On the road with Kiki – Episode 16

by SerumTD-019 | Mar 27, 2023 | Kiki

On the road with Kiki – Episode 16

Welcome back for another weekly episode of On the Road with Kiki. Join us as we follow pest consultant Kristian around Adelaide as he helps clients with preventing pest outbreaks in homes and businesses.

Kristian kicks off the day in beautiful McLaren Vale, but there’s definitely no time for wine tasting when there’s a possible threat of termites. After an assessment of the property, he provides a quote for a termite baiting system and it looks like he’s won this new client over with his outstanding service – they’ll give him an answer later today!

Next, Kristian heads to Goolwa to have a look at pest pigeons nesting on solar panels on a roof of a home in a retirement village. He sees lots of pigeons around the area, so he shows the client a sample of the mesh that will be used for pigeon proofing the solar panels. Before he leaves, a neighbour also wanted a quote for the same work, so Kristian ends up giving two quotes for proofing.

After a long drive back to the city, Kristian finds himself at Supplement Mart in Glenelg for another pigeon problem. The sales assistant is adamant that they can hear pecking, scratching and flapping noises in the roof space. Kristian agrees that pigeons have managed to find their way inside as he is able to locate an entry point. So, he offers a quote to manage the pest birds once and for all.

For the last job of the day, there’s yet more pest birds nesting on the roof of a home, with the solar panels littered with droppings underneath. Kristian quotes the client for not only solar panel proofing, but also a thorough clean underneath the panels as well as the gutter lines and surrounds.

Family owned and operated, Allstate has been preventing pest outbreaks in homes and businesses for over 35 years. As Adelaide’s largest pest control company, you can count on us to be available to help you with urgent problems 24/7. Our team is highly trained to offer the most modern treatments which are safe for children, pets and the environment. As a proud, local South Australian business, we support building a strong future for our state by working with other businesses in our community.

For effective and reliable pest control treatments, contact Allstate today.

Choose Allstate for safe, nontoxic treatments to

protect your home or business from pests today.

8371 1277

Tips To Prevent Pests In Autumn

by SerumTD-019 | Mar 20, 2023 | Pests

TIPS TO PREVENT PESTS IN AUTUMN

It’s been a warm couple of months – perfect for going to the beach, relaxing and spending a whole lot of time outside. As the autumn weather forces us back indoors, you’d be forgiven for thinking pests are also going into hibernation and you won’t have to worry about them anymore.

Unfortunately this isn’t quite the case… rats, mice and cockroaches are just some of the pests still active in the cooler months.

If you’re keen to stay on top of nuisance pests this autumn, read this guide to find out what to do. We’ve covered which pests to look out for and our recommendations for keeping them away from your home or business for good.

What questions will this article answer?

Why pests are still a problem in autumn

With the onset of cooler weather, pests are drawn inside to shelter in warmer places like your shed, garage, as well as roof and wall cavities.

Pests to look out for in autumn weather

Keep an eye out for rodents, cockroaches and ants.

Identifying and treating a pest outbreak in autumn

Here are some ways to tell if cockroaches, rodents or ants are infesting your home, and how to manage them.

How to prevent an autumn pest outbreak

Taking some small steps to prepare your home or business in the summer months is the key to keeping pests away in autumn.

Choose Allstate for reliable and effective pest control in autumn

We’re available 24/7 to all suburbs of Adelaide for urgent callouts and advice, so if you’re experiencing any unexpected pest outbreaks this autumn, our expert technicians are here to help.

Why pests are still a problem in autumn

If you thought that pests would go away at the end of summer, you could be in for a surprise. While it’s true that many pests do not adapt well to cooler weather, preferring to hibernate instead of breeding during the colder months, there are still plenty that will hang around your home or business.

With the onset of cooler weather, you’ll tend to find an increasing number of pests being drawn inside to shelter in warmer places like your shed, garage, as well as roof and wall cavities.

Other pests like birds and termites have not only evolved to adapt to cooler weather, but they may also become even more active. For example, pest birds like pigeons have waterproofing in their feathers. Some species of termites are drawn to moist, damp areas and can increase their activity by consuming more wood to boost their energy stores to survive.

Pests to look out for in autumn weather

The most common pests you’ll find in autumn are usually rodents, cockroaches and ants. However, some species of termites are also very active, particularly if your yard has woodpiles, fallen tree trunks or damp and shady areas.

