No matter how superb your food is, the quality of your service, or the beautiful ambiance, nothing can tear down a successful restaurant faster than a pest problem. 

Common pests are unhygienic and dangerous as many of them carry harmful diseases that could infiltrate your food, and make your patrons ill. In this case, you’re not only facing a doomed reputation, but you could have a potential lawsuit on your hands. 

Pests in restaurants are common, but it’s important to call in restaurant pest control if you can’t keep them at bay. Here are the common culprits and where they tend to hide… 

1. The Common Cockroach 

Is there anywhere that a cockroach cannot infiltrate? The short answer is no. They’re the type of bug that shows up just about everywhere, no matter how clean your home or business is. 

The bad news is that cockroaches carry a ton of bacteria that could spread throughout your restaurant kitchen. They’re also capable of triggering certain allergens and allergies among your patrons. They are a tricky pest to locate because of how swift, sneaky, and quiet they are. 

They’re also capable of building large families in a small amount of time, leaving you with an infestation before you know it. You need to hire a professional who has the knowledge and tools to locate these creepy critters and take care of an infestation. This way you can prevent them from returning and regulate your kitchen/restaurant hygiene for the long term. 

2. Rodents (Rats and Mice) 

They may not be as common as cockroaches, but rodents pose a big problem when they’ve infiltrated your restaurant and its kitchen. Not only can they get into your stock and demolish it within days, but they can also spread very harmful bacteria throughout your facility, too. 

Rodents are also capable of damaging your packaging, products, equipment, wiring, and other structures. This usually happens through constant gnawing and chewing. Their droppings harbor bacteria and diseases that can make your patrons very ill. 

Fortunately, rodents are much easier to locate so you have a better chance of avoiding an infestation if you call in a pest expert as soon as you notice them!

3. Flies

There are tricky pests to try and control because they’re able to sneak into your premises through open doors, windows, openings, vents, and other cracks and crevices. They’re an annoying pest that tends to carry bacteria that could easily spread throughout your kitchen and restaurant. 

What’s more, they’re also difficult to control in warmer climates, especially during the summer months. However, there are plenty of ways and means to control flies in your restaurant — you just need the help of a local pest expert.    

4. Flying/Stinging Pests 

Similar to flies, these types of pests are difficult to control, especially if your restaurant offers an alfresco dining area. Stinging pests pose a real problem to certain patrons who also might have an allergic reaction to their stings. This tends to up the stakes even more in terms of liability as a restaurant owner.

Such pests might include wasps, hornets, bees, etc. They’re capable of building large nests that can become very tricky to remove once they’re big enough. 

5. Product Pests 

These types of critters are so named because they tend to creep, crawl, and breed inside all your stored products. This includes pantry staples such as rice, flour, cereals, beans, nuts, barley, etc. Again, this poses a huge risk to the health of your patrons and your reputation if you’re serving these cooked products with insects inside them! 

Product pests are also difficult to control as they breed quickly and can contaminate large amounts of product with their eggs and larvae. 

6. Ants

This list of common restaurant pests would not be complete without mentioning ants. Although, ants are a common problem in many residential and commercial environments — just like cockroaches. 

There is a huge range of ant species, each with its own characteristics. They’re all capable of causing damage to your kitchen, your stock, and your reputation. They breed extremely fast and are difficult to control. As soon as you notice an ant issue, call in a pest expert right away who can help you locate the colony, and set up appropriate control. 

So, with all of the above in mind, where do all of these sneaky pests tend to hide and breed? Here are some of the most common areas: 

• Exterior surroundings outside your restaurant that tend to gather dirt, debris, clutter, and stagnant water 
• Your roof — ceiling cavities can gather dirt, grime, and dust and become a hot spot for insect breeding grounds 
• False ceilings — hanging ceilings create the perfect gap between your roof and the false ceiling that harbors pests such as rodents, cockroaches, and flies 
• Air ducting — your HVAC system is also a hot spot for insect breeding grounds, especially if you neglect to clean and maintain these areas 
• Drainage areas — it goes without saying that commercial drains get dirty, fast. If you don’t clean them on a regular basis, they’ll attract just about every pest in the book 
• Gas stoves — this piece of equipment features plenty of small nooks and crevices that also accumulate grease and grime at a rate of knots. This makes a perfect environment for insects like cockroaches and ants 
• Incoming stock — remember that you cannot count on the cleanliness of your suppliers and their delivery vehicles. Your supplies could harbor plenty of unwanted pests 

At the end of the day, the best thing you can do to protect your business is to keep things as clean and hygienic as possible. Never wait to see if an insect issue will resolve itself. Nine times out of ten, it won’t. It might only get worse!  

