Why Insulate Your Home Part 1: Saving Money

Installing insulation in Bristol TN - Leo's Pest Control

There are a variety of reasons to insulate your home, but one of the most enticing is the amount of money that you can save with properly-installed insulation. You spend a lot of money heating and cooling your home, so if your insulation is inefficient, a lot of that hard-earned money is quite literally going right out the window. Having insulation installed is one of the best choices you can make as a homeowner—your quality of life will improve while you’re there and you’ll greatly improve your return on investment for when it’s time to sell. To learn more about the financial benefits of having insulation installed in Bristol TN, read on for advice from the experts at Leo’s Pest Control!

Is Insulation Worth It?

Professionally-installed insulation can save you a fortune on your utilities. The Energy Star program has estimated that properly insulating a typical home can save a homeowner up to 15% on heating and cooling bills, and this number only increases with the age of your home. In essence, uninsulated homes are filled with unnecessary leaks, and patching them will allow you to better regulate your home for less.

Remodeler Magazine releases an annual “Cost vs. Value” report that analyzes the return on investment of popular home improvements. Recent reports have shown that insulating an attic with fiberglass insulation was the most efficient home improvement option, resulting in a 117% return on investment. The savings in energy expenses contribute to an even greater return on that investment.

The Many Benefits of Home Insulation

Residential electricity costs have nearly doubled in just over a decade, and nothing indicates that these increases will slow down in the near future. The Department of Energy makes doing the math easy: they offer the Home Energy Saver calculator to help homeowners understand the return they can expect on energy upgrades, including insulation.

The savings that you can expect with insulation aren’t limited to energy conservation, though. There are a variety of local, state, and federal utility incentives available to homeowners who do their part to conserve energy by investing in insulation. You can find out more about utility incentives through the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE). You could even be eligible for a tax credit of up to $500 of qualified energy efficiency improvements through the IRS.

Professional Insulation Installation in Bristol TN

If you are looking to improve your quality of living and the return on investment of your home, reach out to your local insulation installation company. The technicians at Leo’s Pest Control are trained to conduct efficient and targeted installations to help you save money, and additionally, prevent pest problems! To learn more about the types of insulation we can provide you with or receive a free quote, contact our team today.

Protecting Your Firewood from Home Invading Pests

One thing that comes to mind when we think of the wintertime is a warm, crackling fire burning in the fireplace. Although this seems comforting and cozy, if you’re not careful, being too lazy with your firewood storage can lead to pest problems that ruin your holiday season. Fortunately for you, we know the best ways to keep pests out of your woodpiles and out of your home as a result. For the best pointers on winter pest control in Bristol TN, read on—we’ve asked our technicians at Leo’s Pest Control for their advice!

What Kinds of Pests Do Woodpiles Attract?

There are plenty of bugs that you might find around your woodpile that should be no cause for alarm. Earwigs, moths, boxelder bugs, some species of spiders, and other pests will simply be an annoyance in your home, not a direct threat to your family or your property. On the flip side, there are a few pests that you’ll want to keep an eye out for, those being:

  • Termites
  • Powderpost beetles
  • Carpenter ants
  • Carpenter bees and wasps

Of course, bees and wasps in your home come with the fear of being stung, but there are long-lasting issues that arise with the presence of the aforementioned wood-boring insects. Termites, powderpost beetles, and carpenter ants all tear through the wooden structures of our home in the interest of nutrition or nesting. Termites are the worst of the bunch—subterranean termites alone cause over an estimated $5 billion in property damage in the United States every year!

How to Keep Pests Out of Your Firewood Piles

To avoid a pest infestation spurred by woodpile haphazardness, you have to be extra careful about the way that you store and transport your logs. Here are Leo’s Pest Control’s three greatest tips to stop infestations of firewood-dwelling pests:

  1. Keep your firewood high up and covered: Termites and carpenter ants live underground, so woodpiles at ground level become easy sources of food and shelter. Keeping your woodpile protected and stored high will reduce your chances of bringing in pests.
  2. Keep a distance: Your woodpile should not be resting up against the outer walls of your home. In fact, the further away, the better.
  3. Burn older wood first and fast: When you take wood inside to start a fire, choose older logs and burn them right away. Older logs have a greater chance of being infested, but if you burn them quickly, there’s no need to worry about pests spreading out of them.

