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!

While the cooler fall and winter season may feel like a relief compared to our usual hot Georgia weather, the cool weather can also bring with it some unique pest control problems. During fall and winter, rodents (such as rats and mice) start seeking out warmth and finding ways into homes.

These rodents don’t just damage property, but they also bring in fleas, ticks, and diseases. Just like rodents, snakes also seek warmth during fall and winter months. Snakes frequently follow the rodents into homes, garages, crawl spaces, and basements. That’s why it’s so important to protect your home from winter rodents!

There are many signs of rodents in your home including rice-sized droppings, tracks in loose powder, teeth marks or holes in walls or baseboards, outdoor burrows in weedy areas and plants, scratching sounds coming from walls, or even a musty odor caused by rodent feces and urine.

But you shouldn’t wait until you see signs of rodents to act! It’s a lot harder to get rid of rodents than it is to prevent them from establishing themselves in your home. Our Atlanta preventative rodent control services can keep your home safe from rodents before they cause property damage or bring diseases into your home.

Our Atlanta pest control services help prevent rodents in your interior (including basements and attics) and exterior spaces such as garages, gutters, decks, porches, and the perimeter of your home. So act now to protect your home or business from fall and winter rodents. Request Atlanta pest control service online or call us at (770) 791- 0055 today

There are plenty of pests to deal with in the greater Atlanta area year round, but our relatively warm fall months can make matters worse. Seasonal pests like brown-marmorated stink bugs and kudzu bugs can invade homes and business in the fall. While these fall pests can be a pain, thankfully there are lots of simple lawn care tips to keep pests away.

1. Start by trimming trees and shrubs to keep them from touching your home or business. When plants are touching a building, they create natural pathways or bridges, giving spiders, ants, and other creepy crawlies an easier route inside. Ideally, the areas around foundation walls should be keep completely free of vegetation.
2. Eliminate dense foliage. Dense foliage can make pest control products less effective. Dense foliage also tends to trap moisture, creating environmental conditions that many pests thrive in.
3. Limit your mulch thickness. Much like dense foliage, thick mulch can trap moisture, thereby creating a fungal food source, as well as providing shelter for a variety of pests. Mulch should only be deep enough to meet the soil moisture requirements of your plants.
4. Clean your gutters. Make sure to clean your gutters of all fallen debris. Water trapped in gutters breeds bugs, which in turn attracts predators such as spiders and scorpions.
5. Eliminate outdoor food sources. Vegetative matter (such as yard clippings), birdseed, and garbage cans without a tight seal can all lead to an infestations. Make sure yard clippings are properly composted or disposed of, and that all outdoor garbage is in a tightly sealed container, stored well away from building entrances such as doors and windows.

Unfortunately, even with these lawn care tips to control pests, there’s no way to completely pest-proof your home and lawn against all of the potential pests that call Georgia home. If you find yourself with unwanted visitors, it’s time to contact a Northeast Atlanta pest control service you can trust. Call Progressive Pest Control at (770) 791- 0055 for all of your pest control needs!

Buying a new home is exciting, but it’s also a very complicated process. There are so many important home inspections that it can be easy to overlook something vital. Before you close on your new home, make sure to check off everything on your new home inspection list. Here are a few key areas that are important to remember:

Plumbing

Make sure all visible pipes are free of damage and leaks. Also check for water stains around all the pipes as this could be a sign of leakage. And don’t forget to make sure to check the water heater for signs of rust. The water heater also needs to be properly vented and appropriately sized for your new home.

Electrical

Check that all visible wiring is in good condition and that all cables are secured and properly protected. You also need to make sure that all cables are properly attached to the service panel. Make sure the service panel has the appropriate capacity so that your breakers don’t overheat.

Wood Infestation Inspection Report

Despite the fact that Georgia has the highest saturation of termites in the country, a Wood Infestation Inspection Report is not legally required before closing on a home. However, skipping this step could cost you thousands of dollars in termite repair costs!

Make sure your new home is termite free by contacting us at (770) 791- 0055 for a new home termite inspection. At Progressive Pest Control, we can help give you peace of mind before you buy your next Northeast Atlanta home!