Need Help Getting Rid of Common Pests? 

If you’re a restaurant owner and believe you could have a pest problem, Amco Ranger is here to find the source of your issue with these common pests, and take care of it once and for all. 

As your local pest experts, we have in-depth experience in both residential and commercial settings. Interested in a free quote? Get in touch with us today. 

Did you know that over 14 million American households reported seeing roaches in the past year? Another 14.8 million reported rodents! Adequate pest prevention and control can prevent this from happening to you. 

Do you know how to prevent and control pests in your home? We’re here to offer a few helpful pest control tips so you can keep your home free of invaders. Read on to learn more.

1. Make Pest Prevention Part of Your Cleaning and Maintenance Routine

One of our best pieces of pest control advice is to make sure that you’re including pest prevention in your normal cleaning and maintenance routines. This doesn’t have to mean that you spend hours searching every nook and cranny for a potential intruder, but even just taking a cursory glance around areas where pests may want to gather can make a huge difference.

When you’re cleaning under the sink, look for signs of pests. While you’re doing your yard work for the spring, make sure that there aren’t any unusual cracks in your foundation or walls. 

If you spot even a single pest, make sure that you get rid of it right away so the problem doesn’t get worse.

Checking your home often while you’re also taking care of other tasks will ensure that no creepy crawlies go unnoticed. 

2. Leave Your Kitchen Free of Organic Waste

Conventional kitchen cleaning wisdom says “clean as you go,” but anyone who cooks all of their meals at home knows that it’s not always that easy. Sometimes dishes end up in the sink or dishwasher for a few days before they get cleaned. It happens!

Do your best to get rid of organic waste (in this case, food) before you set your dishes aside for future cleaning. Throw any scraps into the trash, compost bin, or garbage disposal. 

Make sure that your trash can has a tight cover on it. Bugs will still try to get into garbage cans to investigate any rotting food. Those banana peels that you threw away might turn into a serious problem!

Kitchens are hotbeds for pests, so protect yours!

3. Check for Potential Entry Points

Have you noticed that there are a few ants or spiders hanging out in your home? Where are they coming from? 

There are plenty of hidden entry points from which pests can emerge. There may be gaps between your windows and walls, small holes in your foundation, or unsealed doors. 

You may even have a hole in your attic or basement that’s attracting those unpleasant roommates. 

Look for those entry points and block them so nothing else can find its way into your home. 

4. Keep Doors and Windows Closed When Possible

This is a tough one. It’s always in your best interest to keep your doors and windows closed all day long. If the door or window is open, you’re inviting pests to come inside!

During the winter, this is easy. Of course, you’re going to close your windows so you don’t let the warm air out. During the warmer months, however, it’s not so simple.

If you must open your windows, get a fine mesh screen to put over them. This way, only the smallest of bugs can get in (and it will take more effort for them to do so). You can also put a screen door in front of your normal door so you can keep that open as well.

If you want to fully open your doors or windows for your pets or for easy access during a garden gathering, take a close look around your home when it’s time to close them again so you can spot and remove any invaders. 

5. Check Items When You Bring Them Home

Do you love secondhand shopping? Make sure that you give your new (to you) items a close look before you bring them inside. They might be carrying annoying pests. 

This is also true for produce. Yes, you want to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, but it’s possible that those fruits and vegetables will come bearing some unwanted guests.

It’s not uncommon for summer produce to gather bugs. While many of them won’t spread through your home, fruit flies will. They can get into the rest of your produce.

Wash your produce and look for any mysterious spots to mitigate the problem. 

6. Check Your Pets Before They Come Inside

Speaking of checking things before you bring them home, give your pets a once-over before you let them in from outdoor playtime or even a walk. Pets can attract and carry bugs into your home.

If your dogs or cats go outside, it’s also a good idea to use flea and tick treatment on them. This way, they’re less likely to bring in any new guests. 

7. Hire a Pest Control Company

If you’re still worried about pests getting into your home, hire a pest control company for regular maintenance. Any good pest control company can do a quick sweep of your home, point out potential pest risks, and treat your home to decrease the chance of pests.

They can also give you advice about how to handle common pests around the home if they turn up. 