Winter Pest Control in Bristol TN

If you want to be sure that you’re taking the right steps to keep pests out of your home this winter, reach out to your local pest control company about your concerns. At Leo’s Pest Control, we pride ourselves on offering holistic pest control programs for every season, performing inspections, conducting treatments, and keeping up with prevention plans tailored to each of our customers’ homes. Don’t wait until it’s too late to stop pests this winter—reach out today for a free quote!

Tips to Prevent Pests this Holiday Season

Raccoon in attic during the wintertime in Bristol TN - Leo's Pest Control

It’s officially the holiday season here in Tennessee. With summer far behind us, you likely think the threat of pests is gone as well. Unfortunately, there are a few winter pest problems to keep in mind as we move into the colder months ahead. Overwintering pests are any insect or wild animal that gets into your property, typically in the fall, for shelter during the winter months. Rather than hibernate during the cold winter, these pests will nest and remain active in your attic or crawl space until spring rolls around. To prevent the unwanted gift of a pest problem this holiday season, the experts at Leo’s Pest Control are here to share everything you need to know.

Pest Infestations in the Winter

Whether it’s an overwintering pest getting indoors during the fall or pests lingering in your holiday decorating boxes, there are more risks of a pest infestation this time of year than you may realize. Some of the most common pests and wild animals that try to get inside this time of year include:

  • House mice: Many mice prefer secluded areas and will look to nest in your attic using insulation and other stored items for shelter.
  • Roof rats: As their name implies, roof rats can squeeze their way inside and build their nests up in the attic.
  • Bats: Big brown bats will roost in an attic and use it as their cave. Bats can create a big mess with their droppings.
  • Wildlife: Raccoons and squirrels are strong climbers and can make their way into your attic to escape dropping temperatures outside.

Tips to Keep Pests Out During the Holidays

No one wants to deal with a pest infestation during the holidays. To keep them out of your home, here’s what to do:

  1. In your attic, organize all items and eliminate any clutter. Use plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes for storage, especially when it comes to holiday decorations.
  2. When unpacking these decorations each year, shake out the items outdoors before bringing anything inside.
  3. Inspect both inside out outside the attic, and seal any cracks or crevices with caulk or steel wool.
  4. Secure your chimney with a chimney cap, and install wire mesh over any vents or holes.
  5. Trim overhanging tree branches, overgrown bushes, and vines away from your home to limit roof access to pests.
  6. Ensure your garbage cans are securely stored in your hard with tight-fitting lids to keep pests out.
  7. If you store firewood outside, always inspect it for signs of spiders and other pests before bringing the firewood inside!

Winter Pest Control Services in Bristol TN

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the last thing you have time to deal with is a pest infestation. To prevent pests this winter, it’s best to team up with your local exterminators at Leo’s Pest Control. Our exterminators will implement pest prevention tactics to keep all overwintering pests out. Contact us today to get started!

Can Rats Climb Into My Home?

Rat in Bristol TN - Leo's Pest Control

Rodent Awareness Week is upon us here in Tennessee. For anyone not familiar, Rodent Awareness Week is an annual event established by the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) to help educate the public about the dangers of rat and mouse infestations. Here at Leo’s Pest Control, we aim to contribute by helping our communities learn more about the threats rodents can cause to homes and businesses.

Today, we’re focusing on rodent behavior, namely how they manage to get into our homes in the first place—do they climb up walls? Squeeze through tiny openings in the roof? Keep reading to learn all you need to know with the experts at Leo’s Pest Control!

How Do Rats Climb?

Rats and mice alike are very adept at getting into your home much easier than you may want to believe. In addition to squeezing in through tiny openings (small mice can fit into holes that are just 5 mm wide), one of the most common means by which rodents get indoors is by climbing.

