Monday, July 29, 2013

Seamless Gutters

Servall offers residential and commercial seamless aluminum gutters.

We specialize in:
• Several Types of Leaf Proofing
• 5 Year Guarantee on Work
• 5, 6 & 7-inch Seamless Gutters
Leaves can clog up gutters causing water damage.
Servall offers gutter protection for your home or business. Featuring Leaf Shelter, Black Diamond and Leaf Solution guards, Servall can help protect your gutters from seeds, leaves and other debris leaving you with no more gutters to clean and no more ladders to climb.
These guards are excellent for all roofs including: slate, shake, flate, tile and metal. These guards are installed over your existing gutter and handle the heavest of rainfall. They are low-profile and barely visible from the ground. Installed by our quality installation experts.
Some of the features and benefits of these guards are that the pop in and out (pressure fit). They will not blow out. They do not have anything to do with shingles. There is no roof penetration. These guards cover the entire gutter providing you with the best in gutter and roof protection.



As always Servall Termite & Pest Control is here for all of your pest control and home repair needs. Contact us today at one of our four convenient locations or visit http://www.servallpestcontrol.com


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Mosquito Service:

Servall is now offering a full line of Mosquito Service! You can set up our Mosquito Service as a monthly spray for your home and business or a one time spraying for special events such as weddings, birthday parties, family reunions and church socials.

For more information about this new service please call one of our 6 locations or log onto www.servallpestcontrol.com!


As always Servall Termite & Pest Control is here for all of your pest control and home repair needs. Contact us today at one of our four convenient locations or visit http://www.servallpestcontrol.com

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

[Mosquito Control] What Does Climate Change Mean for Pests and PMPs?

[Mosquito Control] What Does Climate Change Mean for Pests and PMPs?

Supplement - Mosquito Control Populations of vectors will increase in response to extended seasons suitable for development and less severe winters. Epidemics of insect-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and dengue also could become more common in response to an increase in the frequency of extreme climatic events.

Global climate change (a.k.a., global warming) has been the subject of considerable debate for the past several years. Who to believe?
“The whole (global warming) thing is created to destroy America’s free enterprise system and our economic stability.” — Jerry Falwell
“I’d say the chances are about 50-50 that humanity will be extinct or nearly extinct within 50 years. Weapons of mass destruction, disease, I mean this global warming is scaring the living daylights out of me.” — Ted Turner
“If you asked me to name the three scariest threats facing the human race, I would give the same answer that most people would: nuclear war, global warming and Windows.” — Dave Barry

Despite early skepticism about the phenomenon of global climate change, it is now widely accepted by the scientific community, governments and most people. The main questions, going forward, are the speed at which change will occur and the specific environmental consequences. Climate change in the temperate zone of the United States will likely have three major components:
  • Milder winters
  • Longer growth seasons
  • Increased frequency of weather extremes (e.g., tornados, droughts, floods, heat and cold)

What does this mean for PMPs? Should they revise their businesses in anticipation of new conditions and new pests? The real answer is “it depends.” You can expect some of the following:
  • Pests will become active earlier in the year and there will be more pest insect/spider generations per season.
  • Population sizes of pests will tend to increase, particularly later in a season.
  • Occasional invaders and other pests will enter homes more often. Large pest populations alone can be responsible, but drought conditions and extreme temperatures can drive pests, seeking moisture, food and cooler temperatures, into homes.
  • Range expansion (generally to the north) of existing native and exotic nuisance pests.
  • The number and frequency of invasive species will increase.
  • Medically important arthropods will become more important as their ranges and populations increase.

Two recent examples, from the St. Louis area, illustrate weather-influenced effects on pests. In 2012, termites swarmed unusually early (February) following the extremely mild winter of 2011-12. The mild winter was followed by a very warm and dry summer and this was associated with a significant increase in houses invaded by brown recluse spiders that normally reside outdoors.
The fossil record supports rapid insect movement northward in response to warming climate. Fossils from the end of the last ice age demonstrate that rapid, poleward shifts of insects accompanied overall warming, including warmer winters. In addition to the direct impacts of warming on insects, volatile weather and warming can disrupt the relationships among species that help to prevent the spread of ‘‘nuisance’’ species. This is a topic that is difficult to study and remains poorly documented.
Range expansions and population increases of medically important species will likely be the most significant consequence of climate change. For example, within the next 75 years it is estimated that the range of the red imported fire ant in the United States could expand northward by more than 80 miles and expand in total area by 21 percent as warmer winters make new areas suitable for their survival.
Similarly, the Africanized bee, which entered California and the desert southwest in the early 1990s, has continued to spread northward and its northern limits will be influenced by warmer winter temperatures.

