It’s vacation season, and whether you’re traveling across the world or just to the nearest beach, there’s a chance you could bring unwanted pests back home with you. From mosquitoes to roaches to the dreaded bedbug, pests can certainly put a damper on your R&R!

Here are 3 ways to prevent bringing pests home from your travels:

• Inspect Your Surrounding – Upon arriving at your hotel, timeshare, or Airbnb, carefully looking around for signs of pests. Pay special attention to mattresses, rugs, and bedding. Signs of bed bugs include small tan sized moltings and tiny black spots on fabric.
• Keep Your Suitcase Away From Furniture – Try to keep your suitcase away from the bed, couch, and other pieces of furniture. Unpack your suitcase and store it in a non-living space like a laundry room. If you must store it nearby, tie it up in a garbage bag to prevent pests from getting inside.
• Check Your Skin – Bed bugs leave behind bits and welts. If you see signs of this on your skin, it’s a good indication that your booking has bedbugs.

Obviously you’ll want to keep pests from getting into your luggage in the first place by taking measures like storing your suitcase off the ground, booking a reputable hotel, and checking for signs of bed bugs before bringing your luggage into the room. However, sometimes even with the best prevention, you can still end up bringing home unwanted stowaways. If that happens, don’t panic! We can help you kick those uninvited guests to the curb. Request an Atlanta pest control service online or contact us at (770) 791-0055 today to get rid of Atlanta pests!

It’s National Pest Management Month, so keep an eye out for these signs of pest infestation:

• Pest Droppings – This is one of the biggest signs of pests invading your home. Rat and mice droppings and urine is the easiest to spot, but smaller pests like cockroaches and bed bugs can also leave visible waste, so be sure to examine your floors, furniture, and bedding.
• Noise – Rodents are relatively quiet, but you can often hear them at night. If you suspect you may have rodents, try putting your ear to the wall and ceilings to see if you can hear them moving around.
• Greasy Trails – Rodents often leave greasy trails or oil marks where they go. Check for trails along walls and in hard to reach areas.
• Nests – Rats and mice make nests from practically anything they can find including discarded paper and leaves. Signs of nesting under floors, in crawl spaces, or in other out-of-the-way spots is a sure sign of rodents.
• Damage – Pests can cause damage to your home and yard. Signs of damage outside include insect trails (gnawed leaves and other vegetation) or uneven grass. Rodent damage to your home includes gnaw marks and holes in your home’s structure or furniture. Rats can also chew through pipes, wires, insulation, and plastics too. Of course, termites also leave termite tunnels.
• Smell – If there are enough pests (or if pests have been in your home long enough) you may be able to detect them from the smell. A musty odor (with a distinct smell of ammonia) is a sure sign of pests.

If you have signs of pests, contact the experts at (770) 791- 0055 for professional Atlanta pest control services.

Many people only think of hiring a pest control company after struggling with the headache of a pest infestation. Unfortunately, this isn’t the best approach to proper pest control because generally an infestation is invisible to the untrained eye until it is very well established in your home or business. That’s why regular home pest control services are the best way to protect your family’s safety and your property.

DIY Doesn’t Always Work

The problem with most do-it-yourself pest control is that it often only affects a small percentage of pests, while the main infestation remains hidden away. Sure, you’re likely to see fewer pests after setting out bait or traps, but these treatments generally only treat the surface issue, leaving the main infestation intact.

Pests Damage Buildings and Property

Wood eating pests like termites and carpenter ants destroy buildings from within. Generally by the time you see signs of damage, there’s already much more extensive damage inside your walls and floors. Similarly, some pests like silverfish destroy fibers commonly found in blankets, clothing, towels, and even couches.

Pests Can Cause Health Problems

Rodents, mosquitoes, and ticks are carriers of a variety of diseases such as Hantavirus, Lyme disease, West Nile, and Zika. Cockroaches can also cause asthma, especially in children.

Don’t put your property or health on the line! Our regular Atlanta residential pest control services and commercial services cover both the interior and exterior of your building. Request a service online or contact us at (770) 791- 0055 to learn what Progressive Pest Control can do for you!

Everyone know that cockroaches are gross to look at, but did you know that they can also cause serious health issues? These health issues are especially concerning in children, who are especially susceptible to allergens.

Cockroach Allergens

Allergens are a substance that the immune system can’t process, causing an abnormal reaction in the body. Unfortunately, cockroaches contain an allergen that affects a large percentage of people. Cockroach waste, body parts, saliva, and even corpses can all trigger an allergic reaction. 

Cockroaches can cause coughing, nasal congestion, skin rashes, wheezing, ear infections, and sinus infections.

The National Pest Management Association has reported that 63% of U.S. homes contain cockroach allergens. Things are even worse in urban areas, where the number jumps to between 78% and 98%. This makes cockroaches a serious health concern.