Rats are apt climbers and scale vertical walls with disturbing ease. In fact, they can climb up a number of types of walls: concrete, wood, brick, stucco, drywall, and more. Roof rats in particular are known for their climbing skills, and rats in general have a vertical leap of about 36 inches. Needless to say, this makes rodents very capable of climbing your home or trees around your home.

Where Do Rodents Live in My Home?

If and when rodents get into your home, where do they stow away? Here’s where you may find rats and mice hiding around your property:

  1. Attics or lofts: In your attic, rodents will shred insulation and hide in cardboard boxes.
  2. Kitchens: Especially in restaurants, rodents are known to harbor around appliances to stay warm.
  3. Laundry rooms: Similarly to kitchens, laundry rooms provide rodents with the warmth and moisture they seek.
  4. In the walls: When you have a bad infestation, rodents could be found in crawl spaces or wall cavities.
  5. Garages: Rats and mice are frequently found in residential garages amidst your stored items.

Rodent Awareness in Bristol TN

No matter whether it’s Rodent Awareness Week or not, the experts at Leo’s Pest Control are committed to educating our Bristol TN communities about the potential dangers of rodent infestations. Avoiding rodents means learning about how they get indoors in the first place. To learn more about keeping rats and mice out this fall and winter, contact us today to learn more!

How to Get Rid of Houseplant Gnats

Fungus gnats on houseplant in Bristol TN home - Leo's Pest Control

Whether you’ve recently bought your first indoor plant or you’re a houseplant aficionado, fungus gnats can be any plant parent’s worst nightmare. Gnats can appear overnight in hoards, making it difficult to know where they came from in the first place. Like many pests, gnats—especially fungus gnats—are drawn to excess moisture. This is why they commonly infest houseplants in Tennessee homes. To avoid the frustration of these tiny pests, it’s important to know how to eliminate the conditions that attract them in the first place.

The pest control experts at Leo’s Pest Control know how frustrating houseplant gnats can be. We’ve gathered our top tips and tricks to get rid of gnats in your home for good—read on to learn more.

Why Do I Have a Gnat Problem?

There are a few reasons why you may have a gnat problem in your home. If you have a tendency to overwater your houseplants, fungus gnats will lay their eggs on the moist potting soil. The larvae will develop within the soil and quickly hatch. Once they’ve established themselves, fungus gnats can quickly attack other nearby plants. If you are noticing gnats outdoors, it may be due to an overwatered lawn, a flat roof that lacks proper drainage, or dirty garbage cans that have grown fungus. Once you’ve identified where the fungus gnats are coming from, you can learn how to prevent them in the first place.

How to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants - Infographic by Leo's Pest Control

5 Steps to Get Rid of Houseplant Gnats

Keeping gnats away requires knowing how to make your home less attractive to them in the first place. The easiest thing to do is make sure you keep gnats from laying their eggs in the soil of your houseplants. Here’s how:

  1. Never overwater your plants to the point where the soil stays wet for days at a time. You can rake the soil to help it dry quicker.
  2. Avoid letting any water sit in the drainage tray beneath plant pots. Always make sure your houseplants have the best drainage possible by incorporating gravel, sand, and more into your potting soil mix.
  3. Considering “quarantining” the houseplant with the gnats to keep them from spreading. Consider taking it outdoors and removing the top layer of wet soil entirely.
  4. Place sticky traps in the plant soil to target and trap any adult gnats that are already flying around.
  5. To get rid of gnats in your yard, make sure to not overwater your lawn, keep your garbage sealed properly, and make sure you have proper drainage on your roof and elsewhere.

How to Keep Gnats Away For Good

Gnats may be tiny and mostly a nuisance, but they can also spread germs that cause diseases like salmonella or E. coli. For that reason, it’s crucial to keep them away. If you’re having trouble controlling the gnats in your home, the experts at Leo’s Pest Control can help. We can help identify the conditions that are attracting them, and provide you with a plan to keep them away for good. Contact us today!

