Getting to Know Termites
Highly destructive to property, the prevention and containment of termites is an important factor for consideration by any homeowner. At a high level the property owner should know the signs of infestation, be familiar with the various species and have a fairly good idea on the best termite control program for each type.
Know Your Enemy
Termites are winged ant-like insects that live in colonies. Considered as social insects, a colony may range from a few hundreds to several million members. Certain kinds require a moist environment and there are species that may or may not thrive in the soil. Of the various kinds of termites, the three types that are prevalent in the Southern California area are the Drywood, Dampwood and Subterranean species.
Sleeping with the Enemy
Are there undesired guests in your house? These invaders usually come in stealth so it is common for the damage to go unnoticed until it is in the advanced stages. As termites feed on wood and paper, the common areas affected are wooden walls and floors, as well as furniture. Thinning or darkening of the wood is an indication that the colony has started its work, while evidence of tunneling is proof that the pests have been at it for a while. These tunnels or mud holes may extend from the ground to the structure. Other indicators are unusual waves or slits on the wood.
Confronting the Enemy
As the adage says, prevention is better than cure. Soil and wood treatments should be part of the plan before construction. Once the structure is up, regular monthly inspections of frequently affected areas like windowsills, doorframes and similar wooden fixtures will keep unpleasant surprises at bay. Ifyou are purchasing an existing infrastructure, it is also prudent to include a termite inspection in the to-do list. However once the damage has been done, a termite problem is best left to the care of professionals.
Although there are do-it-yourself products in the market to address this type of problem, it is better to leave the colony untouched. Contact a pest control expert to handle the situation but be cautious though, of securing cheap providers as they may not provide quality or effective service. One effective and popular treatment is Termidor termite treatment
The problem management will depend on the species that have invaded your territory. Generally the ways to kill termites are liquid treatments that are sprayed, borate treatments that are applied, termite baits and fumigation. There should also be regular inspections afterwards either quarterly or bi-annually to keep the pests from coming back.
Two Best Pool Cover Pumps: Rule and the Little Giant
There are two swimming pool cover pumps that rule the market today; Rule and Little Giant pool cover pumps. There are many other companies to choose from but these two are the most popular. Do you wonder what makes these pool cover pumps very well-liked? Let’s take some time and review these products to find out what characteristics these items have that make them appealing to the customers.
The 1800 HP53SP is the Rule Company’s most popular pool cover pump. This removes 1800 gallons of water per hour, making it a desirable pump for homeowners with swimming pool. There’s no need to wait longer for the pump to work, you can have fun playing at the pool in just few minutes. Also, the pump has an automatic shut off before the device freezes. This helps prevent any damage that the unit could have when it freezes. The Rule pool cover pump doesn’t only offer a great performance, but the device itself takes its part in having a long life through the automatic shut off.
The Rule company customer service is very aware of the Rule pool cover pumps. If there is any trouble with the unit you have purchased from them, the customer service can help you with it. Also, their pool cover pumps have warranties, and the 1800 model has a warranty of 3 years.
The other most popular brand of swimming pool cover pumps is the Little Giant. The Little Giant has several models of pumps. And because of this, the customers find the pumps attractive. They have a basic manual pump and the automatic type of pool cover pump like the PCP 550 model. The PCP 550 by the Little Giant can pump 550 gallons of water per hour.
Even if the PCP 550 doesn’t work as quickly as the other models of cover pumps; the machine still has a good performance. But if you want the faster pump and an automatic type, you can opt for the 5-MSP by Little Giant. The 5-MSP pumps 1200 gallons of water per hour, and the unit only stops when the water level reaches 1/8 inch.
Exterior Gutter Cleaning
When people talk about gutter cleaning they are almost always talking about cleaning out clogs from inside the gutter system or cleaning the inside that gets mucked up with mold and mildew with a brush. However, you also need to consider cleaning the outside of a gutter system. The outside is what people see from the curb and it is important that it remain clean and not bring attention to itself. If a gutter system is working properly and clean then it shouldn’t be something that people notice when they look at the house. Instead, it should blend in.
The best way to go about cleaning front of gutter is to use a power washer. Using a plain garden hose will probably not give you enough power to get all the dirt and grime off. The only problem with using a power washer is that the stream will most likely not be able to reach the gutter system from the ground. You will need to climb a ladder in order to reach. The best set up would be a power washer with a long cord between the machine and the wand. You can climb the ladder with the wand and clean your gutter from closer. If the power washer does not work, then you might have to scrub the gutter pieces as well. Use a commercial grade cleaner and a scrub brush.
Do not forget the downspouts. They can also get dirty and you need to clean the outsides of these pieces as well. At the very bottom, sometimes you can see into the last section of downspout as it turns away from the house. One way to avoid this unsightly scene is to bury downspout parts underground. Not only can you avoid seeing the dirty gutter water come out of the system, but you can redirect that water to use in irrigation or directly to a storm drain.