Cockroaches and Asthma

Due to how pervasive cockroaches are in U.S. homes, cockroach allergens are a leading cause of year-round allergy issues and asthma attacks. Asthmatic children are especially susceptible to cockroach allergens. Exposure to cockroach allergens can even result in hospitalization for children with asthma.

How to Fight Cockroach Allergens

Cockroaches can be a serious health concern, especially if you have asthmatic children. Thankfully, Progressive Pest Control is here to help.

Progressive Pest Control is your number one bet for getting rid of cockroaches. Our Atlanta residential pest control services are comprehensive. We offer interior and exterior pest control to rid your home of cockroaches (as well as mites which can also be allergens).

Contact us at (770) 791- 0055 for more info about our Atlanta pest control or request service today!

It’s a skunk, it’s a dumpster, it’s … a stinkbug! If you’ve ever made the mistake of smacking one of these pests, you know how unpleasant their aroma can be. Read on for some tips to keep stink bugs out of your home, from the Northeast Atlanta pest control experts at Progressive Pest Control.

What are Stink Bugs?

According to UGA, brown marmorated stink bugs are native to Asia, but were first discovered in North America in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1998. Since then, they have rapidly spread to a total of 42 states and 2 Canadian provinces.

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

It’s always easier to prevent a pest infestation than to end one. Make sure your doors, windows, crawl spaces, and attics are all tightly sealed. Make sure your vents have screens, exterior doors are weather stripped, and use caulk on any small gaps you find.

Stink bugs don’t bite or sting, but they do stink. Avoid crushing them if do don’t want your home to reek. Instead, gently scoop them up with a dustpan and flush them. You can also vacuum them up, but if you do make sure to quickly throw out the vacuum cleaner bag to avoid the smell.

The very best way to get rid of stink bugs is by contacting us at (770) 791- 0055! Our Northeast Atlanta pest control services will get your home free of pests like stink bugs, and they will help prevent them from coming back. Request pest control service today!

As one Florida man can tell you, snakes play an important role in ecosystems, keeping the population of prey animals (many of which are pests in their own right, like rats and mice) from becoming overpopulated. However, if you find a snake in your home, you’re more likely to be quoting Indiana Jones than considering the ecological benefits of reptiles!

What Should You Do if You Find a Snake in Your Home?

First things first: Don’t panic. With these tips from your friendly Northeast Atlanta pest control experts, you’ll know what to do if you find a snake in your house:

• • Identify the snake – The very first thing you need to do is to identify the snake. How careful you need to be will be determined by the type of snake in your home. There are six venomous snakes in Georgia including Copperheads, Cottonmouths, Pigmy Rattlesnakes, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Timber rattlesnakes, and Coral snakes. (Coral snakes can be tricky to identify as their coloring is similar to non-venomous king snakes.)

• • Get the snake out. The method of trapping will be determined by whether or not you have a venomous snake. If you suspect you have a venomous snake, contact the pros at Progressive Pest for expert assistance. Non-venomous snakes can often be herded back outside.

• • Where to take it? – There’s more to relocating snakes then just tossing them in the woods. Again, you’ll want to consult the experts.
  • Identify how it entered your home – It’s not enough to simply remove the snake. You need to know how it entered and what attracted it. Check to make sure all your windows and doors have a good seal and that there are no unsealed wire or pipe conduits in your foundation. If other pests like mice or rats are nearby, this will keep attracting snakes until you get rid of mice and rats.

If you have problems with snakes (or any other pests), let us help! Protect your kids, pets, and home by giving us a call today at (770) 791-0055!

Are you buying or selling a home or business property? If so, then you need to have a clear understanding of what a Termite Clearance Letter is.

What is a Termite Clearance Letter?

Just as its name implies, a Termite Clearance Letter is provided by a licensed pest control service after a home inspection. The letter certifies where or not there is a current termite infestation, and it states whether or not a home or business shows signs of damage from a previous termite infestation.

Why do you need a Termite Clearance Letter?

A Termite Clearance Letter is often required as part of the closing of a home or business property. Depending on the contract, the responsibility of obtaining a Termite Clearance Letter may fall to either the buyer or seller. Regardless of which party is responsible for obtaining the letter, a Termite Clearance Letter is the only way for a prospective buyer to be sure whether or not a property shows signs of termite infestation. Once a Termite Clearance Letter is obtained, if termite treatments or termite repairs are necessary, the contract will state which party is responsible to paying for and scheduling them.

Basically, a Termite Clearance Letter is required to protect home buyers from buying a home or business filled with termites.

Here at Progress Pest Control, we offer home and business inspections, Termite Clearance Letters, and all of your Hoschton pest control needs. Contact us now online or call us at  (770) 791- 0055 to schedule your home inspection or termite treatment today!