Insulation to Treat Your Pests

a close up of a pair of hands holding a handful of TAP insulation

Insulation to Treat Your Pests

Treating pests in St. Louis can be a constant battle. Keeping track of everything you need to do and maintain in order to deter bugs and rodents from your property can be overwhelming – and even more frustrating when you consider that you can do everything right and still wind up with an infestation. 

You know that you can trust the team at Blue Chip Pest Services to treat any infestation that may strike your St. Louis home. But wouldn’t you rather not have to call for treatment in the first place? There are “treated” insulation options that claim to act as a replacement for traditional pesticides, but what exactly does that mean? Does pest-treated insulation really work?

What is Treated Insulation?

If you’ve been looking into insulation, you may already be familiar with insulation treated with EPA-registered pesticides. They say this additional chemical component works to kill and deter a variety of pests and “protect” the home. But does it really? 

The harsh reality of treated insulation is that, while they function as passable insulators, they can only protect the insulation itself from pest damage. If you want to keep infestations from affecting your home and the people that need it, you’ll need something far more comprehensive. 

What is TAP Insulation?®

TAP, or Thermal Acoustic Pest Control Insulation, is a loose-fill, blown-in insulation made up of primarily recycled cellulose. Unlike treated insulation, TAP is not infused with any sort of inorganic solution. Instead, the individual pieces of cellulose are coated with Borate. Many pests, when they come into contact with this mineral, ingest it and cannot pass it, resulting in an eventual death from malnutrition or dehydration. 

This pest-killing insulation kills many of the major insect pests in St. Louis, from creatures as small as Formosan termites to those as large as roaches and slugs. With TAP, you can effectively kill infestations before they even have a chance to form, all without you having to lift a finger.

Benefits of TAP Insulation

Killing pests is only one benefit of installing TAP Pest Control Insulation. When installed correctly, TAP can last and remain effective almost indefinitely. As long as you monitor the moisture in your household, you’ll never need to worry about replacing your insulation. And even speaking outside the scope of pest control, TAP still acts as a quality insulator. It has a taller R-value than fiberglass, and it’s mold and heat resistant. It can even dampen sound flow, leaving your home energy-efficient and far more comfortable.  

Only those with the right training and certification can install TAP Insulation, which gives it a higher bar of quality compared to competitors. And if you’re a homeowner in St. Louis looking for TAP Pest Control Insulation, the best provider in the area is the team at Blue Chip Pest Services. 

Blue Chip Pest Services For Pest Control Insulation

Since we first opened our doors in 1971, we’ve been working to build a team that values thorough and ongoing training. We work to be the most qualified in the area at the things we do best – not only TAP Insulation, but all manner of pest control for homes and businesses across St. Louis. We can make moves to drastically improve the quality of life for you and anyone with whom you share a home. You don’t have to choose between pest protection and quality insulation. Let Blue Chip Pest Services install TAP insulation today and leave you with tangible peace of mind. Contact us today to get started.

How to Keep Pests Out During the Holidays

A cockroach in St. Louis MO - Blue Chip Pest Services

As we get closer to the holiday season and all its festivities, it’s important to remember how easily pest infestations get started around this time. With all of the gatherings of people, gifts coming to and fro, and decorations making annual appearances, there are plenty of opportunities for pests to spread around. If you’re wondering how you can prevent pests in St. Louis MO this winter, read on. Our technicians at Blue Chip Pest Services are here to teach you about how infestations usually start during the holiday season and what you can do to prevent them.

How Do Pests Spread During the Holidays?

You might be wondering, what do pests have to do with the holiday season? There are actually novel opportunities for pest infestations to start during the holidays—here are some of the main ways that pest infestations start during this season: 

  • Coming out of storage: Lots of people like to decorate their homes with decor that doesn’t see the light of day for most of the year. Stowing away your decorations leaves pests with the opportunity to make homes in your boxes.
  • Arriving in packages: Sometimes, during the shipping process, some packages can become infested with pests. Cockroaches and pantry pests are some of the top offenders of this type of infestation.
  • Living in plants: The holidays are associated with wreaths, garlands, and trees, all of which can serve as hiding places for pests.

3 Tips to Prevent Holiday Season Pests

You have to be extra careful not to let pests take over your home during the holiday season. These are the three main ways we recommend you take precautions against pests during the holidays: 

  1. Shake out your trees and greenery before setting them up in their places for the holidays. You might find that some unwanted guests fall out. 
  2. Check your decorations and the boxes that they’re stored in for bite marks, pest droppings, and other damage. It could be a sign that pests are inside.
  3. Make sure that your firewood isn’t infested before bringing it inside. Ideally, you should store your firewood outside, away from the house, and off of the ground.

Holiday Season Pest Control in St. Louis MO

Whether you’ve had pest problems recurringly in your holiday history or you’re looking to get a head start on prevention, the technicians at Blue Chip Pest Services have you covered. We understand the needs and particular problems that St. Louis residents have and conduct holistic pest control services to combat them. We can inspect your home and storage spaces to discover any active pest populations or vulnerabilities and apply pertinent pest control products or techniques to defend your home. Don’t let pests spoil your holiday season—contact our team today for a free quote!