Identifying and treating pest outbreaks in autumn

Here’s some ways you can tell if cockroaches, rodents and ants are infesting your home, and how to manage them.

Cockroaches

Active at night, if you’re noticing more and more cockroaches hopping about after dark, or even during the day time, you may need act fast to prevente an outbreak.
Look for droppings that resemble coffee grounds, skin shedding, eggs, an unpleasant musty odour and brown smear marks along walls and floors.
For professional treatment, we prefer using cockroach control dust, applying insecticide to treated zones, aerosol insecticide sprays and gel baits. Learn more about Allstate’s cockroach control program here Cockroach Control

Rodents

As nocturnal creatures, rats and mice will look for food at night, so if you see or hear them moving around, chances are, there are many more hiding away.

Pay attention to droppings, scratching and scurrying noises coming from your roof and walls, gnawed food and crumbs, bite marks on walls and electrical products, burrows and tracks in your garden, a musty odour and grease marks along your walls and skirting boards.

Rat nests are usually hidden away, but are usually fashioned out of piles of scraps such as paper and cardboard.

To manage rodents, we use a combination of chemical baits and traps, depending on the severity of the outbreak. Learn more about our rodent control options here Rats and Mice Removal

Ants

If you notice more ants marching around your home travelling along defined ant trails, this is a clear sign that you may have an outbreak.

When you follow the trail back to their colony, the entrance will look like a small mound of dirt with a central hole known as an ant mound or anthill.

Carpenter ants are known to damage wooden structures, so and leave behind discarded wood shavings, dirt, droppings or ant parts around the place.

At Allstate, we prevente ants by using a combination of treatments, including ant control dust, insecticide spray and chemical baits. You can learn more about our nontoxic ant prevention treatments here Ant Control

How to prevent an autumn pest outbreak

Taking some small steps to prepare your home or business in the summer months is the key to keeping pests away in autumn. Here’s our recommendations:

Block entry points

Rodents can easily squeeze through small gaps to enter your home, so it’s useful to regularly inspect for potential entry points and either cover or fill them. This can include fitting door seals underneath exterior doors, sealing holes and cracks within pipes and gaps in kitchen cupboards or installing mesh or screens over larger openings such as water tanks, chimneys and vents.

Learn more about sealing rodent entry points with our guide here How Rats get in your House

Building maintenance

With ants being very small in size and cockroaches having a flatter profile, this means that they can easily enter buildings through easily overlooked tiny cracks and crevices. However, these can easily be sealed over with filler and expanding foam. Look out for damaged drains and pipes which should be replaced quickly, as water leaks can attract cockroaches.

Garden maintenance

Regularly trimming your plants, bushes, shrubs, trees and mowing the lawn doesn’t just keep your yard looking tidy. It also limits hiding and nesting spots for rodents.
By reducing the amount of vegetation touching your building, this limits access points for ants and cockroaches.
Remove piles of organic waste, pet waste and fallen fruit also reduces the availability of potential food sources which attract pests.

Keep less frequented areas tidy

Storage areas such as garages, sheds and attics are preferred safe areas for pests to hide out, but not if you regularly clean and declutter.

Practice safe food handling, preparation and storage

Reduce pest access to food sources and avoid leaving food uncovered. Keep all food items stored away in the fridge, cupboards or drawers in sturdy, tightly sealed containers or packaging. Make sure all food preparation utensils, cutlery and dining surfaces are clean and wipe away spills immediately.

Practice proper waste disposal

Ensure that rubbish bins are properly covered and that bin bags are intact and tightly sealed.

Choose Allstate for reliable and effective pest prevention

At Allstate, we’ve seen firsthand how pests such as rodents, ants and cockroaches can still be a nuisance long after the summer peak season has gone.

This is why we recommend staying vigilant to deter pests from coming inside your home or business to seek warmth in the cooler autumn weather.

Fortunately, our fully-equipped Allstate pest technicians can help you avoid the disruption of having unwanted pests in your home when it’s cold. Since 1986, we’ve helped many clients all over Adelaide resolve pest outbreaks in residential, commercial and industrial settings.

We take care to use tailored treatments which are nontoxic to pets, children and the environment. All our services are covered by competitive warranties and a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee. Payment plans are also available.