No-see-ums vs Gnats vs Mosquito Bites—How Are They Different?

A small swarm of gnats in Bristol TN - Leo's Pest Control

No matter the time of day or time of year, bugs in Bristol TN are out and biting. You could be awake or sleeping, outside or inside, and still be a target.

When it comes to staying safe from bug bites, flying pests can be the hardest to defend yourself from. There are multiple kinds of airborne insects in our region that can dish out painful, irritating, or even dangerous bites. In particular, we hear a lot of people complain about no-see-ums, gnats, and mosquitoes. If you think you’ve been bitten by one of these pests but are having trouble identifying your bites, read on for Leo’s Pest Control’s expert insight!

Gnats vs No-see-ums vs Mosquitoes

These three pests are widely felt to be Bristol’s most annoying insects. We’ve all ran into these pests at some point or another, but here’s how to be sure which one you’re seeing:

  1. Mosquitoes: Much larger than our other two friends, mosquitoes can be identified easily. They have long wings and a proboscis that looks like a needle protruding from their mouth. Their bodies form a hunch-backed position and grow to about 3/8”.
  2. Gnats: These tiny flies come out in spring and summer by the thousands. Gnats are very small with gray or black bodies, and they move together in large swarms, or clouds, of individuals.
  3. No-see-ums: No-see-ums are actually a specific type of gnat. They are even smaller than their counterparts, at only around 1/16” in length. This allows them to squeeze through the screens on our windows and doors.

Differences Between Bug Bites

One way to tell apart the kinds of pests around your home in Bristol TN is to be able to identify them by bite symptoms. These are the main differences between mosquito, gnat, and no-see-um bites:

  • Mosquito bites: Mosquito bites start as a raised white welt and recede into a pinkish-red bump. They are likely to take place on your arms, legs, or other easily accessible areas of exposed skin.
  • Gnat bites: Gnat bites look similar to mosquito bites, but can be distinguished by being darker, smaller, and more rough-looking. They also take longer to heal than mosquito bites.
  • No-see-um bites: Given that no-see-ums are actually gnats, their bites are very similar to most other gnats. However, no-see-ums are more likely to bite very close together and on less common areas, like your face.

In short, you can differentiate between these kinds of bites by how close together they are, how dark they are, and how long they last.

Preventing Bug Bites in Bristol TN

Using an insect repellent that is made of up to 20% DEET is one of the most effective methods of preventing bug bites during the summer in Bristol. However, if it isn’t enough to stop the pests around your property, you can rely on professional pest control to help you control your outbreak. At Leo’s Pest Control, we have plenty of experience eliminating all kinds of pest infestations and will conduct comprehensive inspections and repellent efforts to keep your yard pest-free*. For a free quote on pest control for mosquitoes, gnats, or no-see-ums, contact us today!

Are Bed Bug Infestations Common in 2021?

Bed bug infestations in Bristol TN - Leo's Pest Control

If you’ve had a bed bug problem before, you were likely left wondering where they came from in the first place. Unfortunately, bed bug problems have been on the rise for homeowners and business owners alike for a couple of decades now—not just here in Tennessee but nationwide. Believe it or not, there was a span of nearly 60 years when bed bugs weren’t a problem for homeowners whatsoever. Nowadays, bed bug infestations are on the rise not only in homes and apartments but also in daycare centers, schools, hotels, and just about any other place where people live and work. In fact, bed bugs account for a good percentage of the calls that pest control companies receive. So what’s to blame for the resurgence of these pests? The experts at Leo’s Pest Control are here to share their insights.

The History of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs have been a problem for humans for a very long time. In the past, before modern technology and science got involved, bed bugs were just something people had to live with. But when pesticides such as DDT and Chlordane came along around the time of WW2, bed bugs and just about any other bug or spider finally met their match. These, and other similar pesticides, were extremely toxic and highly effective in controlling pests.

