Ants: The Spring House Guest No One Wants, But Nearly Everyone Gets Monday, April 12, 2010 
Springtime is ant time as ants march into homes in search of food. With more than 700 species of ants in the U.S. and about two dozen classified as pests, many homeowners will likely encounter these unwelcome visitors.

“Ants are more than a nuisance. They can contaminate food, bite when threatened and damage our property,” noted Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association. “However, which species of ant invades can depend on geography.”

Here are some species homeowners should lookout for this spring:

Odorous house ants get their name from the strong, rotten coconut-like smell they give off when crushed. Odorous house ants like sweets and are found in exposed soil and wall cracks in every region of the U.S.

Carpenter ants typically tunnel into soft wood to build their nests and need a constant water source to survive. This species is found across the U.S. and can cause significant property damage.

http://www.pestworld.org/press-releases/ants-the-spring-house-guest-no-one-wants-but-nearly-everyone-gets

Call C&C Home Services for a FREE estimate on AFFORDABLE pest control services for your home or business!! 515-537-7
 
 
1. Pest control pros use pesticides that last months as opposed to pesticides bought in stores that have residual effects lasting hours/days.

2. Pest control pros have the knowledge plus years and years of experience in identifying pests - and have a variety of pesticides available to handle multiple/specific pest issues safely

3. The pesticides used by professional pest control companies are regulated for consumer protection. We know the safe, but effective amount of pesticide to use.

4. Pest control companies must be licensed in Iowa.

5. Professionals know the safest way to treat the problem. Bees and wasps can be dangerous if they’re not handled properly. 

6. Professionals can identify problems quickly. Termites and carpenter ants can cause hundreds/thousands of $dollars$ in damage if not treated in a timely manner with effective PROFESSIONAL pesticides.

7.  The pros will offer additional services in between your regular service at NO additional cost if a problem reoccurs.

8.  Pros are trained to apply pesticides in the most effective & least invasive treatments designed with your children & pets in mind.
 
 
BENEFITS INCLUDED WITH YOUR C&C HOME SERVICES PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
* Protection from the most common general household pests
* Inspection for termites & other wood destroying insects during your regular services - ALWAYS

* Additional services in between your regular service at NO additional cost if a problem reoccurs

* The most effective & least invasive treatments designed with your children & pets in mind

* Appointments scheduled at your convenience - not ours

* State licensed, Termidor® certified, fully insured

* One pest control pro with 17 years of professional pest management experience - you'll always know who is treating your home at EVERY service - NO "revolving door" of technicians that may only have weeks or months of experience
 
 
WHY?     Because CLEAN gutters are essential to your home’s structural well-being! 

This was a particularly bad winter and your gutters were full of snow & ice for MONTHS!  Homeowners should have their gutters cleaned SOON so that we can help you look for potential maintenance issues that you will need to address to protect your home!! 

DID YOU KNOW???
** Gutters need to be cleaned at least twice a year, particularly if you live in an area with a lot of trees and if they are close to your home.  

** Gutters protect siding, windows, doors and foundations from water damage and help prevent flooding in basements.  Ignoring gutters can result in a host of ills including rotted fascia boards, water damage to the sides of your home and foundation problems.

** Cleaned gutters will help you notice potential maintenance issues that you may need to address as well, like holes, corrosion, rust or loose joints. 

** To do their job, gutters and downspouts must be clear of leaves and debris.  If they aren’t, drain outlets will dam up and water/snow will fill the gutters, back up, overflow, and eventually pull gutters loose from their mountings, creating more damage…especially if the temperatures drop and the water freezes.

** Water that pools in troughs will rot wood gutters and rust sheet metal ones.

CALL C&C HOME SERVICES TODAY to schedule your gutter cleaning!!
 
 
Warmer temperatures & sunlight warms those insects that have been hiding in your walls during the cold and you will start seeing them roaming about your house very soon.  And when they emerge, they’ll start reproducing.  Termites will begin swarming in mid to late February through late March.

As part of your regular pest control service – C&C Home Services is always checking for termites. 
We offer AFFORDABLE pest control services!!

If you are using a BIG pest control company – you are paying the highest prices for pest control!  Their overhead is huge and YOU are paying for their extensive advertising, their fleet of trucks & their staff!  Bigger doesn’t mean better!  IT’S TIME TO SWITCH and pay a fair & reasonable price for better service!!

Call Eddie today!  537-7752

 
 

PROTECTING YOUR HOME


Don't Let Termites Put The Bite On Your House

(NAPSI)-Could termites have your home by the walls, the floors and the ceilings? These saw-toothed, wood-eating insects eat 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making infestations much more common than you may think. This incessant gnawing can severely compromise the structural stability of your home as they chew their way through important support beams.