We’re available 24/7 for urgent callouts and advice, so if you’re experiencing any unexpected pest outbreaks this autumn, our expert technicians are here to help.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

or

8371 1277

On the road with Kiki – Episode 15

by SerumTD-019 | Mar 13, 2023 | Kiki

On the road with Kiki – Episode 15

We’re back again for another episode of On The Road with Kiki, featuring our fab pest consultant Kristian. We follow him around Adelaide as he travels to homes and businesses to assess pest outbreaks. Today, it looks like there are lots of pesky termites causing chaos.

Kristian arrives at his first job where the homeowner is looking for options to supplement their existing termite protection system. Thankfully, with minimal timber around the perimeter of the property, Kristian finds that there is a low risk of termite activity. However, just to be on the safe side, he recommends a thorough inspection and provides a quote for a baiting system.

Next up, a door has fallen off the hinges at a rental property, and immediately Kristian spots obvious signs of termite damage in the door itself. After a general assessment of the property, it’s very clear that there is a large amount of damage. Kristian recommends a full termite inspection, followed by a 12-month treatment program which involves installing a baiting system both underground around the perimeter of the home, and fitting baiting stations to the affected walls inside. Depending on the species of termites involved, they’ll need a follow up every month or two, until the termites are prevented.

Before you know it, it’s lunch time, and did somebody say KFC? Kristian takes a break from termites by grabbing his favourite Friday “cheat day” meal.

Then it’s back on the road to a biting insect assessment. A client with a backyard chicken coop has taken photos of small brown insects crawling around their home, and Kristian confirms that they are indeed bird mites. He recommends a two-visit treatment, 30 days apart, that covers all internal and external areas of the property to destroy the bird mite breeding cycle.

For the last job of the day in Unley, there’s termites in the skirting boards inside the home. Since the problem involves the boundary between two neighbouring homes, the owner will need to speak to their neighbour about the problem first. Kristian leaves them with two separate quotes for treatment.

Family owned and established in 1986, Allstate has become an industry leader in pest control services for homes and businesses across all Adelaide suburbs. Available 24/7 for emergency callouts, you can count on our highly trained and fully equipped team to support you with all pest outbreaks. As a local business, we’re passionate supporters of other local South Australian businesses, as together we can play an important role in helping to shape the future of our community.

For effective and safe pest control treatments, contact Allstate today.

Choose Allstate for safe, nontoxic treatments to

protect your home or business from pests today.

8371 1277

On the road with Kiki – Episode 14

by SerumTD-019 | Mar 6, 2023 | Kiki

On the road with Kiki – Episode 14

Thank you for joining us for another instalment of On the Road with Kiki, where we follow pest consultant Kristian as he conducts pest control assessments in homes and businesses across Adelaide. In this episode, we also meet pest technicians Dominic and Scott.

Today, it’s a scorching 41 degrees as Kristian investigates termites at two homes.

The first home is an empty rental property, where he carefully checks the skirting boards inside for any termite damage. Thankfully, there isn’t any, but he does recommend installing a baiting system to prevent any potential future attacks.

Next, Kristian goes looking for termites around a property in Blackwood. With lots of wood scattered around the yard, including sleepers and woodpiles, he doesn’t hesitate to offer a quote for a baiting system.

After his hard work in the blistering heat, Kristian makes a pitstop in Marion. He treats himself to a much-needed caffeine hit at his favourite coffee shop, D.ose, before he introduces us to some of the Allstate family.

Pest technician Dominic is up first. He has worked with Allstate for 3 months and loves the company’s family friendly culture. His favourite company value is that if mistakes get made (we’re only human!), it’s safe to speak up, take responsibility and then fix the problem.

Like Dominic, pest technician Scott Mackay also appreciates the family business atmosphere at Allstate. Having been with us for 2 years, he enjoys the variety and flexibility of his job and won’t hesitate to go the extra mile to help others – a perfect example of our “we over me” company value.

Since 1986, Allstate has been helping homes and businesses across all suburbs of Adelaide with pest control and management. With a team that is fully equipped and available for 24/7 emergency callouts, you can count on us to provide long-term solutions for any pest outbreak. Being family owned and operated, we’re keen to support other local SA businesses to help create a bright future for our community.

For safe and reliable pest control treatments, contact Allstate today.

Choose Allstate for safe, nontoxic treatments to

protect your home or business from pests today.

8371 1277