For a few decades, people got a break from all those biting, irritating little creatures but as these chemicals became more widespread, they also became the subject of a lot of research. Turns out that the very thing that made them great for killing bugs made them horrible for people’s health. By the early 70s, enough research had been done to prompt the United States to ban DDT in 1972 and eventually Chlordane in 1988. This was the beginning of a resurgence in pests of all kinds but it also led to safer, healthier pest control methods. Unfortunately, safe pesticides were no match for bed bugs.

The Spread of Bed Bugs

As pesticides became less toxic, and often less effective, travel both across the United States and abroad experienced a boom. Bed bugs like to travel by hitching a ride in pocketbooks, pant cuffs, suitcases, furniture, and just about anything else they could find to get them to their next destination. With travel becoming more common and people frequently sleeping in hotels, motels, and other places, bed bugs found an easy way to spread their numbers and are now found all over the world.

Bed bugs reproduce rapidly, easily move from one location to the next, and are elusive and nocturnal, making the problem of getting rid of them pretty complicated. It takes an experienced exterminator to completely get things under control and often means a range of treatments depending on the size of the infestation and the type of building or residence.

How to Stop Bed Bugs in Bristol TN

The fact of the matter is that bed bug problems are here to stay—for now. However, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer from an infestation. When you team up with a professional bed bug control company such as Leo’s Pest Control, you can rest assured our team will keep you safe from the dangers of bed bugs year-round. To learn more or get started, contact us today!

Where Do Ants Nest in My Home?

can quickly infest a home, making it important to know where they came from to begin with. Once ants have nested inside your property, it’s hard to get rid of them without professional help. There are many things in your home that will attract ants, making it important to know how to prevent them in the first place. At Leo’s Pest Control, we know how frustrating ant problems are in your Bristol TN home. For that reason, our ant control team is here to share all you need to know about preventing ants from nesting on your property in the first place. Read on to learn more!

What Causes Ants in the House?

It can be confusing to come to grips with why exactly you suddenly have ants. Two of the main things that draw ants into your home are food and water. If ants discover what they need inside your property, they will signal to the rest of their colony and before you know it, you could have a full-blown infestation. The most common areas in a home that are susceptible to ants include kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and more. This is due to the fact that these ant hotspots often fulfill a colony’s need for food or water. Keeping them out, then, requires making your property less attractive to ants in the first place!

Ant hotspots in Bristol TN homes - Leo's Pest Control

How to Keep Ants Out

If you want to avoid waking up to a sudden ant infestation in your property, there are a number of things you can do to prevent the pests. The top three ways to keep ants away are to:

  1. Eliminate excess moisture. Excess moisture from leaky pipes or plumbing issues can attract ants to your kitchen, bathroom, crawl space, or another area. Always fix leaks and other moisture problems as quickly as possible.
  2. Clean up crumbs and food spills. Ants love greasy, fatty, or sweet foods. Crumbs on your floor, even pet food, can be a huge draw for ants. To prevent ants, it’s important to regularly clean up spills and vacuum on a regular basis to deny them access to any of your food.
  3. Seal cracks and crevices. Ants will make use of the tiniest cracks or holes to get inside, especially at the base of your foundation. Annually, inspect your home for these tiny openings and consider sealing them with caulk.

I Have an Ant Problem—Now What?

If you’ve done all you can to prevent ants but still have found yourself with an infestation, it’s important to enlist the help of your local experts. At Leo’s Pest Control, we know that ants are a pain to deal with on your own. Our ant control experts can work with you to not only get rid of any active ant infestation you’re dealing with but also prevent future ant problems from forming. Contact us today to get started!

When Are Mosquitoes Most Active?

What mosquitoes look like in Bristol TN - Leo's Pest Control

Sometimes it feels like there’s nothing we can do to avoid mosquitoes in the summer here in Bristol TN. Our hot and humid summers create an ideal climate for mosquitoes to thrive in. So what can we do about the inevitable surge of mosquitoes every year?

Learning about what times mosquitoes exhibit the highest amounts of activity will allow you to avoid them much better this summer. Read on for our expert tips on mosquito activity and what you can do to prevent mosquito bites during the warmer months of the year.

