Why Is a Pest Control Company Installing Insulation?

ants at the base of a wall

What do you do to keep pests from getting into your home? There are many precautions you can take. Maybe it’s sealing off your trash bins and dry goods, denying easy access to potential food sources. You might incorporate repellent scents or traps, things you have to reapply every so often to maintain their effectiveness. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a form of pest control that protects your home without you having to do anything? And what if this product could also make your home more efficient and more comfortable? You can do all of that with the help of TAP® Insulation, which Dugas Pest Control is authorized to install.

If you haven’t heard of this before, you might be asking – why would a pest control company offer insulation? Let’s answer some common questions about it below.

TAP® Insulation Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is TAP® Insulation? 

A. TAP insulation is a loose-fill cellulose material that is blown into floors, attics, or wall voids. It’s made primarily from recycled materials and is able to kill many common insect pests on an ongoing basis.

Q. How does TAP® Insulation kill pests?

A. The cellulose in TAP is treated with Boric acid. This natural mineral is also found in some cleaning agents and medical supplies, but it has powerful pest-killing properties. Smaller insects get coated with the acid when they come into contact with it, and it gets into their system when they groom themselves. They’re unable to pass the chemical, and they ultimately die of dehydration or malnutrition. 

Q. What pests does TAP® Insulation kill? 

A. The Boric acid in TAP Insulation is not strong enough to harm rodents, pets, children or adults. It’s meant to target smaller insect pests, ranging from ants and Formosan termites to larger pests like slugs, cockroaches, and beetles.

Q. Where does TAP® rank as insulation?

A. TAP has proven its value as home insulation. The loose-fill cellulose slows the transfer of heat, to better regulate your home’s temperature throughout the year. It also has a good R-value, lower than spray foam, but higher than fiberglass batting. Overall, TAP Insulation will make your home quieter, as well as more comfortable and pest-free. It’s even fire-resistant!

Q. What are some of the downsides of TAP® Insulation?

A. Since TAP is made of cellulose, it’s vulnerable to mold and water damage. That’s why, for homes that go forward with TAP Insulation, we stress the importance of maintaining moisture control throughout the house. This is the best for not only your insulation but also the structural integrity of your home.

Dugas Pest Control for TAP® Pest Control Insulation

While TAP® isn’t toxic to humans unless ingested in very large quantities, it should still be installed by a professional. When Dugas Pest Control sends our team of trained experts to install TAP, we do so with the skill and experience you need to enjoy its benefit for decades to come. If you want to know more, visit our TAP Insulation page.

New Year, New Me, NO PESTS!

Friends lighting sparklers at night on New Year's Eve

As we reach the end of the new year and the start of the next, it’s common to ask yourself what changes you’re going to make for 2023. Are you going to commit to a dietary change, a workout regimen or new artistic outlet? Whether your ambitions are grand or simple, there’s a promise we can all make toward maintaining a pest-free home. And you don’t necessarily need poisons or elaborate traps to make this happen. If you have a pest infestation, you can rely on Dugas Pest Control for residential or commercial extermination services. But if you work with intention and follow a few key resolutions, there’s a chance you won’t need to call us at all.

You can make these four New Year’s resolutions today to improve your odds of having a peaceful, pest-free start to the new year.

Resolution One: Clear Out Clutter!

Pests like to hide and nest in areas that are quiet, dark, and undisturbed. Do you treat your closets and attics as dumping grounds for whatever you no longer want to look at? If so, you’re inadvertently creating an ideal habitat for all kinds of pests. Roaches, mice, and bed bugs all love easy access to areas where they will be able to feed and reproduce without being bothered. Because of that, it’s important to be consistently vigilant in keeping your home organized at all times. Doing this won’t just deter pests, it’ll also leave you calmer and more aware of the space around you.

Resolution Two: Keep Your Kitchen Clean!

The two biggest attractants of pests are shelter and a source of food. Think about the state of your kitchen. Do you have bowls of food left open and unattended to on the counters? Are the dishes from last night’s dinner still in the sink? You probably already know tendencies like these are not desirable habits to maintain – but think about it from the perspective of a pest. Those food particles left on the surfaces of your kitchen that you’re too busy to clean are a feast for a mouse or ant. Keep your food stored and your kitchen clean, and you no longer advertise yourself to every bug and rodent in the neighborhood. It’s that simple.

Resolution Three: Eliminate Entry Points!

Pests don’t appear out of nowhere. They all got in through some kind of opening in the exterior of your home. So, take the time to find and seal any potential entry point in, around, and outside your home. Pay special attention to windows and doors, as well as your foundation, vents, and the holes around any electric conduits, gas lines, or water faucets. And you can install new door sweeps or weatherstripping on exterior doors to further secure your home against pests.

Resolution Four: Transport Your Tinder!

We all enjoy a nice fire when it’s cold out. At the same time, though, there are a variety of insects that hide in the kind of firewood you bring into your home. To avoid bringing spiders, ants, flies, and other pests into your home, it’s important to keep your firewood at least 20 feet away from your home. Only take what you plan on burning at the time, and always inspect the wood before you bring it inside. With that in mind, you’ll be able to stay warm without running the risk of pests.

