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This customer in Rumson, NJ had a unique situation with a squirrel infesting his property. After a thorough inspection of the entire exterior of the property, we determined that the squirrel actually chewed through the PVC portion of the plumbing pipe and used that to gain access into the home! The whole purpose of the plumbing pipe is to make sure that the plumbing works properly as well as keeps methane gas out of the home.
To safely retrieve the squirrel, we installed a one-way device and temporarily enclosed the access area off with hardware cloth. We also set-up several baited devices nearby. A one-way device is designed to allow the squirrel to safely leave the area but prevent it from getting back in. A short while later, we successfully retrieved the squirrel and relocated it to a new, humane environment.
Afterward, we replaced the PVC portion of the plumbing pipe, installed a Perma-Boot, and sealed it in place with a premium, waterproof adhesive. The Perma-Boot is a gasket-less two piece pipe boot repair system that is designed to permanently repair any leak around the vent pipes.
We were sent out to the home of a new customer in Rumson, NJ to get rid of some hornets. When we arrived, we found the volleyball-sized nest right above the back door. As we got closer, we identified them as bald-faced hornets.
These nasty stinging insects are aggressive and territorial. So aggressive that if anyone or anything comes within close proximity of their nest, they will attack! What's even worse is that they can actually sense vibrations in the air and remember an invader's face!
For treatment, we injected a knockdown dusting application into the nest, waited a few moments, and then injected a knockdown aerosol application. Both of these applications quickly exterminate the bald-faced hornets. We then removed the nest, properly disposed of it, and treated the area with a residual product. This will neutralize any bald-faced hornets that return to this area as well as prevent them, and all other stinging insects, from building another nest.
A short while ago, this customer in Ocean Township, NJ, had squirrels infest the attic of his home via the gable vent. We were able to successfully and safely remove them from the home and relocate them to a new humane location. Afterward, we disinfected the entire attic.
In order to prevent any future intrusions from squirrels, as well as any other nuisance wildlife, we installed a louvered vent guard over every single one of the gable vents. This material is made out of heavy-duty Galvannealed steel, which means it won't rust, and is customized to accommodate vents of all shapes and sizes.
To keep the air quality of your home healthy, prevent damage to your attic and roof, and keep your HVAC system running cost-efficiently, it’s important to maintain an air barrier between the living space of the home and the attic. Simply put, everything works better when attic air is kept out of the house and house air is kept out of the attic. Why? Let’s start with keeping attic air where it belongs. If you’ve ever ventured into the attic, especially during the warmer months, you know that attic air can be outright nasty. It often contains dust particles and other contaminants — contaminants that can cause health problems for the home’s occupants. The less attic air that enters your home’s living spaces, the better.
Just as important, we want to keep living space air out of the attic. Living space air can can be filled with water vapor. When that air is exposed to colder attic temperatures, the vapor gas condenses into water droplets that can potentially cause roof rot and mold growth (unfortunately, mold is an all-too-common attic contaminant). Living space air naturally tries to move up into the attic, especially in the winter, because of the “stack effect.” Heated air rises and expands. As air heats up, its molecules are pushed farther away, making it lighter (that’s why hot air balloons float). The air pushes upward against the attic floor. If there is a way for the air to find its way in, it will. Air leakage into the attic stresses your HVAC system, increasing your heating and cooling bills. There are a number of possible sources of air leaks, but attic hatches are at the top of the list. More often than not, attic hatches are unsealed and have gaps that allow for unwanted air movement. There is an easy solution for this: Attic stairway covers.
The homeowner mentioned to us that he was concerned that his attic hatch was causing significant air leakage. We had the perfect product: the Hatchmaster Attic Stairway Cover. This lightweight, durable cover secures around the perimeter of the attic hatch frame. It’s made of double-bubble reflective insulation, has a 15 R-Value, and a heavy-duty zipper to open and close.
Recently, I was called out to an apartment unit in Asbury Park, NJ after the tenants had complained that mice were observed scampering about the living room. Upon arrival, I placed four RTU (“ready-to-use”) bait stations in the corners of the living room so that I could figure out where the mice were coming from based on whether and how much of the bait was taken.These bait stations fit flush against a wall or corner where mice travel and a curious mouse can’t resist entering and exploring. Once inside, the interior baffles lead them to the bait. These bait stations are the safest way to keep mouse-killing product in residential locations away from children and pets.
On my follow-up visit, I observed that two of the four stations had activity. For those two stations, the bait was pretty much gone. So, doing some more investigating for the access points into the apartment, I found a hole under the slats of a radiator behind the hot water pipe. I sealed the hole with a chew-proof copper mesh and rebated the RTUs. Once the mice hiding inside are eliminated, with their entry point closed, this troublesome mouse infestation should be completely resolved in a short amount of time.