When Are Mosquitoes Most Active?

Mosquitoes are most often out and looking for victims to feed on at dawn and dusk when the sunlight is low. Because they prefer to be active in moderate temperatures, mosquitoes don’t often bite during the middle of the day. They wait for the cooler hours of the early morning and evening and stay active for some periods of the night.

During dawn and dusk, watch out for mosquitoes in these areas:

  • Lakes and ponds
  • Yards with lots of trees and plants
  • Wooded areas
  • Pools, birdbaths, spas, and other sources of still water

If you live close to any of the aforementioned areas, you are likely to experience high numbers of mosquitoes on your property all summer.

Do Mosquitoes Fall Asleep?

After learning about when they are most active, you might be wondering, “when do mosquitoes sleep?” The truth is, we don’t know a whole lot about mosquito sleep patterns. Little research has been done into their habits of rest, but we do know a few things:

  1. Mosquitoes don’t necessarily “sleep” in the strictest sense of the word, but they do enter recurring states of dormancy, seemingly for hours at a time.
  2. They enter these states at a few different times during the day, usually during the middle of the day and at various points over the night.
  3. Mosquitoes like to rest in covered, shaded areas for ideal temperatures and the most protection.

How to Avoid Mosquitoes in Bristol TN

To avoid mosquitoes, you can try using EPA-approved insecticides, wearing long-sleeved clothes, and covering or pouring out any standing water on your property. However, if these strategies don’t work, you should reach out to your local pest control company. The mosquito control experts at Leo’s Pest Control will conduct a holistic inspection of your yard to figure out the best way to prevent a mosquito infestation on your property. Contact us today for a free quote!

How To Get Rid of Your Bed Bug Problem

What bed bugs look like in Bristol TN - Leo's Pest Control

Waking up with bed bug bites is something we all fear. It can be very difficult to tell that you have a bed bug problem in your home before they’ve already got to you. At this point, you’re probably wondering, “how did they get here, and how many of them are in my bed?”

The truth is, beyond your bed, they could be living in many other places in your house, too. If you don’t stomp out their entire population, in addition to the eggs they’ve laid, you could be dealing with bed bugs for much longer than you want to. If this sounds like your current situation, read on for Leo’s Pest Control’s top tips on getting rid of bed bugs.

What Are Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation?

There are a few different ways to tell if you have bed bugs. Look for these signs if you’re worried that you have bed bugs in your house:

  • Bites: The most common way that people find out about bed bugs is through their bites. They are small, red bumps that will be aligned in zig-zag patterns along exposed skin.
  • Leftover material: You might find little spots of bed bug excrement, hatched white eggshells, or reddish-brown smears where bed bugs have been.
  • Active bed bugs: Bed bugs are quite small; look out for bed bug activity around your mattress, in furniture, and along your baseboards.

Don’t fret when you do find signs of bed bug activity. There are ways to solve your problem without throwing out everything you own!

How to Quickly Get Rid of Bed Bugs

The most effective way to get rid of bed bugs is to introduce them to high heat. If your bedding is infested, wash and dry your bedding on the highest heat settings possible. Also, be sure to scrub and vacuum any other pieces of furniture that you suspect to be hosting bed bugs.

If you think that these steps haven’t completely dealt with the infestation, you can purchase plastic furniture and mattress protectors to eliminate any remaining bed bugs and ensure that new bed bugs don’t have a place to hide. Lastly, inspect your home for cracks or gaps in molding, baseboards, power outlets, and door jambs.

Pest Control for Bed Bugs in Bristol TN

Some bed bug infestations reach a point where it is impossible to deal with on your own. When you hire a professional pest control company, your technician can conduct specialized heat treatments that create insufferable conditions for bed bugs without ruining any of your belongings. At Leo’s Pest Control, we train our bed bug exterminators with over 50 years of accumulated experience removing bed bugs from homes as safely and efficiently as possible. Reach out today for a free quote or more information on our services!