, and the broader ecosystem around your property. Pest control can also be a time-consuming task that ultimately ends in you contacting a professional, so it’s recommended that you save yourself time and money by reaching out to a specialist. You should also keep in mind that many outdoor pests, such as wasps, are dangerous and can be dangerous for the inexperienced, no matter how effective the product.
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Are Ticks Only Active During the Summer Months?No, this is actually a common misconception about ticks. Ticks are active throughout the year, but their activity in the winter slows down because wildlife — their main source of transportation — slows down as well. However, freezing temperatures do not kill them, and they often survive the winter by staying attached to their hosts until spring. New Hampshire has several active species of ticks, and we recommend asking about our tick control services that can help you keep them out of your property.
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How Do I Keep Spiders From Coming In?Spiders are one of the more difficult pests to keep out due to their size and the number of opportunities they have to come inside. You should make sure that all of your doors and windows are properly sealed, and that no cracks in your foundation are providing an easy way for spiders to come inside. In many cases, spiders make their way into properly sealed homes via objects that are brought inside. You should be mindful to examine anything that your pets or children take outside for both live spiders and egg sacks. Flowers, potted plants, and even produce should also be checked thoroughly.
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I’ve Noticed Rodents Around My Property. Should I Be Concerned?Yes, we recommend talking with one of our rodent control experts if you’ve seen rodents around your home. If they haven’t made their way inside, it’s possible that they could. Given that rodents can cause a number of different health problems and are extremely destructive, it’s a good idea to have a professional inspect your property and create an exclusion plan that keeps them away from the area in general.
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Indoor FAQ
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What Are Some of the Easiest Ways for Pests to Make Their Way Inside?Although we don’t have the space required to list every way in which pests make their way into homes, there are a few common risk factors that you can evaluate around your home. First, look for broken seals between your home and the outdoors. Windows, exhaust fans, doors, and your foundation are the four most common areas to examine. Then, look for ways you might be inadvertently letting pests come inside. Open windows with torn screens, doors with worn-out weather stripping, and pet doors can all provide pests with easy access.
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I’ve Only Noticed a Few Insects Inside My Home. Do I Need to Call a Pest Control Company?Yes! We like to present the reasoning here with an analogy: When looking at an iceberg, you only see a very small portion of the entire structure. Pest infestations are often similar — you might only see one mouse in the basement or a single wasp in the garage, but the extent of the infestation is often much more serious. Given that many pests can cause damage to your home and jeopardize human health, contacting a professional pest control company as soon as possible is one of the most important things you can do.
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How Can I Reduce the Risk of Bringing Bed Bugs Home While Traveling?
Before we answer this question, it’s important to know that bed bugs can affect establishments with anything from one to five stars; choosing the most expensive hotel won’t lessen your risk.
Although bed bugs are known for being exceptional hitchhikers, there are several things you can do to keep them out of your home. First, always inspect the room you’re staying in. Of course, you’ll want to look for live insects, but you should also look for blood stains, and small white ovals (eggs), and smell the room. Bed bugs typically produce a sweet, musty scent and will be easy to smell. Keep your luggage off of the floor and store it on metal racks or in the closet, if the space allows. You may also want to bring plastic bags in which to store worn clothing instead of putting it directly back in your bag. Wash everything thoroughly and with the hottest water, the garments allow once you’ve returned home.
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I’ve Found Winged Ants Near Vents and Windows. What Does This Mean?Flying ants are responsible for reproduction and will often scout for nesting sites during the warmer months of the year. If you find a single flying ant, it’s possible that one simply flew through an opening in your home. However, more than one in a short period of time could indicate that you have a carpenter ant infestation on your hands. Carpenter ants aren’t your everyday kitchen nuisance — they can cause serious damage to wooden structures and need to be addressed as soon as possible. If you’ve noticed flying ants in the winter, it’s almost a sure sign that you have an infestation somewhere in your home. Contact our ant pest control experts to get started with an inspection.
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I’ve Heard a Rustling Noise in My Walls. What Could Cause That?Unfortunately, rustling inside of your walls is likely winged swarmers but could be termites as well. Either way, we highly recommend that you contact us for an inspection. The longer you wait, the more damage the pest can do.
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Where Are Some of the Most Common Areas I Should Be Checking for Pests?Pests love dark, secluded areas. We recommend that you regularly check your basement, crawl space, attic, cabinets, and underneath sinks for pests. It’s precisely because these areas receive so little attention that pests thrive in them, and it’s often not until they’ve had a chance to multiply that they start appearing in more high-traffic areas. As a general rule of thumb, if you see, hear, or smell something that doesn’t look right, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and contact a professional.
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General Pest Control
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What Pests Do You Treat?
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What’s the Best Way to Protect My Home Throughout the Year?We’ve listed a few tips to protect your interior and exterior in the following two sections, but some of the best advice we can give you is to invest in quarterly pest control services. Many homeowners contact a local pest control company only once they’ve discovered a pest in or around their home, but quarterly services allow you to take a proactive approach that prevents pests from coming inside in the first place. Our quarterly services are completely customized to fit your property’s unique needs and are always tailored to your schedule. Visit the service page to learn more!
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Do I Really Need to Hire a Professional Pest Control Company?Yes! Whether you’ve seen a single pest or you have a full-blown infestation on your hands, contacting a professional pest control company is one of the smartest decisions you can make. DIY products often contain poisonous chemicals that need to be used with caution, especially if you have young children and/or pets in your home. Moreover, many of the most popular DIY products aren’t just expensive — they’re not guaranteed to work. This means that even if you follow the instructions perfectly, you may find yourself calling an exterminator to handle the job. Save yourself time and money by letting a professional handle everything from start to finish!
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How Much Do Pest Control Services Cost?Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The ultimate cost of your appointment will depend on the extent of the infestation, the products we use, and other variables that are difficult to quote without seeing your home first. Anchor Pest Services proudly offers free inspections and fully transparent quotes, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like a quote! We take pride in offering our services at an extremely competitive price you won’t find other local pest control companies offering.
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What Makes Anchor Pest Services Different?Anchor Pest Services was named a Top-Three Pest Control company in 2019, and we’ve continued to set the standard for pest control in New Hampshire. We founded our company on the belief that businesses need to stop saying they’ll go above and beyond for a customer; we believe that top-tier excellence should be what every customer receives. We understand that when homeowners contact us for pest control services, they need fast service and someone they can trust to do the job correctly. No matter the size of the job, we provide every client with the experience we would want to receive. Instead of taking us at our word, we recommend that you read through some of our reviews to see what previous clients have said about our work!
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