In fact, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage each year across the U.S.-and damage from wood-boring insects is typically not covered by homeowners' insurance policies.

What To Do

The best way to effectively treat an existing termite infestation is through professional pest control, but there are steps homeowners can take to help keep the pests from invading in the first place.

For instance, simple things, such as keeping tree branches and shrubbery well trimmed and away from the house, can help.

The experts at the NPMA also recommend these tips for controlling termites:

• Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including entry points for utilities and pipes.

• Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.

• Repair leaking faucets, water pipes and AC units.

• Repair fasciae, soffits and rotted roof shingles. Some termites are drawn to deteriorating wood.

• Replace weather stripping and repair loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.

• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and 5 inches off the ground.

• Routinely inspect the foundation of your home for signs of mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source), cracked or bubbling paint, and wood that sounds hollow when tapped.

• Direct water away from your house through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.

"Wood"n't you know it: Termites munch 24 hours a day, seven days a week, causing more than $5 billion in property damage a year. Luckily, there are simple ways by which you can protect your home.

 
 
WOW!!  What a cold, snowy and all-around rough winter we are having!  As of today’s date – there are 51 more days until SPRING!!  Look on the bright side…it IS coming!!

Still need more help seeing the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’?  Call C&C Home Services to help you make some easy changes around your home that will have a profound effect on your physiology and emotions!

1. Have your WINDOWS CLEANED!  A lack of light makes us susceptible to fatigue, irritability, lack of concentration and lowered immunity.  Clean windows are just plan beautiful & refreshing and reflect more light around your room.  And when the SUN finally makes an appearance…you can let in all that warm sunlight into your spaces!  Imagine how great that will make you feel!! 

2. REPLACE old LIGHTING FIXTURES!  Your choice of lighting fixtures, light bulbs and color of light makes a difference in your emotional & physical comfort. Find a new, energy-efficient and modern fixture that fits your style!  It will make your room look more updated….and new energy-efficient light bulbs will brighten your room & help provide more natural light.  The correct use of lighting benefits you in many ways. 

3. PAINT!  Nothing makes a more dramatic change to your home than new paint!  Color has a powerful effect on your emotions!!  Do you want your bedroom to be soothing & relaxing?  Do you need an office space to be stimulating & productive?  Want your bathroom to feel larger & sophisticated?  Or your living room to be warm & inviting?  Have no idea what color you like or would look nice?  Look for inspiration in a favorite painting, a beautiful vase or a comfortable chair.     

We would love the opportunity to work with you to help you update & brighten your home during this dull & dreary Iowa winter!  Please call today for a free estimate!  And remember – we will never pressure you or try to sell you on more service that what you are wanting or needing!  We have low overhead, so our prices are fair & affordable! 

C&C Home Services
The DIFFERENCE is the LEVEL of service that you will receive!
Call 515-537-7752 today!  www.iowapestandhandyman.com
 
 
EXPERIENCE is the difference!!!  TRUST that!! 

* Eddie has 17 consecutive years in the pest management field, specializing in real estate termite inspections

* Has performed over 10,000+ real estate pest/termite inspections during his career

* Exceptional - FRIENDLY - Personal Service

* Objective & Unbiased - CONFIDENTIAL

* We do NOT call for unnecessary treatment

* Quick turn-around time on your completed inspection report
 
* DMAAR Member with LOCKBOX ACCESS 

* Knowledgeable - Professional - Trustworthy - HONEST
 
* Fully & more than adequately Insured for our local market ($1Mil BTW)

* Excellent references from many outstanding local Realtors!!

* * * Pest Inspections through C&C Home Services are only $70.00!(+ tax) * * *
 
 
As we near the end of 2009, a particularly challenging year for so many people, we look toward the New Year and the promise of new & much better things to come for everyone!

To those of you that we have the pleasure of working with now:  Our family has been blessed by each & every person who has crossed our paths and we are truly thankful to have been given so many opportunities to assist & help or just offer advice throughout this amazing year.  We are so grateful for those of you who have made our progress possible!

To those of you who we do not yet know:  We will soon be celebrating 2 full years in business and we are so excited about what lies ahead of us in 2010!  We know that you have many choices who you can select to work with you.  We pride ourselves in our honestly, integrity and professionalism.  Our reputation is our #1 priority.  It would be our pleasure to earn your business!

Wishing you a VERY happy holiday season and a New Year of health, happiness and prosperity!!

Many Blessings, 
Eddie & Krista Knapp(and Carter & Cole)
 
 
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