Many people think that hiring a pest control company is only for serious pet emergencies and infestations, but this isn’t true. They’re also great for pest prevention. 

Try These Helpful Pest Control Tips

These pest control tips can help keep your home free of pesky unwanted roommates. Keep your kitchen clean, check your pets and purchases, avoid creating new entry points, and hire a pest control company for maintenance and advice, even if you don’t need to get rid of pests right away.

Are you looking for a new local pest control company for your home in St. Louis? Contact Amco Ranger for a quote today!

Every year, termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage to residential structures. If you suspect you have termites in your home, it’s important to research termite control companies and get rid of any infestation.

However, when you’re researching companies, you might be wondering which the best one to choose is.

Here’s everything you should consider when looking for effective termite control.

Ask Friends and Family

The first thing you should do is ask friends and family if they’ve ever had to deal with a termite infestation. They might have used a company in the past that they can recommend and assure you does good work — or they might have a suggestion of who to avoid!

Asking for the names of termite control services will give you a good starting point. You can then research from there.

Read Reviews

97% of consumers use the online space to find new products and services. One of the major advantages of this is that it’s easy for them to leave a review afterward — and there should be a plethora for you to read through. 

Reading reviews will give you a great overview of pest control services and how good they are. They should have a good overall rating, but it’s also a good idea to dive further into the reviews.

Read the five-star reviews and see if they seem well deserved. Read the one-star reviews, see what went wrong, and how the company responded.

It’ll all add up to paint a big picture of the company!

Check Out the Website

While web design is an industry pretty far away from pest control, looking at the website can give you a good picture of the company. It should be clean, legible, and have all of the information that you need readily accessible (such as services and contact information).

It may also have information about consultations. Some companies will offer free, no-obligation consultations so you can make an informed decision about whether or not you’d like to proceed.

Check License and Insurance

Before proceeding with any pest control service, make sure they’re licensed and insured.

This is vital for two reasons.

The first is that it means they’re qualified to do what they do and have proven experience. The second is that insurance will cover you if anything goes wrong.

Hopefully, nothing will, but if something is damaged in your house, you’re definitely going to want to use it!

Ask Them Questions

It’s absolutely vital to ask any company questions. If you’re going to use their services, you want to be sure they’re the right company for you and that you trust them enough to invite them into your home.

Examples of some questions are:

• How much experience do you have?
• How do you background check your employees?
• How often have you worked against termites, specifically?
• What’s the best way to reach you?

The last one is vital because if you need to get in touch with them, you want to do so quickly. Some companies prefer you call to get in touch with them right away, and others are often busy and prefer you send them a message.

Neither is the wrong way to do things, but it does depend on personal style and you’ll want to be aware of it when moving ahead.

Ask About Their Schedule

If you have a termite infestation, you’ll want termite control there as soon as possible. Therefore, you should make sure they have quick availability.

It’s not just that though. You might need them specifically to come on a day when you can get the pets out of the house, or when the kids have school. You might only have one day off work.

If you have specific scheduling needs, make sure they can accommodate them before committing to a company.

Ask For the Quote

The quote is one of the most important parts of deciding on a company. You can even get quotes from a few different companies and make a decision from there.

Despite the importance of the quote, it’s vital not to automatically go with the cheapest option. The cheapest company may be that way because they don’t have much experience, or have had a series of bad reviews and are desperate for business.

While it’s important to make sure it’s within your budget, consider all of the factors together before you commit to a company. The quote is just part of it.

Ask How to Prepare the House

The last thing you should do is ask if there’s anything you need to do before the company would arrive to get rid of the termites. 

A good example of this is getting pets out of the house. During pest control services, pets and humans both often need to leave the house. This is fine if it’s just a case of taking Fido to doggy daycare, but can prove a little more challenging with cats!

It’s always good to plan ahead.

Choose Between Termite Control Companies Carefully

As with any service, not all termite control companies are created equal. Some have more experience than others, better or worse reviews, and higher or lower pricing.

You should consider all of these factors together when making a decision. At the end of the day, though, go with your instinct. If a company makes you feel more comfortable and gives you more faith in them than the others, it’s likely the right one for you. 

For a free, no-obligation quote in Cottleville, MO from a trusted company, check us out today.

Moving into a new home can be one of the most exciting milestones in life, especially if it’s your first time buying one. You’re starting a new chapter of your life, and you will remember the earliest moments in your home forever.

However, if you’re a homeowner, there is a very high chance that at some point, you will encounter a pest control issue of some sort. Why let something so easily preventable interfere with your excitement as you start your new journey? 