What About Mosquitoes?
The more serious issue is, perhaps, that climate warming, urbanization and vegetation changes will affect global patterns of vector-borne (primarily mosquitoes and ticks) diseases. This will occur as the geographical distribution of vectors expands. Populations of vectors will increase in response to extended seasons suitable for development and less severe winters. Epidemics of insect-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and dengue also could become more common in response to an increase in the frequency of extreme climatic events. Infections involving two or more species — mosquitoes, ticks, deer, birds, rodents and humans — re?ect changing ecological and climatic conditions as well as social changes (e.g., suburban sprawl).
Diseases carried by mosquito vectors are particularly sensitive to meteorological conditions. Excessive heat kills mosquitoes. However, within their survivable range, warmer temperatures increase their reproduction and biting activity, and the rate at which pathogens mature within them.
Temperature thresholds limit the geographic range of mosquitoes. Yellow fever and dengue fever are both carried by Aedes aegypti, which is restricted by the 10°C (50°F) winter isotherm. Freezing kills Aedes eggs, larvae and adults. Thus, expanding tropical conditions can increase the ranges and extend the season with conditions allowing disease transmission. Warm nights and warm winters favor insect survival.
In the United States, warm winters have been demonstrated to facilitate overwintering and thus northern migration of the ticks that carry tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease. Mild winters are expected to allow a greater than 60 percent range increase of deer ticks in the United States by the end of this century.
Malaria is the bane of mankind. Today, half of the world’s population is exposed to malaria on a daily basis. Deforestation, drug resistance and inadequate public health measures all have contributed to the recent resurgence. Could malaria once again become a problem in the United States?
Since 1976, several vector-borne diseases have reappeared in temperate regions. Anopheline mosquitoes long have been present in North America and malaria circulated in the United States in the early 20th century. However, by the 1980s, transmission was limited to California after mosquito control programs were instituted. Since 1990, small outbreaks of locally transmitted malaria have occurred during hot spells in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Toronto. Malaria has returned to South Korea, areas of southern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Malaria has recolonized the Indian Ocean coastal province of South Africa, and dengue fever has spread southward into northern Australia and Argentina.
These changes are consistent with climate projections, although land clearing, population movements, and drug and pesticide resistance for malaria control all have played parts. Warm weather facilitates malarial transmission. At 20°C (68°F), falciparum malarial protozoa take 26 days to incubate, but at 25°C (77°F) they develop in 13 days. Anopheline mosquitoes, which are carriers of malaria, live only several weeks. Thus, warmer temperatures permit parasites to mature in time for the mosquito to transfer the infection.

Final Thoughts. Warming encourages the spread of infectious diseases, but extreme weather events also can have major impacts on public health. Large-scale weather patterns have shifted. The warming of Eurasia, for example, has intensi?ed the monsoons that are strongly associated with mosquito and water-borne diseases in India and Bangladesh. The U.S. southwest monsoons also may have shifted, with implications for disease patterns there as well. Extremes can be hazardous for health. Prolonged droughts fuel ?res, releasing respiratory pollutants. Floods foster fungi, such as the house mold Stachybotrys atra, which may be associated with a hemorrhagic lung disease. Floods greatly increase mosquito-breeding sites and also pollute waterways.
Continued global warming and icecap melting will result in significant rises in sea level. This, in turn, will lead to coastal flooding and increased breeding habitat for brackish water mosquitoes such as Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus, Aedes squamiger and Aedes sollicitans. In the future, nuisance biting mosquitoes are likely to become a much greater problem in urban coastal areas.
Whatever its cause, global climate change is occurring and bringing with it new pests, diseases and opportunities for PMPs. Read your professional literature and stay informed!

Source:  http://www.pctonline.com/pct0413-mosquitoes-increase-climate-change.aspx

As always Servall Termite & Pest Control is here for all of your pest control and home repair needs. Contact us today at one of our four convenient locations or visit http://www.servallpestcontrol.com

Monday, July 15, 2013

Insulation


Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose can also enhance your home's resistance to fire as well as reduce the infiltration of outside noise. Save your money for something you want to spend it on.
The cellulose fibers have a higher density and R-value than many other insulation types, providing exceptional blockage against air infiltration. Superior thermal qualities save you energy and provide you excellent long-term value.
Our premium quality recycled insulation exceeds tough fire standards, provides proven sound control and is extremely safe for you and your family. By choosing recycled insulation, you are supporting a sustainable solution that will save you money.
The investment you make in recycled cellulose today will benefit you for a life-time.

Fiberglass Insulation
Some of the benefits of fiber glass insulation is its properties of being noncombustible, noncorrosive, nonabsorbent and unsupportive of mold growth.
It meets all model building codes for noncombustibility, needs no fire-retardent chemicals which can promote corrosion to pipes and the glass in fibers resisits mositure build-up. Inorganic glass fibers do not mold, rot or decay. They also do not support an enviornment for vermin.