Why Are There Bugs in My Bathroom?

Spiders are a common bathroom bug in St. Louis - Blue Chip Pest Control

The last thing you want to see when you’re in the shower or brushing your teeth is a cockroach scuttling across the tiled floor nearby. Unfortunately, all sorts of bugs are attracted to bathrooms! Many types of pests are drawn to bathrooms for a variety of reasons: humidity, moisture, and—best of all—plenty of hiding spaces. To avoid the discovery of creepy, crawling insects in the comfort of your own bathroom, it’s important to know not only how to identify these common bugs, but also how to get rid of them for good. The experts at Blue Chip Pest Services are here to help—keep reading to learn all about common bathroom bugs in your St. Louis MO home.

Why Does My Bathroom Have Pests?

Bugs and pests of all kinds are drawn to bathrooms mostly due to the moisture. Many insects are drawn toward humid, moist environments—so what better place than a steamy bathroom? Leaky pipes, showers, and sinks provide precisely the environment many pests require to survive and reproduce. Your bathroom can also provide insects with plenty of food options. Humid, even moldy areas provide sustenance for some pests. Lastly, a dark bathroom can provide ample shelter for many insects and pests. Whether they’re dwelling in your cupboards or beneath your sink, there could be more bugs hiding in your bathroom than you’d think.

Common Bathroom Insects

No one wants to share their bathroom with insects. Unfortunately, your bathroom is likely a haven for insect problems! The most common pest problems in bathrooms include the following insects.

  1. Silverfish. These nocturnal insects are typically found around sewers or drains, and prefer to feed on mildew and mold.
  2. Ants. A small ant problem can quickly turn into a large one if ants have found a source of food or water in your bathroom.
  3. Cockroaches. Roaches love filth and feed on sewer and drain sludge. They easily get into your bathroom through plumbing fixtures.
  4. Centipedes. These long, spindly insects feed on other small insects that are common in bathrooms, and love a humid environment.
  5. Drain Flies. True to name, drain flies are found around drains. They often appear when there is a plumbing problem in the main sewer line.
  6. Spiders. As predators, spiders like to prey on the smaller insects often found in your bathroom areas.

How to Get Rid of Bathroom Bugs

If you want to prevent bathroom pests, you need to ensure your bathroom is less suited for their dwelling! Always ensure you do not have any leaky pipes or plumbing issues that are contributing to the humid, moist environment. Consider using a dehumidifier from time to time to aid in this process. Lastly, clean your bathroom on a regular basis! Reduce any clutter in your drawers and cupboards, and make sure to prevent any mold or mildew.

If you’ve done all you can to prevent bathroom bugs but are still dealing with roaches, ants, or another pest, it’s time to call an expert. At Blue Chip, we can help get rid of bathroom bugs in your home for good. Contact us today to get started!

Spring Allergies: Cockroaches & Rodents

Rodents may trigger allergies. Learn more with Blue Chip Pest Services in St. Louis MO

Most people associate rodents and cockroaches with food contamination but did you know that these pests also serve as sources for allergens? That’s right. Allergen proteins have been found in the saliva, droppings, and decomposed bodies of cockroaches. They’ve also been known to appear in the hair and droppings of rodents. The allergen proteins found in these pests are known to aggravate symptoms, affect breathing and cause itchiness.
 
With spring allergy season underway here in St. Louis, it’s important to be aware of the potential pest allergens in your environment. The experts at Blue Chip Pest Services are here to share all you need to know about spring allergies and pests.

Pests & Seasonal Allergies

Over the past few decades, research has shown that certain types of pests may trigger allergies in people. The main culprit? The cockroach! Roach droppings, saliva, shed skin, and other parts contain allergen proteins. When you have a cockroach problem in your home or business, those allergens can contribute to allergic reactions and trigger asthma symptoms, particularly in children!

Along with cockroaches, rodent activity can be linked to triggering allergies. Saliva, skin, and urine from rats or mice have been known to cause allergy symptoms for many people, especially children. Dealing with a rodent infestation in your home can lead to an increased risk of suffering from a number of allergy symptoms: runny nose, itchy eyes, and more.

Tips to Prevent Pest Allergens

To prevent pest allergens, you need to prevent pests altogether! Simple pest prevention methods can work to reduce the number of pest allergens in your home. The top ways to reduce these pests, as well as their allergens, include: doing this and that

  1. Keeping all food sealed in airtight containers.
  2. Regularly take out the garbage.
  3. Clean up all crumbs in the kitchen.
  4. Store boxes off the floor and on proper shelving.
  5. Vacuum on a regular basis.
  6. Wipe down kitchen counters daily.
  7. Clean out pet food bowls regularly.

 

Spring Pest Prevention Services

Pest infestations can be hazardous for a number of reasons. If you want to avoid the many dangers of pests year-round, allergies included, it’s best to team up with your local exterminators. At Blue Chip Pest Services, we are dedicated to keeping our communities pest-free and families safe from the dangers pests bring all year long. Contact us today to learn how we can help prevent pests in your home this spring!