Getting a pest control inspection as a new homeowner is essential and so simple to do. You’ll likely end up saving yourself from spending extra money and from having added stress and anxiety. 

We’re going to discuss all of the reasons why you should get a pest control inspection as soon as possible as a new homeowner. Read on to learn more and plan your inspection today. 

Early Intervention

The earlier you have a pest control inspection done in your home, the easier it will be to solve any issues that come up. Think of it as an early intervention. 

If you’re doing this as a precautionary measure to keep you, your family, and your home safe, it might be less likely you will see issues in the future. 

Pests tend to multiply very quickly, which is another reason why an early inspection can be helpful. If you get your home examined early on in your moving process and your inspectors discover something, it will be much easier to take care of. 

The team inspecting your home will know what to do to keep you and your family safe and prevent other pests from entering the home. 

If your home gets inspected earlier on, the pests also will not be able to get very far. Over time, pests can end up inside walls and ceilings and other unwanted spots where they can be very difficult to reach. 

The best possible time to get your home inspected is before you even begin moving in. Pests are even easier to find and capture when the home is empty and they don’t have many places to hide. 

Protect Your Health

Having pests in your home without knowing can pose some serious health risks that can even be fatal. Disease vectors include insects such as mosquitoes or rodents which can carry diseases such as rabies or Lyme disease into the home. 

Asthma and allergies also may worsen if there are pests in the home. Additionally, there is a risk of rodents or other pests leaving behind droppings in or near food which can be extremely harmful to everyone in the household. 

Aside from physical health risks, having pests can take a large toll on your mental health as well. The constant stress and worrying about the unknown can certainly interfere with daily functioning. 

After all, we all know the significant impact that mental health has on our physical health. It is utterly important to protect both, especially in such an overwhelming time of change during your move. 

Protect Your Home From Unwanted Damage

Not only can pests cause health issues to you and your family members, but they also can cause damage to your home if they aren’t taken care of quickly. 

Termites and other insect pests consistently feed on wood and can do serious damage to things such as cabinets, dressers, and drawers. Rodents like rats and mice have sharp teeth that can chew through electrical wires, causing an extreme fire hazard for the home. 

Other types of pests can also damage your clothing by chewing through the fabric, leaving you with just another thing to replace. 

Contacting a rodent control or termite control service near you to complete an inspection will truly go a long way. You’ll feel much better knowing your home is better protected from these unwanted guests. 

Save Your Money

For obvious reasons, getting a pest control inspection can save you lots of money when it’s time to move into your new home. You can effectively decrease the number of items you would have to replace due to damage from pests. 

However, it’s also important to consider your homeowners’ insurance. Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not cover repairing damage from pests.

Staying on top of your inspections and taking action at the first signs of a problem can help prevent damage from getting so severe that you simply can’t do anything about it anymore. 

If You Have an Older Home

Although pests can enter any home, older houses are much more likely to have persistent pest control issues than newly built homes. 

If you can feel a draft through a door or window in your home, this may be a sign that pests can enter through that opening.

These older homes also may often have worn-down construction with holes or cracks in doors or walls, making for easy access for the pests. But if you do have an older home, no need to fear. 

Pest control services can repair these openings to block any more pests from entering and often get the job done in mild cases of pest problems. 

Another risk factor for older homes is leaks and clogged gutters around the house. The pests will be drawn to the water and might even feed on any mold or fungi growing from the water damage. 

Routine maintenance on these basic areas of the home is also helpful in preventing future issues.

Contact a Pest Control Service Today

Pest control issues are one of the most dreaded encounters for any homeowner, but you don’t have to take it on alone. 

Getting a pest control inspection as a new homeowner will save you so much stress, damage, money, and it might even save your life. It’s such a simple action you can do that will make all the difference for the future of your home. 

If you’re looking for pest control in St. Louis, we’re happy to help at Amco Ranger. Contact us today to set up your home inspection. 

Do you think you might have a pest problem in your home? Or maybe you’re moving into a new house and want to verify that it’s pest-free before you move in?

Regardless, there are countless reasons to get in a pest control inspection, even if you have no reason to suspect you have pests. For one, Amco Ranger offers free pest inspections to Missouri homeowners.  What do you have to lose?

However, there are other, more important reasons to check your home for pests. Pests can damage your home and even pose a risk to your health. Keep reading for the top six reasons you should get a pest inspection today.