As always Servall Termite & Pest Control is here for all of your pest control and home repair needs. Contact us today at one of our four convenient locations or visit http://www.servallpestcontrol.com



Monday, July 8, 2013

Home Repair

Servall offers a vast range of repair solutions for your home. From ventilation to wood destroying fungus treatments, Servall offers a wide range of services for your home. Call today for your estimate!
We specialize in:
• Wood Destroying Fungus Treatments
• Moisture Barriers
• Foundation Vents with Life Guarantee
• Foundation Fans
• Crawlspace Access Doors
• Repairing Sagging Floors
• Adding or Replacing Support Beams
• Floor Joists and Sill Plates
• Dryer Vents
• Sump Pumps


Samples of our Foundation Vents:

Sample of our jacks used to repair sagging floors:








Monday, July 1, 2013

Wood Destroying Fungus

Servall has sent Technicians to school and certified them to take care of your Wood Destroying Fungus problems! We are the first company in West Tennessee to be certified and insured to treat for Wood Destroying Fungus and other FUNGI,by controling and preventing Wood Destroying Fungus issues. With Wood Destroying Fungus problems becoming a nation-wide health and structural problem, Servall recognized the need to be able to better serve and protect our communities.
What Wood Destroying Fungus Are
Wood Destroying Fungi are organisms that may be found indoors and outdoors. They are part of the natural environment and play an important role in the environment by breaking down and digesting organic material, such as dead leaves. Also called fungi or mildew, Wood Destroying Fungus are neither plants nor animals; they are part of the kingdom Fungi.

Wood Destroying Fungus can multiply by producing microscopic spores (2-100 microns in diameter), similar to the seeds produced by plants. Many spores are so small they easily float through air and can be carried for great distances by even the gentlest breezes. The number of Wood Destroying Fungus spores suspended in indoor and outdoor air fluctuates from season to season, day to day, and even hour to hour.

Wood Destroying Fungus spores are ubiquitous; they are found both indoors and outdoors. Wood Destroying Fungus spores cannot be eliminated from indoor environments. Some Wood Destroying Fungus spores will be found floating through the air and in settled dust; however, they will not grow if moisture is not present.
What Wood Destroying Fungus Needs to Grow
To grow indoors, Wood Destroying Fungus needs moisture and food. Moisture is the most important factor influencing Wood Destroying Fungus growth indoors. Controlling indoor moisture helps limit its growth.
Health Effects That May Be Caused by Inhaling Wood Destroying Fungus or Wood Destroying Fungus Spores
Inhalation exposure to Wood Destroying Fungus indoors can cause adverse health effects in some people. Wood Destroying Fungus produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances or chemicals (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching Wood Destroying Fungus or Wood Destroying Fungus spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Wood Destroying Fungus does not have to be alive to cause an allergic reaction. Dead or alive, Wood Destroying Fungus can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Allergic Reactions, Asthma Attacks, Irritant Effects
Allergic reactions to Wood Destroying Fungus are common and can be immediate or delayed. Repeated or single exposure to Wood Destroying Fungus, Wood Destroying Fungus spores, or Wood Destroying Fungus fragments may cause non-sensitive individuals to become sensitive to it, and repeated exposure has potential to increase sensitivity. Allergic responses include hay fever-like symptoms such as headache, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Wood Destroying Fungi can cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to it. In addition, Wood Destroying Fungi can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of individuals whether or not the are allergic.
Other Health Effects
Breathing in Wood Destroying Fungus spores may also cause Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, and uncommon disease that resembles bacterial pneumonia. In addition, Wood Destroying Fungus exposure may result in opportunistic infections in persons whose immune systems are weakened or suppressed.

When Wood Destroying Fungus grows indoors, the occupants of a building may begin to report odors and a variety of symptoms including headaches, difficulty breathing, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and aggravated asthma systems. These and other symptoms may be associated with exposure to Wood Destroying Fungus. But all of these symptoms may be caused by other exposures or conditions unrelated to its growth. Therefore, it is important not to assume that, whenever any of these symptoms occurs, it is the cause.

For more detailed information on Wood Destroying Fungus and its health effects, consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.

Although it is frequently found in damp buildings, it is not the only potential contaminant - biological contaminants other than Wood Destroying Fungus, and non-biological contaminants are often present and may also cause health effects. Damp buildings may attract rodents and other pests. Damp or wet building components and furnishings may release chemicals indoors.

Potential contaminants in damp and wet buildings include bacteria, dust mites, cockroaches and other pests, as well as chemicals emitted by damp building materials and furnishings.
Mycotoxins and Health Effects
As wood destroying fungi grow, some (but not all) of them produce potentially toxic by-products called mycotoxins under some conditions. Some of these are commonly found in moisture-damaged building. More than 200 mycotoxins from common fungi have been identified, and more remain to be identified. The amount and types of mycotoxins produced by a particular fungi depends on many environmental and genetic factors. No one can tell whether a it is producing mycotoxins just by looking at it. Some mycotoxins are known to affect people, but for many mycotoxins little health information is available. Research on mycotoxins is ongoing. Exposure to mycotoxins can occur from inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. It is prudent to avoid unnecessary inhalation exposure.

For more information on mycotoxins, see the 2004 Institute of Medicine Report, "Damp Indoor Spaces and Health", published by The National Academies Press in Washington, DC, and available on the Web.
Wood Destroying Fungus Growth
Wood Destroying Fungus can grow on virtually any organic material as long as moisture and oxygen are present. There are fungi that grow on wood, paper, carpet, food, and insulation. Because it eats or digests what it is growing on, it can damage a building and its furnishings. If left unchecked, eventually it can cause structural damage to building materials.

Wood Destroying Fungus gradually destroy the things they grow on. You can prevent damage to buildings and building contents, save money, and avoid potential health problems by controlling moisture and eliminating its growth.