Dugas Pest Control – Experienced Exterminators in Baton Rouge

Life is hard to predict. If you do all this and still wind up with a pest infestation sometime next year, Dugas Pest Control is here to help. We’ve been controlling pests around Baton Rouge for over 50 years, so we’re familiar with the pests that live here. You don’t have to waste any time worrying, stressing and scrambling for DIY solutions. Instead, let one of our technicians handle the infestation quickly and efficiently. When we’re done, you’ll be able to start the new year off right. Want to know more and get a free quote for your household? Contact us today!

Is DIY Pest Control a Realistic Option?

a man wonders if he should try to solve his cockroach problem with DIY pest control methods

Is Do-It-Yourself Pest Control a Realistic Option?

Do-It-Yourself pest control might seem like a good way to save money, time, and hassle. Pick up some pesticide from the local hardware store and you’re good to go. No need to shell out or wait around for professional exterminators. Right? Well, not so fast. DIY pest control isn’t easy, and it carries significant downsides. If you’re considering doing your own pest control, you need to understand the risks so you can take measures to safeguard yourself, your family, and your home.

What Are the Risks of DIY Pest Control?

No matter what pests you’re dealing with, there are a few important things to remember. Always take pesticides seriously and use only according to instructions. Reading the instructions fully and understanding them is crucial, or your risks will greatly increase.

Negligence

Situations may exist where you can be held liable for your pest control practices. Pesticides are dangerous chemicals when misused. They can cause significant harm and create civil and even criminal liability for you. This is doubly true if you’re trying to eradicate a species of pest that’s protected by law.

Exposure to Pesticides

You should always wear protective clothing and gloves when handling pesticides and other chemicals. Also, PPE like a mask and eye goggles are recommended in areas where there might be pests or rodents. This will reduce the risk of getting bitten or stung. Read the instructions carefully and use only the amount that’s recommended for the job.

Haphazard exposure to pesticides can lead to health problems. Pregnant women and young children should avoid areas where pesticides have been used. Pesticides must be stored out of reach of children and pets so they don’t come into contact with them. Improper use of pesticides can lead to chemicals leaking into water supplies, vegetable gardens, and even the air inside your home. If using pesticides indoors, adequate ventilation is critical.

Unsatisfactory Results

Imagine doing all that work yourself, only for the problem to return in a few weeks or months. That’s another risk you face with DIY pest control. Dugas Pest Control’s team of experienced pest control experts know where to look in your home and how to root out infestations so they won’t return. That saves you time, stress and money in the long run.

Let Our Trained Specialists Handle It

Dugas Pest Control has provided effective, professional and affordable pest control solutions in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and surrounding areas since 1957. Our experienced exterminators are trained to identify and locate the source of your pest problems, and once the job is finished we’ll offer reasons why the pests were there and help you strategize methods for preventing future infestations. We can do the job faster, safer, more efficiently, and more completely than you ever could. When factoring all of this in, DIY pest control is simply not worth the risks to your health and peace of mind.

Let us handle your pest control so you can go back to living your life. Contact us today for a free quote!  

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Can You Kill Bed Bugs on Your Own?

Dugas Pest Control provides extermination services for Bed bugs in Louisiana DIY Pest Control has gotten to be a big industry with many stores and products on the market for roaches, wasps, bees and even termites.  But do these type products work for bed bugs?

The problem with trying to get rid of bed bugs using DIY methods is that many of the DIY treatments simply don’t work. The reality is that the treatment of bed bugs is a complex issue that will even pest control professionals to debate which are the best control methods.  A few factors play into this:

  • Bed bugs can live on many surfaces near the bed including the bedding, nightstand, curtains and even within certain types of walls
  • Even if you kill the adults, the eggs may survive treatment and hatch to re-start the infestation
  • Bed bugs can go into a dormant stage, and re-appear months later
  • Room to room movement is very common
  • Populations can grow quickly if not kept in check

You risk growing the infestation and having to put out more money for a bigger problem. Not to mention, you spend more time suffering in the meantime.

The bottom line is this: bed bug infestations are hard to get rid of.  Let’s explore some of the common DIY ways to eliminate bed bugs and why they don’t work.

Common DIY Bed Bug Treatments

The smoke bomb is believed to be a common solution, but it doesn’t work. If it did, we wouldn’t have the infestations we do. Heating a room to a high temperature also won’t work. It may kill off some bugs that are hiding in a mattress for example, but it won’t get to the bugs that are hiding in walls. When the room returns to its normal temperature, the bugs will be back. The same goes for freezing temperatures. You can freeze individual items like luggage or pillows, but you can’t do it in your home.

Finally, there are products out there that claim to kill bed bugs, but these are risky to use. Even though bed bugs are a nuisance, they don’t carry disease. So to spray potentially harmful pesticides on your mattress and your pillows is not safe for you or your family. Also, there are chemicals that people are simply not qualified to use. Calling in a professional is your best option.

DIY Measures that Can Help

There are things you can do that will help, just be sure to leave the treatments up to a professional like Dugas Pest Control. Below are smart measures to take on your own:

–      Vacuum your mattress and box springs
–      Vacuum baseboards, walls, light switches, outlets, picture frames, etc.
–      Get your luggage treated if you travel before you bring it home
–      Remove clutter, which are hiding spots for bed bugs
–      When you throw out blankets, coats, etc., be sure to label it with “Infested With Bed Bugs.”

If you are tired of trying to deal with bed bugs on your own, call the professionals today at Dugas Pest Control in Baton Rouge to eliminate the problem once and for all.