1. You’ve Spotted Pests or Signs of Pests

One of the most obvious reasons to hire a professional pest controller is if you see a pest or have found signs of them in your home. For example, if you see a mouse scurry across your garage or up in your attic, you can bet that there are more hiding where you can’t see them. 

It’s very rare that a mouse or any other type of pest is living in your home alone. In most cases, they have a den or nest hiding somewhere nearby. 

Various signs of pests you should watch out for include:

• Pest sightings
• Pest droppings
• Damage to your home and property 
• Holes in your wall 
• Evidence of nests or nesting
• Grease marks along baseboards
• And more

It’s vital to act immediately if you see any of these signs. The longer you allow pests to live in your home, the worse your problem will become. A pest control inspection will identify the extent of your problem so you can decide what to do moving forward. 

2. Pests Multiple Quickly

As noted above, immediate action is required if you see signs of pests. You might be wondering why that is. 

To put things into perspective, let’s take a look at how quickly rodents multiply. Did you know a female rat can have six litters of rat pups a year? Each of these litters, by the way, can contain upwards of 12 pups. 

Therefore, one female rate can produce up to 72 pups in your home in one year. However, rodents become sexually mature in as little as four weeks. That means more male and female rodents reproducing in your home at terrifying rates. 

The long math here suggests that two rats can grow into 1,250 rats in a single year. In a home, that is beyond an infestation. A quick and free pest control inspection can find the root of your rodent problem so you can snub it out before it ever gets to this point. 

3. Pests Can Cause a Lot of Damage

Why are pests so bad? If you can get past the initial shock of seeing bugs or rodents in your home, what’s the big deal?

First, most homeowners can’t get comfortable with the idea of sharing their homes with unwanted guests, nor should they. Secondly, and more importantly, pests can do a lot of damage to your property. 

For example, did you know termites feed 24 hours a day? Did you also know that termite damage costs homeowners nearly $5 billion each year in the US alone?

However, termites aren’t the only destructive pests. Rodents can chew up walls, as well as personal belongings. This includes everything in your storage area, like clothes, photo albums, and other important possessions. 

4. Maximize Your Health and Safety

One of the most important reasons to get a pest control inspection is to protect the health and safety of your family. Rodents are well-known for carrying the Hantavirus. This infectious virus can be spread through rodent urine, feces, and saliva.

It can be inhaled while cleaning up droppings or contracted by being bit by a rodent. Early symptoms of Hantavirus in humans include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. However, these symptoms can escalate to shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and even death. 

Other pests, like the brown recluse spider that is common in the south, can be dangerous as well. While their bites aren’t known to be fatal, they can cause a lot of damage to the skin, as well as severe pain and discomfort. 

5. Maintain the Value of Your Home

Professional pest control inspections are important for people who want to maintain the value and quality of their homes. We’ve already discussed how pests can destroy your home, but now we’ll take a look at how that can affect you in the long run. 

Termite damages to structural supports speak for themselves. However, rodent urine and feces can destroy walls and flooring. 

Ultimately these things will lower the market value of your home. When you go to sell your home, refinance, or take out a HELOC, you might be met with disappointment. 

Furthermore, the existence of pests will make it impossible to find an interested buyer. You’ll be hard-pressed to sell your home to someone who’s okay sharing it with bugs or rodents. Just as importantly, there aren’t any lenders out there who will approve funding for homes inhabited by pests. 

6. Pest Remediation is Not Covered By Homeowners Insurance 

Some of us fall into the bad habit of saying, “oh well, insurance will cover it,” when something bad happens to our homes. In truth, insurance does cover a wide range of issues, such as hail damage, fire damage, flood damage (if you have flood insurance), and more. 

However, it might surprise you to learn that professional pest solutions and home repairs based on pest damages are not covered by most homeowners’ insurance policies. The reason is that pest control falls under home maintenance issues. 

Therefore, getting regular pest control inspections can help you identify pest problems in their early stages before damages can occur. This will significantly reduce how much money you need to spend on pest remediation and repairs. 

Ready to Get a Pest Control Inspection?

Clearly, there are a lot of good reasons to have your home checked for pests, and this article doesn’t even cover all of them. If you want to protect your home, your family, and your finances, get a pest control inspection today. It can help you prevent future damages and expenses down the road. 

Contact us today to schedule your free inspection. And if we find anything disconcerting, we’ll talk to you about your options. We take pride in helping homeowners like you establish pest-free homes.